Children's Home run by Footsteps to Futures Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2598648 1 Registered provider: Footsteps to Futures Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 3 children were living at the home. All 3 children were involved in the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 15 January 2025

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2598648 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/01/2025 Full Good 29/08/2023 Full Good 03/05/2022 Full Outstanding 28/04/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2598648 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Overall, children have positive experiences and make good progress. Staff develop strong relationships with children and thoroughly understand their needs. One child expressed that they know the staff care about them, and when difficult conversations are necessary, they understand that these discussions come from a place of care. A social worker reported that the child they work with has made lots of progress. Their progress includes attending college, advocating for themselves and enjoying life. One parent said, ‘They (staff) ensure he is safe and well cared for.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their health needs. When children struggle with attending healthcare appointments, staff provide continued care to ensure that their needs are met. One member of staff has developed specific plans for children where there are additional health and emotional needs. This helps staff understand how best to support children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide support for children to engage in education. They liaise with education providers when there might be barriers to a child’s engagement. Staff advocate for children when attending education meetings. A teacher said, ‘If it wasn’t for the manager, [name of child] wouldn’t have even started with us.’ Staff place great importance on education. A member of staff said, ‘Attending school isn’t just about education but is connected to developing confidence.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff engage children in regular discussions that are tailored specifically to their needs. Staff encourage children to express their wishes and feelings about topics that are important to them. One child praised the staff for helping them reconnect with their family and for their ongoing support.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care planning support for children moving into and out of the home is good. Managers carefully consider each child’s needs. They communicate well with external professionals. Children already living at the home are consulted about children moving in. However, robust plans are not always in place to support children’s development of independence skills in preparation for adulthood.

p.3

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

Staff have a good understanding of children’s needs. Risk assessments are clear, thorough and individualised; they are regularly updated as children’s needs develop. They help staff understand how they can best support children. Children are encouraged to take age-appropriate risks.

p.3

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

Staff respond promptly when children go missing from home. They follow children’s individual plans. When children return home, they are well supported, and their feelings are acknowledged. For one child, missing-from-home incidents have significantly Inspection report for children’s home: 2598648 4 reduced. An independent reviewing officer described the reduction in missing-from-home episodes as ‘amazing’.

p.3

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

Physical interventions to support children’s behaviours are used infrequently and only as a last resort. Staff speak to children after each incident and help them understand the actions taken to keep them safe.

p.4

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

Children know how to raise complaints. When allegations are made, managers take prompt and effective action to keep children and staff safe. Managers speak with children to understand their views and provide reassurance. Staff are safely recruited.

p.4

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

Changes in the local community are not considered in the location safety review. Professionals are not consulted. This affects staff’s knowledge about managing risks in the local area.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dedicated, empathetic and caring, and she strives to achieve the best for children. One child is mostly out of the home during the day; however, the manager has adapted her working hours to ensure that she can spend time with the child in the evening.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s and deputy manager’s oversight and review of the care provided to children are good. They are reflective about the progress made for children and in identifying areas for improvement. The manager is developing a new way to capture the progress children make. This is not yet embedded.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff communicate effectively with social workers and other external professionals. The manager involves external professionals in children’s care to ensure that their needs are met. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘I cannot fault them; their communication is excellent.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive professional supervision, and the agenda encourages them to discuss their personal needs as well as those of the children. Team meetings are well structured and frequently attended. Managers encourage staff to contribute to the agenda, which helps them feel heard. Celebrating children’s accomplishments and discussing how staff can support their ongoing development are topics of discussion during team meetings .

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by managers and each other. One member of staff said, ‘Since joining [name of home], I have been nothing but impressed with how it runs and how it provides a safe, nurturing, happy environment for our children.’ Staff have said how managers are considerate of their work and personal challenges. This helps staff feel valued.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a range of training opportunities, including training that focuses on children’s specific needs. This has a positive impact on staff’s knowledge and skills. Inspection report for children’s home: 2598648 5

p.4

Recommendations

 The registered person should work with the placing authority to ensure that children’s transitions are planned and that they are prepared, both practically and emotionally, for moving on from the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.9)  The registered person should ensure that the location risk assessment is regularly updated to include any changes in the local community. The registered person should ensure that consultation with all professionals is sought. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

p.5

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: 2598648 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Footsteps to Futures Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 5, Riverbank Business Park, Whatton-in-the-Vale, Nottingham NG13 9FX

p.6

Inspectors

Kathryn Hurley, Social Care Inspector Siobhan Holmes, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2598648 7 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.

p.6

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7