Children's home run by First Blue Healthcare Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2724741 1 Registered provider: First Blue Healthcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children with learning disabilities and children who have been affected by adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 10 December 2024

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2724741 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager has demonstrated a proactive approach to addressing the shortfalls identified during the full inspection, implementing a supporting action plan to drive improvements. Staff have shown resilience through a challenging transition period, ensuring continuity of care for children, as two moved on from the home.

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Findings from the inspection

One child has recently moved into the home, and early signs indicate a positive transition. Staff report that progress is already being observed. Another child has experienced a stable period, supporting their ongoing plans. Risk management strategies related to missing-from-home incidents remain appropriate and proportionate to the individual needs of the children currently living at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager’s commitment to partnership working has been reinforced by positive professional feedback from a social worker. Further evidence of proactive communication and collaboration between staff and external agencies was observed. This demonstrates the staff team’s dedication to ensuring the best outcomes for children through effective multi-agency work.

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Findings from the inspection

Restraint recording, while completed by staff, requires further improvement. Staff do not record the measures taken to prevent restraint with children and ensure clarity in the debrief process. Staff’s recording does not evidence reflection on incidents and how the registered manager is using these reflections to drive learning and improvement.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a complaints procedure in place, and child-friendly responses were viewed during the inspection. However, documentation from the initial complaint through to resolution lacks sufficient detail, limiting transparency and accountability.

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Findings from the inspection

The home uses an electronic recording system for storing all children’s records. However, important records were not accessible during the inspection. This limits the ability to maintain a readily available record of each child’s experiences at the home for professionals and the children themselves. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2724741 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/12/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/11/2023 Full Good 27/09/2023 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2724741 4

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is prompt and effective oversight of all incidents. Additionally, ensure that actions are taken by all staff when safeguarding concerns are identified. 30 April 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records kept electronically (regulation 38) can be easily accessed by anyone with a legitimate need to view them and, if required, be reproduced in a legible form that allows the reader to clearly see who the author of the record is, and which staff members were involved in the recordings. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 14.2)  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. Information about the child’s complaints must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2724741 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: First Blue Healthcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Seighford Hall, Clanford Road, Seighford, Stafford ST18 9NL

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Inspector

Mark Dickinson, Regulatory Inspection Manager Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2724741 6 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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