Children's home run by First Blue Healthcare Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2560648 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 home registered with Ofsted in December 2019 and is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to three children who have experienced trauma and who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home. Both children were spoken to during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024 and is suitably qualified.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious failures that mean children and young people are not protected and their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2560648 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/01/2025 Full Good 24/10/2023 Full Good 17/01/2023 Full Good 11/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2560648 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The inspector was aware during this inspection that serious child protection allegations were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the allegations were considered (where appropriate) alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The incidents that led to the investigation are serious and have impacted negatively on one child, who no longer lives in the home. As a result, there are serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of children. In addition, leadership and management systems in the home are not consistently effective.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Despite the safeguarding shortfalls identified, the children currently living in the home are making progress. Staff have supported one child to develop the skills to manage their anxieties effectively, which has significantly reduced the number of incidents. Also, the child has developed social skills, which has enabled them to build relationships and social networks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s education is prioritised by managers and staff. One child attends school daily and has recently chosen their GCSE subjects. The other child does not yet have a school place, however, tailored tutoring ensures continuity of education. Children understand the value of learning and are supported to achieve their educational goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children benefit from a wide range of activities, including visits to theme parks and trampoline parks, holidays and trips to attractions. This ensures that children enjoy having fun with each other and staff, while experiencing new activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s achievements are recognised and celebrated. They receive a variety of rewards, including small gifts, treats, activities and quality time with staff, such as movie nights. Positive affirmations and qualities about children are recorded and discussed in the home. As a result, children feel valued, which supports them in developing their confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children speak positively of their experience of living in the home. One child said the manager advocated successfully for increased time with their family. There are warm and nurturing interactions between children and staff, which demonstrate the positive relationships that underpin children’s sense of safety and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The home provides a warm and welcoming environment. Children’s bedrooms are decorated in line with their individual preferences and reflect their interests and personalities. Photos of children and staff creating memories together are displayed throughout the home, contributing to a family feel. Inspection report for children's home: 2560648 4

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

When children raise serious safeguarding concerns, staff and leaders do not always respond effectively. The outcome of a serious allegation made by a child, which led to a child protection investigation, was not followed up with the professional network. As a result, important information was not considered when planning the child’s care. This left the child in a vulnerable position, without the necessary support to process their experiences.

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

Leaders and staff do not consistently follow the home’s safeguarding procedures. Also, they do not always show professional curiosity to promote and protect children’s welfare and safety. When safeguarding concerns have been raised, managers do not act promptly and effectively to protect children. Strategies to manage children’s risks and vulnerabilities are not fully understood, consistently robust or updated following incidents. Furthermore, children’s support plans do not accurately consider their history and their emerging vulnerabilities and risks. These shortfalls have left one child at risk of harm.

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

When children go missing from the home, staff respond appropriately. Staff search for children and work closely with relevant professionals to ensure their safe return. Children are supported to return to the home, and their well-being is prioritised. In addition, staff work with children to help them reflect on incidents. This helps staff put in place plans to help reduce the risk of further incidents.

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

Children are supported to access therapeutic services to meet their individual needs. For example, one child has engaged in play therapy and received support from the relevant health professionals. As a result of this support, the child has felt reassured, and they have had a reduction in safeguarding incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Poor leadership and management and a failure to take effective safeguarding action have compromised children’s safety, experiences and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers do not provide consistent, robust or reflective oversight of children’s incidents. This has resulted in some safeguarding incidents not being managed effectively. When incidents have occurred, the manager has not always identified learning to inform staff practice and prevent incidents from reoccurring.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Internal and external monitoring systems have been ineffective in identifying shortfalls in safeguarding practice. This means that children are not always kept safe and has prevented continual improvements being made to safeguarding practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Overall, leaders ensure that safeguarding incidents are reported to Ofsted in a timely manner. However, on one occasion, a very serious allegation was not reported. As a result, Ofsted was unable to review or have oversight of safeguarding practices related Inspection report for children's home: 2560648 5 to the concerns raised. On this occasion, poor practice resulted in a child being left in a vulnerable position, with limited support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Despite some of the shortfalls, staff speak positively of the manager and of working in the home. Staff feel well supported and receive regular supervision. They are offered a variety of training to ensure that they are able to meet children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Overall, external professionals speak positively about the impact of the care offered to children. The manager is recognised as an advocate for children, ensuring children’s voices are at the centre of decision-making. The positive relationships staff and managers share with the professional network are recognised as a strength of the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2560648 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that managers and staff understand and recognise the signs that children are 1 January 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2560648 7 at risk of harm, and take action to safeguard children. This includes being alert to the impact of children’s past, lived experiences and trauma on their vulnerabilities and risks.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that managers and staff are alert to grooming behaviour and take into account children’s experiences and vulnerabilities when care planning and managing risk.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that guidance provided to staff for mitigating risks and safeguarding children is thorough, accurate and regularly reviewed in light of emerging risks and vulnerabilities.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home.;

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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)(a)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure they have clear monitoring and review systems in place to identify shortfalls, improve staff’s safeguarding practice and understand the impact that the quality of care provided has on children’s safety, progress and experiences. 1 January 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2560648 8 The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 1 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2560648 9

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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: 2560648 10 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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