Children's Home run by Future Focused Ltd in Wigan

Inspection report for children’s home: 2591916 1 Registered provider: Future Focused Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is privately owned. The home provides care for one child who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 24 January 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2591916 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2024 Full Good 08/11/2022 Full Outstanding 28/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2591916 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. They have made significant progress and have developed positive relationships with staff who know them well. The child can identify trusted adults they can speak to, which means they feel heard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is healthy and is supported to attend routine appointments. Staff provide advice and guidance to the child when they are worried about attending health appointments. New health needs have been quickly addressed by the manager and the child is supported to attend relevant assessment sessions so that appropriate support can be provided.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team encourages the child to express their views. The child takes part in planning of menus, activities and key events, such as a holiday in the summer and, more recently, Halloween.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s creative talents are promoted by the staff team. Staff encourage and support the child to do artwork, crafting and baking. Staff promote activities which the child enjoys, such as going on walks, horse-riding and taking them on drives out to the beach. This enables the child to experience new opportunities and continue to develop positive self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s social worker said, ‘[Name of child] is a lot more confident. She is taking pride in her appearance, and she gets hair and nails done. This gives her something to enjoy about herself. These little changes have amounted to big changes in her life.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child attends school and is starting to form positive peer friendships. The manager has worked effectively with professionals to progress an education plan for the child to ensure that their specific needs are being met. In particular, the manager has escalated concerns to the child’s placing authority and virtual school to ensure that a well- formulated, needs-led education plan is now in place.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home, staff provide support which is child-led, at a pace that the child feels comfortable with. When children move on from the home, they are supported well by staff, which helps them to manage their lives with continued support from a range of professionals and people with whom they are familiar.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with their family and other people who are important to them. The manager has shown significant flexibility, including providing transport for long-distance journeys to ensure the child maintains links with their family while remaining safe, with staff support. Inspection report for children’s home: 2591916 4

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The child has become increasingly safe and their risks have reduced since living in the home. Comprehensive risk assessments and behaviour management plans are clear and are reviewed regularly to ensure that staff have the most appropriate plans in place to guide practice.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When serious incidents have occurred, the manager and the staff work collaboratively with a range of external professionals to report concerns, share knowledge and identify themes and patterns to prevent repeated patterns of behaviour.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff know the child well and reinforce positive behaviour and acceptable boundaries by spending time with the child and having discussions on a range of topics, such as promoting positive mental health and well-being.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are supported by the in-house therapist. They have been trained to use therapeutic parenting principles to help children recognise their feelings and express their emotions in a healthy way, and for them to de-escalate heightened situations. However, not all staff are using professional curiosity effectively as a means of exploring the child’s frustrations. They have, therefore, been unable to provide the child with context to their feelings and behaviours.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Since the last inspection, there has been one incident which has required the use of physical intervention, which was reasonable and proportionate. Recording of the incident is detailed, with a clear chronology, and contains thorough management oversight, including a child and staff debrief.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When allegations have been made, leaders and managers have been quick to liaise with relevant external professionals, implementing safeguarding protocols, arranging follow- up meetings and making adjustments to ensure the child’s safety is prioritised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by an inspirational and driven manager. She is committed to ensuring that children are cared for and supported in a safe and nurturing way, by staff who are suitably trained. Staff feel supported by the manager, saying that she is available and approachable, provides support whenever they require it and is clear in her guidance, advice and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has well-established monitoring systems and monthly trackers which enable her to monitor the progress of the child effectively, identify themes and patterns of behaviour and provide critical analysis. These monitoring systems are also analysed by leaders and managers to identify areas for further professional development or staff training or a review of recording systems which may be required to ensure a streamlined approach to care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2591916 5 Effective multi-agency working with a range of external professionals has been developed by the manager to create a team around the child approach to care and support. One professional said about the manager’s ability to progress care planning, ‘Unwavering advocacy for [name of child] has led to ensuring that she receives fair access to services, including education and health.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from regular supervision and annual appraisals which focus on professional development and reflective practice. Supervisions are meticulously recorded. The manager actively encourages staff to have a voice and to consider creative ways of working. This enables staff to feel empowered and to continually strive to ensure children are receiving high-quality care and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that staff are clear about their rota schedule and has developed a shift pattern to ensure that there is an equal balance of skills across shifts. Less experienced staff feel supported by their shift partner and feel confident in asking them for support where required. This demonstrates effective planning by the manager to ensure that the child is receiving safe and predictable care on a daily basis.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings are well attended and promote staff participation, development and additional learning. Staff are supported by the manager and senior leaders to be part of discussions and learning around research informed practice and are encouraged to share knowledge on various topics such as trauma informed care, promoting safety on line and working with external professionals. Team quizzes at team meetings prompt discussion and identify learning points. Staff success is celebrated by the whole staff team, which enables staff to feel valued and appreciated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager prioritises training for the staff team. Any additional training which is required to help staff understand the child’s vulnerabilities is quickly arranged. The manager coaches and mentors staff to encourage ambitious personal and professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is immaculately presented and is comfortable and homely. The manager routinely makes sure all health and safety checks are carried out. When action is required, this is done without delay so that the home remains a safe environment for the child to live in. Inspection report for children’s home: 2591916 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the home’s statement of purpose. Specifically, they should ensure that staff are using therapeutic parenting principles, including professional curiosity, to help children understand their emotions and the reasons behind behaviour. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This 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’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2591916 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Future Focused Ltd, Crows Nest Business Park, Ashton Road, Lancashire WN5 7XX

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Inspectors

Michelle Greenhalgh, Social Care Inspector Paul McKay-Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2591916 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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