Children's home run by Footsteps to Futures Limited in Gedling

Inspection report for children’s home: SC484402 1 SC484402 Registered provider: Footsteps to Futures 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

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

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. All three children contributed to this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2022.

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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: 12 October 2023

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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: SC484402 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/10/2023 Full Good 25/10/2022 Full Good 23/06/2021 Full Outstanding 10/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC484402 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children spoke of positive experiences of living within the home. They all engage in activities such as running, skateboarding and gaming. Staff support children to spend time in the community with friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are welcomed into the home in a planned and supported way. This includes introductory visits by members of staff. Children are provided with clear documentation so that they understand their rights and how their needs will be met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children leaving the home have very positive endings. The children are supported to learn independence skills before leaving. When children leave, they remain in contact with the staff for support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to maintain contact with family and friends, where risk has been assessed as safe. Staff recognise where these contacts are having negative effects on the children and will proactively speak with professionals to resolve this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children attend education. Where children are not in full-time education, there are care plans and meetings taking place to discuss next steps and how hours can increase. The children require support to develop timetables for learning outside of the planned school hours to offer structure and additional educational activity.

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

Children spoke of feeling safe. When children have been a victim of bullying, they have felt able to speak to trusted members of the team, who have provided a clear and proactive response.

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

Children who self-harm have detailed care plans, and all the staff know how to respond. Children’s bedrooms have been made safer, yet retaining its child friendly feel.

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

The risks posed to the children from others are clearly recorded. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed. The children receive clear and timely responses from the staff when risks occur. When children go missing from home, they receive supportive conversations from professionals or members of the staff team.

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

Positive behaviour is continually praised. Children can earn incentives for completing chores, which the children themselves choose. Children receive continual praise throughout the day. Consequences are used, but they are proportionate and restorative.

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

Children’s rooms are searched by staff who have clear training and clear reasons to undertake them. When they take place, there is detailed recording of items seen, and if Inspection report for children’s home: SC484402 4 taken, the reasons are given. Children are encouraged to engage with this, through the giving of consent and supportive conversations following their completion.

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

The staff have good links and open communication with the local authorities and agencies linked to all the children. They provide regular updates on the children to support with the care planning and risk management decisions by professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has an amazing knowledge of all the children in her care. This is supported through the good relationships with external professionals and family.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that the staff can meet the needs of all the children moving into the home. The manager ensures that the needs and views of the children already living in the home are considered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s documents clearly reflect the daily lives of the children. Staff and children have regular focused discussions. Achievements and plans are clearly reflected on and are in a style to suit the individual needs of each child. The views of the children can be read within all children’s documents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home environment meets the individual needs of each child. Children have their own personalised bedrooms, with one child demonstrating a Japanese style bed which is low to the floor, offering them comfort and reassurance. The manager ensured that the child’s needs, and history, were considered in the decision-making. Inspection report for children’s home: SC484402 5

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Recommendation

 Where children placed in a home are not participating in education because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some other reason, the registered person and staff must work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

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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: SC484402 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Footsteps to Futures Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 5, Riverbank Business Park, Whatton-in-the-Vale, Nottingham NG13 9FX

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Inspector

Rachel Moore, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC484402 7 regulates and inspects 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 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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