Children's home run by First Blue Healthcare Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2692103 1 Registered provider: First Blue Healthcare 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 registered with Ofsted in February 2023 and provides care for one child who may have experienced social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

One child is currently living in the home. They were spoken to during the inspection.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2692103 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/07/2024 Full Good 26/07/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2692103 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is settled in the home and is making continuous progress across all areas of their development. They have gained confidence, and their social skills have improved, enabling them to engage more positively with others. The child is developing a sense of personal responsibility and takes pride in their appearance and presentation. This reflects the nurturing and supportive environment provided by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child speaks positively about living in the home and the staff who care for them. They said, ‘I would give living here 9 out of 10, the staff are great’ and ‘I wouldn’t change anything about it.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of the child’s individual needs. Communication is tailored to the child’s level of understanding, and staff adapt resources to support meaningful participation. The relationship between the child and the staff team is warm and nurturing, resembling a family dynamic that promotes emotional security and stability. As a result, the child feels valued and supported, which has contributed to their increased confidence and overall well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has been well supported to manage the transition from school to college. Staff have worked collaboratively with both education providers over a sustained period to develop a detailed transition plan, aimed at minimising disruption and emotional distress. The child has been actively involved in selecting courses aligned with their future aspirations and is now well prepared to attend college full time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are proactive in identifying and offering activities that the child enjoys. The child has responded positively to outings such as cinema trips, shopping and walks to feed the ducks. In addition, staff use their knowledge of the child to introduce new experiences effectively, resulting in the child participating in activities they may not have otherwise considered. This approach has helped to broaden the child’s interests and supported their social development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is developing skills in preparation for more independent living. Staff have supported the child with tasks such as meal preparation, shopping, travelling and opening a bank account. This has been delivered at a pace and in a way the child can understand. Consequently, the child is more confident in completing tasks independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is beautifully decorated and conveys a warm, welcoming atmosphere that closely resembles a family home. Personal touches, such as photographs of the child and staff, contribute to the homely feel. A display of photographs showing the child from toddlerhood to the present day reflects staff’s commitment to celebrating the child’s journey and identity. This nurturing environment helps the child feel safe, valued and emotionally connected to those around them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2692103 4

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

Incidents in the home are rare, reflecting the strong, positive relationships between staff and the child. Staff use a child-focused, therapeutic approach to de-escalate situations effectively. They take time to understand the child’s feelings and offer personalised support. As a result, the child feels understood and is supported to manage challenges in a calm and constructive manner.

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

Staff and managers are strong advocates for the child. The manager has appropriately challenged decisions made by the local authority where these were not in the child’s best interests. Staff and managers are proactive in sharing the child’s views with external professionals to ensure that the child’s voice is heard and their needs are met. This support helps the child to feel empowered and confident that their views are respected and acted on.

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

The child has not gone missing from the home. On one occasion, when the child went missing from school, staff responded promptly and appropriately to ensure the child’s safety. They worked closely with the school and police to locate the child quickly and provided comfort and reassurance on the child’s return. This incident demonstrated effective multi-agency working and strong safeguarding practice. The child felt supported and cared for throughout.

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

The child’s complaints are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. Outcomes are shared with the child in a way they can understand. As a result, the child feels heard and confident in raising concerns without fear of judgement or repercussion.

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

The child’s achievements are constantly recognised and rewarded. Staff use praise, treats and activities to celebrate success. This approach helps the child to feel proud and appreciated, which encourages continued positive engagement and participation. However, on occasion, the child has received consequences that were not proportionate. Management oversight has been insufficient in identifying when consequences have stemmed from staff practice rather than the child’s behaviour. This has impacted the child’s experience and highlights the need for improved monitoring.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a recent change in management in the home, which was well planned with a clear transition period to minimise disruption for the child and staff team. The manager has recently taken up her role and is in the process of familiarising herself with the home, its routines and the child’s needs. She is suitably experienced, child focused and has several plans to improve recording, therapeutic practice and staff development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The previous manager has been instrumental in the progress made since the last inspection. She has a strong understanding of the child’s needs, and has been proactive in advocating for them to ensure that their needs are met and that future care planning is robust in preparing them for independence. Inspection report for children’s home: 2692103 5 Staff feel well supported and speak positively about the leadership team. They receive regular supervision and training, which enables them to meet the child’s needs and maintain their own well-being. One member of staff shared, ‘Managers are really good at making sure we can get any training that will help us in our role.’ This reflects a strong culture of professional development and leadership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Multi-agency working is a strength of the home. Leaders and staff demonstrate a proactive and coordinated approach to partnership working, engaging effectively with the wider professional network. Information is shared promptly, and collaborative decision-making is embedded in practice. This ensures that the child receives consistent and well-informed care that supports their safety, stability and overall well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight is evident across documentation and daily practice. Leaders maintain a visible presence and routinely review records to ensure consistency and accountability. However, some oversight lacks depth and analysis, particularly in identifying areas for improvement in staff practice. This limits opportunities to drive continuous development and enhance the quality of care provided. Inspection report for children’s home: 2692103 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any consequences used with children are restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases, it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour, and the staff in the home should be skilled to support children to understand this and carry it out. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  The registered person should ensure that they develop their skills to improve their oversight when reviewing incidents and identifying shortfalls. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good staff practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including 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: 2692103 7

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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

Menaka De Silva, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2692103 8 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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Inspector

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