Children's home run by Good Foundations Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2728615 1 Registered provider: Good Foundations Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It offers care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 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 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: 7 November 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: 2728615 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/11/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2728615 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in the home receive individualised care. One parent said that staff love their child as a person and take account of who they are as an individual. Staff are skilled at communicating with children, particularly those with additional needs. Staff have helped one child to make progress with their speech. The child can communicate with staff without using visual prompts or electronic devices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are committed to providing children with nurturing care. Children also maintain strong relationships with staff after they have moved out. Staff continue to support one child who has left the home. One staff member cooks the child’s favourite meal, and another member of staff visits the child on holidays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in the home make progress in education. Staff advocate for children to attend education in line with their individual needs. Managers and staff ensure that home tuition is in place while they find the right provision for children. For one child, this has meant that they have been able to return to full-time education after a lengthy period.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment provides the children with space to relax, play, and have their sensory needs met. Staff welcome the children’s friends and family into the home, which helps the children maintain relationships with people who are important to them. Staff have positive relationships with children’s families. Staff communicate well with parents about their child’s care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home. One child’s move was positive, and they moved into foster care. The foster carer told the inspector that the child’s move into their care could not have gone better, and staff offered ongoing support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in the home are encouraged and supported to engage in the wider community. Children have access to a wide range of activities, including annual summer trips. Children and staff take part in charitable events. For example, they participated in a garden ‘sleep out’ to raise money for charity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children in developing independence skills in preparation for adulthood. All the children’s achievements and milestones are celebrated. Staff are proud of children’s progress.

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

Warm and caring relationships were observed between children and staff. When children are in emotional distress, staff offer a nurturing and reassuring response. Two children said they can speak to staff if they are worried about anything or want to make a Inspection report for children’s home: 2728615 4 complaint. One professional said that the time and patience staff provide for children helps them to make progress.

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

Staff know what to do to keep children safe. They understand children’s vulnerabilities and risks. Staff support children to take age-appropriate risks, where safe to do so, to promote their independence.

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

Staff receive relevant training to meet the children’s needs. Staff are keen to develop their knowledge and skills in relation to children’s individual vulnerabilities.

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

Incidents in the home are rare. When incidents occur, staff offer a calm and consistent approach. Staff use strategies to de-escalate incidents quickly. For one child, the manager recognised that specific support was necessary to keep them safe. The manager escalated this effectively. This meant that the child’s needs were met.

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

There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home. Staff know how to respond if children go missing. However, children’s plans do not include all current information for staff to follow. This has not affected children’s safety.

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

When children make allegations, staff respond effectively. Staff ensure that the child is listened to and offered reassurance. Staff inform relevant professionals, including the local authority designated officer. For one child, this meant that the matter was resolved efficiently.

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

Consequences are not used in the home. Instead, staff promote positive behaviour through incentives and speaking with children. Incentives are individual and work well for the children. For children with communication needs, staff use visual aids to support their understanding of positive behaviour.

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

Safer recruitment practices are followed. This ensures that only adults who are assessed as suitable are responsible for caring for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a suitably qualified and experienced manager in post. The manager is passionate about the quality of care provided to children. The manager prioritises spending time with the children at the home. The manager has positive relationships with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a strong advocate for the children. The manager challenges other professionals in children’s best interests. The manager has a good understanding of children’s needs and how staff can meet them. The manager's advocacy and challenge have resulted in an extended placement for one child. This has allowed the child more time to prepare for their move to semi-independent living.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children in the home are cared for by a stable and experienced staff team. Staff rosters demonstrate that there is a consistent staff team in place to care for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2728615 5 Professionals told the inspector that staff create a sense of family for the children and spoke of the ‘genuine care’ that staff provide.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager focuses on the development of the staff team. The manager delegates tasks to the staff team to encourage progression. Team meetings are used as a tool to enhance staff knowledge. For example, staff share information about the quality standards and ideas about how they can continue to meet the needs of children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is limited evaluation and reflection in management oversight of children’s records. This is a missed opportunity to continually improve the quality of care staff provide for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a positive atmosphere in the home, and staff say they enjoy working there. The manager provides support to the staff. Staff receive regular supervision, which offers them the opportunity to reflect on each child’s progress as well as their own. Inspection report for children’s home: 2728615 6

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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 maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children’s plans are up to date and include all relevant information and clear guidance for staff to follow. 2 May 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that management oversight of children’s records includes effective evaluation to develop staff practice. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: 2728615 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Good Foundations Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 Tower Quays, Tower Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside CH41 1BP

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Inspector

Hayley Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2728615 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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