Children's home run by Future Focused Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2751056 1 Registered provider: Future Focused Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider and provides care for up to two children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first inspection, and the manager has been registered since July 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there was one child living at the home.

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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 good

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2751056 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm and welcoming and reflects that the child is valued. The house is tastefully decorated with lots of home comforts. The child was welcomed sensitively to the home and encouraged to choose how their bedroom is decorated, to reflect their own taste.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child receives high-quality care from a consistent and stable team of staff, who place the needs of the individual child at the centre of their practice. The child is happy living at the home, allowing them to develop a strong sense of permanence and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have positive relationships with the child. Time with family and friends is supported in line with agreed plans. This helps the child develop relationships and positive memories. Concerns about family time arrangements are shared with partner agencies to ensure that the child’s welfare is kept at the centre of any plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is listened to, and the child’s voice is promoted. Staff are innovative in gathering the child’s views in creative ways that enhance engagement, in particular around health. The child is supported to understand their physical and mental health needs. Staff were observed encouraging them to engage with professionals to ensure that their dental and sexual health needs were met. Staff take time to explain the importance of attending these appointments in a child-friendly manner.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Despite some difficulties since moving into the home, the child’s individual educational needs are now being met. School attendance is gradually increasing back to a full-time timetable. The child is encouraged to push themselves out of their comfort zone and engage in educational activities that are of interest to them through tutoring and alternative provisions. Staff want the child to succeed, and they think ‘outside the box’ to achieve this. The manager has challenged educational professionals when necessary.

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

Staff are proactive in supporting the child when they feel overwhelmed by their feelings. They ensure that the child receives suitable support in response to their behaviours, and each response is individual to the child and the situation. The child is encouraged to make mistakes in a safe environment and learn from incidents when things do not go to plan. They are helped to plan for dealing with situations differently in the future.

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

Staff focus on promoting the child’s positive behaviours. The child is rarely restrained, and they are only held when necessary to protect themselves or those around them. Interventions used are proportionate and only last as long as necessary. Staff are highly trained, and all incidents are recorded, reviewed and monitored by the manager. Inspection report for children’s home: 2751056 3 The child is supported to spend time in the community with friends, which is managed in line with the child’s age and presenting risks. They understand what is expected, and staff maintain contact with them when they are out of the home, as a good parent. Safety plans have been developed and put in place, ensuring that they are in line with the child’s individual plan, the manager ensures that they are the least restrictive possible. The child understand why restrictions are necessary.

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

The child is cared for and feels safe. Clear systems are in place to ensure that the plans that support their care are as individual as they are. Care plans and risk assessments are reviewed regularly to ensure that they are effective and minimise the risk of harm to the child.

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

Staff are recruited safely, and processes are in place to ensure that the right staff are employed to keep the child safe. The manager is confident that the staff are suitable to work with children. Agency staff are rarely used at this home and are only used when all other staffing arrangements have been explored.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led and managed by a suitably qualified manager. He is supported by an experienced and qualified deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is confident and ambitious for children and influential in changing the lives of those in his care. Staff speak highly of the manager, saying, ‘Staff morale is incredibly high, and the work atmosphere is not only pleasant but also feels like a second family.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager creates a culture of high aspiration and positivity. He has high expectations of his staff to change and improve the lives of the children they are responsible for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager leads by example and has introduced innovative and creative ideas to sustain the good quality of care for the child. He uses home-made videos so that the child understands what is happening around them, and also for staff training to be able to revisit areas of support if needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is child-centred and nurturing. He knows the child well and leads the staff in supporting the child’s progress and overall well-being. The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have strong working relationships with partner agencies that ensure that the child receives the best possible care, experiences and planning for their future. Professionals say that the manager challenges appropriately when he feels that decisions have not been made in the individual child’s best interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an in-depth training programme for all staff, and it is completed in a timely manner. All staff are up to date with the provider’s mandatory training. Staff also receive Inspection report for children’s home: 2751056 4 specialised training to meet the specific additional needs of the child at the home and to ensure that they have the necessary skills to care for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular, practice-related supervision, which enables the manager to identify training needs and monitor the quality of care provided to the child. Staff knowledge is tested through quizzes and scenario-based tasks, which gives the staff an opportunity to reflect on their practice and receive additional support if required. Inspection report for children’s home: 2751056 5

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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: 2751056 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Future Focused Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Crows Nest Business Park, Ashton Road, Billinge, Wigan WN5 7XX

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Inspector

Nicola Jeffery, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2751056 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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