Children's home run by Formations Care Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2700358 1 Registered provider: Formations Care Services 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 is owned and managed by a private provider. 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 manager registered in August 2024. The manager was unable to be present for this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of this inspection. They were spoken to as part of the inspection. No other children have lived at the home since the last 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: 2700358 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/08/2024 Full Good 07/06/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2700358 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in this home enjoys a strong sense of stability and belonging. They have lived in the home for over three years. Most staff have worked in the home for a significant period, and there is little staff turnover. Staff promote a family-style atmosphere where the child feels relaxed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made progress since the last inspection in several areas. Staff support them to develop their independence and self-care skills. Staff encourage the child to engage with the community. The child volunteers at a local cattery once a week and has also provided help to homeless people. Staff have helped the child to develop their emotional intelligence and self-reflection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work with the child’s family to meet their emotional and identity needs. Leaders adopt a family-focused approach to help parents to make progress as well as their child. The child’s parents can visit unannounced. Staff welcome them inside and offer them refreshments. This approach is like a typical family home. The child’s parents describe staff as ‘top notch’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child when they experience challenges, such as at school or with their health. As the child is not currently in school, staff promote opportunities for informal education. This includes trips to a museum and home tuition. Leaders advocate for a return to formal education as soon as possible.

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

The child feels safe in the home, and staff act to keep them safe. Leaders support staff with writing assessments and plans that are clear and easy to follow. As a result, staff have a solid understanding of the child’s needs and how to protect them from harm.

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

Staff create physical and emotional safety for the child. The home environment is secure and well maintained. Leaders complete safe recruitment checks for new staff. Leaders work with and hold multi-agency partners to account to support the child. Staff hold regular discussions with the child to help them develop their sense of safety.

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

The child enjoys very beneficial and caring relationships with staff. Staff base these on mutual trust and respect. Staff help the child to reflect on their feelings and behaviour. They promote positive behaviour within the home. Staff use appropriate challenge and intervene when needed. They can manage the child’s behaviour to avoid using physical restraint. Inspection report for children’s home: 2700358 4 Management oversight is not evident across all aspects of safeguarding. As a result, leaders have not always identified areas for development in staff’s collective practice. However, leaders have acted to address any gaps in an individual’s performance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child benefits from strong and stable leadership of the home. The registered manager has been in post for over a year. A deputy manager and senior leaders, with significant experience, support the manager. The independent visitor supports them with strong external monitoring. Leaders have met the previous recommendations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders promote a culture of safeguarding and high aspirations for children. Staff prepare plans for the child that are individual to them. Leaders track the child’s progress and have a clear understanding of the child’s strengths and vulnerabilities. Staff keep records about the child that they write in a caring and sensitive way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel well supported by the manager and their deputy. Leaders provide staff with a sound induction and training to prepare them for the role. Leaders use supervision and appraisals to hold staff accountable and offer support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has updated the home’s review of premises to consider new information about the local area to keep the child safe in the community. Furthermore, leaders promote a sense of positive community engagement for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders seek feedback from the child and others to inform the development of the home. However, they do not use research-based evidence to good effect to support and develop staff’s practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2700358 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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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)(g)(i)(h)) 5 February

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff have regard to the relevant aspects of the document ‘Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care’ as well as local protocols. In particular, the registered person should ensure that all staff understand when a child should be treated either as absent or missing from care and the appropriate action to take as a result. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.25) Inspection report for children’s home: 2700358 6

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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: 2700358 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Formations Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Formations Care Services, 2 St. Pauls Road, Shipley BD18 3EP

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Inspector

Sam Saxby-Brown, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2700358 8 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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