Children's home run by Fresh Start Care Group Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2795315 1 Registered provider: Fresh Start Care Group Ltd

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. The home provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably qualified.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home. Two children spoke to the inspectors.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2795315 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive and emotionally warm relationships with staff. This helps children to share their feelings with staff and to feel valued. Children speak to staff about their support plans and education arrangements. One child told the manager they were struggling to live away from their family.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming, with decor and furnishings of a high standard. The communal areas are comfortable, with games and books for children. Children are proud of their bedrooms, which reflect their individuality and personal interests. The garden is well maintained. There are plans to grow vegetables and for there to be a trampoline for children to enjoy.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy activities and hobbies, for example, baking, creative arts, playing board games and going on day trips with staff. Staff support children to explore their personal interests and to choose their activities. This helps to develop children’s confidence and their aspirations for the future. One child attends army cadets and is looking forward to guitar lessons.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s equality, diversity and inclusion. For example, staff supported one child to explore their preferred faith and gender identity. This helps children to share their views, wishes and feelings. Children enjoy learning about different cultural festivals and celebrating special occasions. One child celebrated their birthday during the inspection. This was a lively celebration, highlighting the affectionate relationships between children and staff.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children visit their family members and friends with the support of staff. Staff help family members to understand their children’s needs. One family member said staff speak to them weekly and keep them updated on their child’s achievements. Children speak to staff about any concerns that they have about their visiting arrangements and staff advocate for changes, which helps children to feel safe.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to access education. Children are making progress in their education in line with their individual needs. Staff are supporting one child to explore their options to attend university. When children experience difficulties in attending school, they are supported by staff to take part in education programmes, either in the home or in external settings. This creates daily routines for children and supports their learning and development.

p.2

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

Staff receive support from a psychologist and therapeutic practitioner. This helps them to understand children’s lived experiences. This approach focuses on supporting children to Inspection report for children’s home: 2795315 3 develop positive relationships with staff. One child said, ‘My voice is heard, and they listen to me.’

p.2

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

Children have detailed support plans which reflect the support they need. Staff help children to understand the reasons for the support. Staff follow these plans, which are updated and reviewed by the management team. However, there are times when new or additional information is not always included. This means that staff do not always have up-to-date guidance to support children.

p.3

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

Staff are nurturing in their approach to children’s needs. A staff member said how well one of the children spoke about their feelings during a school meeting. Staff are creative in supporting children to share their views, wishes and feelings. This helps children to know they have adults they can trust. This creates a safe and inclusive living environment.

p.3

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

Staff are trained to use safe physical interventions if required to keep children safe. Staff understand how to support children when they feel unsettled and are attuned to their needs. This helps children to feel safe. There has been no use of physical intervention. The manager and staff reflect as a team when children feel unsettled. This helps to create individual support plans for children.

p.3

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

When children go missing from home, staff follow children’s plans. Staff support children to discuss their feelings, which helps staff and children to understand the reasons for going missing from home. Children are helped to learn about the risks of being missing from home and to be safer. Staff communicate with the police and seek their help in returning children home. Clearer guidance is needed for staff when liaising with the police, so police are not involved unnecessarily.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff are passionate about, and committed to, creating a safe and nurturing home. The manager challenges staff practice which does not reflect these principles. Staff feel respected by the manager and value her care and support in developing a skilled team.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have developed an effective safe recruitment process. This ensures children are being cared for by safe adults. Leaders and managers understand that effective training and supervision for staff complement the safe recruitment. Detailed training plans, reflective supervisions and team meetings help to develop staff practice.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers understand the importance of supporting staff to develop their resilience. Staff receive additional support from the psychologist and therapeutic practitioner. This helps them to explore their feelings and how these affect their resilience. Staff say that they feel valued by this professional support. Inspection report for children’s home: 2795315 4 External professionals are positive about the care that children receive from staff. Staff have created positive working relationships with professionals. This means that children remain the focus of all decision-making. The manager and staff are responsive to any concerns raised by professionals and recognise the importance of challenging professionals when information is not shared.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager recognises that an effective system for oversight is important in supporting children and staff practice. The manager and deputy manager are establishing a system to review children’s experiences and staff practice. This is an ongoing area for development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2795315 5

p.4

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.

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must establish and embed monitoring systems to review children’s experiences and progress, staff practice and development and the home’s records. 10 March 2025

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. This specifically relates to staff being consistent in recording the children’s needs in their support plans. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should agree procedures and guidance on police involvement with their local police force, to reduce unnecessary police involvement. This specifically relates to how incidents of children going missing are managed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.40) Inspection report for children’s home: 2795315 6

p.5

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: 2795315 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Fresh Start Care Group Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Oak House, Bridgwater Road, Worcester, Worcestershire WR4 9FP

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Whitworth

p.7

Inspectors

Siân Heffey, Social Care Inspector Latoya Morgan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2795315 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.

p.7

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8