Children's home run by Future In Mind Limited in Bolton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 1 SC394875 Registered provider: Future in Mind Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were 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: 19 December 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: SC394875 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/12/2023 Full Good 21/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/03/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children spoke to the inspector during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have trusting and affectionate relationships with staff. This creates a nurturing home environment and helps children feel safer. The inspector observed the positive and emotionally warm interactions between the children and staff. Staff help children communicate their views, wishes and feelings through play and discussion. This helps children feel more confident in expressing their feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand how to support children’s relationships with family members. This helps children enjoy their family visits. One family member said that staff support their child’s visits to their family home. Staff support another child as they travel to meet their family members. This helps children maintain their important family relationships and understand their family identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children in developing their personal interests. One child enjoys Scouts, playing football, and participating in outdoor activities, and another child enjoys Brownies and creative arts. This helps children develop their confidence and independence skills. Staff encourage children to spend time together on day trips and during activities in the community. This helps children get along with each other and creates an inclusive home environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s educational needs well. Staff help children to develop positive school routines. This helps children understand the value of learning and experience school life. Staff collaborate with education professionals to explore ways to support children who encounter difficulties. One child is being supported to take part in a specialist assessment that will help identify the appropriate education setting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children as they move into and out of the home. This helps children prepare for their next steps. Since the last inspection, two children have moved in, and two children have moved out of the home. Staff work together with external professionals and family members to help ensure that these moves go well. The manager advocates strongly for children. For example, she made a formal complaint to a local authority regarding the care planning arrangements for one child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is comfortable and well maintained. Photos of the children are proudly displayed. The children’s bedrooms reflect their personal interests. The communal areas provide a relaxing environment where children enjoy playing and spending time with the staff. The garden is spacious with a newly designed patio area. There is a trampoline and a swing that children enjoy playing on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children in carrying out activities and household chores. This promotes an inclusive home environment and positive relationships. Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 4

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

Staff understand the children’s needs well. This helps children to have individual routines and to feel safer. Staff know how to support children in learning about changes in their routines. This helps children to express their views, wishes and feelings and to be involved in planning their activities. For example, one child is being supported to visit the local shops as part of developing their independence.

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

A therapeutic practitioner supports children in exploring their lived experiences. This helps children to express their worries. Staff are supported in understanding the children’s needs from a clinical perspective. This enables children to receive personalised care, as outlined in their support plans. For example, the staff have received support to understand the specific health needs of one child. Another child is being supported to understand their emotions and how they affect their physical presentation.

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

Allegations and complaints are managed appropriately. This helps children to feel valued and safer living in their home. The manager is proactive in raising concerns with social workers. For example, the manager raised concerns about a social worker’s communication style that a child found confusing. This helps children feel that their views, wishes and feelings are listened to.

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

Children do not go missing from their home. Staff help children understand the risks in the community as part of developing their independence. Staff supported one child in building more respectful relationships with females. Staff help children learn about internet and mobile phone safety. This helps create boundaries for children and enables them to manage their use of the internet appropriately and talk to the staff about any worries they may have.

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

When necessary, staff know how to use physical intervention safely. Staff support children to explore their feelings and to reflect on how these affect them. This helps children to learn how to manage their behaviour more appropriately at times of difficulty.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff team are experienced and committed to creating a nurturing home environment. External professionals speak positively about the support children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers recruit staff safely. This helps to ensure that suitable people care for the children. Leaders and managers value children’s views, wishes and feelings as part of new staff recruitment. Children take part in interviewing new staff members. This helps children to feel valued and respected, while also allowing them to learn new skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers provide support to staff to enhance their learning and practice. Staff receive supervision and training and attend team meetings regularly. The manager organises additional training for staff when necessary. For example, staff receive training Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 5 assessments regarding the administration of medication following a review of this system. This ensures that staff are fully trained to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have effective monitoring systems. This helps leaders and managers understand children’s experiences, the progress they are making, and how to develop the home. Leaders and managers recognise that record-keeping is an area for development and further training. Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s records include their views, wishes and feelings. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC394875 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Future in Mind Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 65 Market Street, Hednesford, Cannock, Staffordshire WS12 1AD

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Carina McLean-Armstrong

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Inspector

Siân Heffey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 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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