Children's Home run by First Steps Care Ltd in Worcestershire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636996 1 Registered provider: First Steps Care Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is registered to provide care for up to four children who may have specific emotional needs and who may have experienced trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. Three children were present during the inspection and two of the children spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has resigned from their role and will leave on 8 December 2024. A new manager has been appointed and is completing their induction. They have not yet applied to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 21 November 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636996 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children say they like living in the home. They feel supported by staff and the manager. Positive and nurturing interactions were observed between staff, managers and children.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to develop age-appropriate independence. One child is supported by home and education staff to enhance their baking skills. This support has helped the child to start up and register their own baking business. This contributes to children’s self-worth and assists them to make positive contributions to society.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff ensure that children’s diverse needs are promoted. For example, staff support children to purchase and prepare meals from their cultural backgrounds. This encouragement helps with children’s identity development, which contributes to children experiencing positive emotional and psychological well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

One professional commented on the support and care from staff and managers to children which contributes to children making good progress.

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Findings from the inspection

Children know how to raise concerns if required. On the occasions when children have raised concerns, prompt actions are taken to ensure that children are kept safe. Relevant professionals are notified swiftly. Investigations are comprehensive, and children remain the key focus of the investigations. Leaders ensure that children share their views with their placing authority and children are kept informed of updates with any outcomes. This practice ensures a multi-agency approach to risk management. This also assures children that their concerns are taken seriously.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff regularly assess and review the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. When concerns are identified, children’s risk assessments are updated to reflect children’s current circumstances. Guidance is clear for staff to understand and follow.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been four incidents of restraint since the last inspection. Managers’ reviews of these incidents lack professional curiosity and do not always identify unsafe practice. For example, staff and managers use restraint techniques on children that they are not trained to use. This practice leaves children vulnerable to harm. Reviews of incidents fail to identify that planned de-escalation strategies were not used effectively to prevent the use of physical intervention. The manager ensures that children and staff are spoken with following incidents. However, children are not always spoken to by a person independent from the incident. These shortfalls risk poor practice and potential harm to children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636996 3 Managers and senior leaders are aware of these shortfalls and have taken appropriate actions to address these imminently. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636996 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/04/2024 Full Good 19/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636996 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person having a clear policy in place with regard to physical intervention. 3 January 2025

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that all staff are appropriately trained to meet the needs of 3 January 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636996 6 each child; this includes behaviour management as identified in the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that management oversight identifies shortfalls in practice and actions are put into place to bring about improvement. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636996 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: First Steps Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Capital Office, 124–128 City Road, London EC1V 2NX

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Inspector

Nateisha Cardoza-Evans, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636996 8 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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