Children's home run by Future Focused Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2751056 1 Registered provider: Future Focused 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 operated by a private provider and provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The child was present during the inspection and was spoken to.

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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: 14 January 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2751056 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/01/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2751056 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are nurturing, child focused and enthusiastic in their approach to children. Staff build positive relationships with the children, and they support them to express their views and wishes. As a result, children make good progress from their individual starting points

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been notable changes in children’s physical and emotional health due to the high standards of the care they receive from staff. Children are supported to attend health appointments with their GP and specialist health professionals, such as the child and adolescent mental health team and the looked-after children’s nursing team. Staff engage with children to promote a healthy lifestyle by enhancing sleep habits and encouraging healthy eating.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to maintain relationships with those people who are important to them. Staff understand the value of these relationships, and they make practical arrangements to ensure that children can spend time with family and friends. When challenges arise in children’s relationships, staff work sensitively with social workers and families to promote positive and safe interactions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities and opportunities to try new experiences with staff. This has helped children to develop a sense of belonging and feeling valued by the staff. Staff build positive relationships with the children and engage them in meaningful conversations to encourage outdoor activities that will benefit them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff welcome new children into the home sensitively. One child moved on from the home after a short period as the team could not meet their needs. Leaders and managers reflect and learn from children’s moves into the home. They have put in plans to ensure that they work with professionals to ensure that all risks are known before children move in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who leave the home are prepared for independence and continue to have positive, supportive relationships with staff. This helps them to feel valued by the adults who cared for them and reduces feelings of loss and anxiety as they move on to the next stage of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Clear systems are now in place to ensure that care plans are tailored to each child’s individual needs. These plans are reviewed regularly by leaders and managers to ensure that they remain effective, address current risks and reduce the likelihood of harm for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2751056 4

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

Safeguarding practice in the home is effective. The home has clear risk management plans in place that provide clear guidance for staff to follow. Any allegations or risks are clearly documented in care plans, and all staff are aware of each child’s individual risks. Staff respond appropriately and swiftly to emerging concerns, and the manager has clear oversight of the safeguarding incidents.

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

Staff use a caring approach that includes therapeutic support, helping them understand children’s behaviours and experiences. Regular guidance from therapists and other professionals ensures that the care given is thoughtful and child focused.

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

Staff respond effectively when children go missing from the home. Staff take suitable action to find them and return them home, attempting to keep in contact with them for the duration. Reports are chronologically written with precise details of all the actions taken and who is informed. Staff are trained and aware of the missing from home procedures.

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

Staff recognise that children need to feel safe and secure. A nurturing environment has led to children being supported to manage their feelings safely. Positive behaviour is consistently promoted. Staff use effective de-escalation techniques and creative alternative strategies.

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

Staff focus on promoting children’s positive behaviours. Children are rarely physically held, and this is only used when necessary to protect themselves or those around them. Methods used are proportionate and only last as long as necessary. Staff are highly trained, and all incidents are recorded, reviewed and monitored by the manager. The views of the child, dependent on their age and understanding, are sought afterwards and are documented.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is no registered manager in post. The home is currently overseen by a suitably qualified and experienced interim manager. The previous manager led by example and provided strong and effective leadership, fostering a culture of positivity and aspiration across the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high aspirations for the staff team to deliver high-quality care to children. Staff say that they feel valued and supported and they receive regular supervision, giving them the opportunity to reflect on their practice and receive additional support. However, management supervision has not always been carried out Inspection report for children’s home: 2751056 5 by senior leaders, and managers have not been able to reflect on past incidents with the same level of support offered to the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that team meetings take place regularly. This gives staff an opportunity to share their experiences and knowledge of good practice and learn from any incidents that have occurred over the previous month. The manager regularly challenges staff about their knowledge, which allows staff to develop the quality of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager consistently monitors the quality of care provided to children. She has established effective systems to maintain oversight of the home, which allows her to identify strengths and weaknesses. The manager has a hands-on approach and has a strong working relationship with all of the team, and staff say how much they enjoy working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work effectively with professionals and carers to support children to make progress. They are focused on achieving positive outcomes for children. Partner agencies are consistently positive about the home. One social worker commented on the exceptional progress a child has made in their short time in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2751056 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, 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.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and senior managers must ensure that the manager receives supervision and sufficient support following any allegations or significant events that the manager is involved in. 31 January 2026

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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: 2751056 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Future Focused Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Future Focused Ltd, Crows Nest Business Park, Ashton Road, Billinge, Wigan, Lancashire WN5 7XX

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Inspector

Nicola Jeffery, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2751056 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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Inspector

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