Children's Home run by New Focus Child Care LTD in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2724906 1 Registered provider: New Focus Child Care LTD

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in May 2023 and is owned by a private provider. It provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection and spoke with the inspector. No children have moved in or out of 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: 2724906 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/05/2025 Full Good 21/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/10/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2724906 3

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Summary of findings

The child benefits from a stable environment that supports emotional security and stability. The child is happy and settled. They live in a comfortable and welcoming home. Staff use clear communication and positive reinforcement strategies to help the child to regulate their emotions. Staff offer the child choices to support their involvement in daily life. Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with clear risk management and proportionate responses to incidents. Leaders understand the child’s needs, support staff wellbeing and give regular supervision and training to meet the child’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child lives in a stable home with daily routines that are familiar to them. This structure ensures that the child is supported and helps them to feel safe and settled. The child is happy and responds well to interactions with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use visual aids to help the child to understand what is happening now and next. This provides the child with structure and predictability. Staff offer the child choices to ensure that the child feels involved and listened to. They have established routines to help the child develop their independence skills. For example, they now contribute to managing their laundry.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff speak with the child to understand their experiences and feelings. At times, discussions between staff and the child are informed by research. For example, staff use research to develop their understanding of the child’s sensory needs and have adapted their practice accordingly to ensure these needs are consistently met. Staff ensure that discussions with the child consider the child’s levels of understanding and use visual aids to encourage their participation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the child’s health needs. They ensure that the child has access to universal and specialist health services when required. Staff use visual cues to help the child better understand their feelings and recognise different emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child benefits from consistent support from staff to attend education and is making progress with their learning. There is effective communication between staff and educational professionals. This ensures that the child’s experience at home and school are understood by people who are supporting the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote positive behaviour through reinforcement strategies, including star charts and rewards, which encourage social development and achievement. They give consistent and attentive care and show the child that they know them well and care about their welfare. Inspection report for children's home: 2724906 4

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

Staff ensure that the home environment promotes the child’s safety and wellbeing while taking account of their individual needs. Environmental risks are regularly reviewed, and appropriate measures are implemented to minimise hazards. For example, items that may present a risk to the child are stored securely. This reduces potential for accidents while maintaining a safe environment that meets the child’s individual needs.

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

The child is supported within a framework of agreed restrictions and safeguards that are regularly reviewed to ensure safety and wellbeing. These arrangements enable the child to access the community while promoting positive experiences and development. Staff support the child to participate in community based recreational activities, such as local outings and leisure opportunities, using appropriate staffing levels. This consistent approach helps the child enjoy meaningful experiences while keeping them safe.

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

On some occasions, staff use physical interventions to keep the child safe. Staff ensure restrictions used are agreed by a multidisciplinary team and are applied consistently and proportionately, supporting the child’s safety while enabling access to the community.

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

Leaders and managers respond appropriately to allegations made by third parties, ensuring they are thoroughly investigated and that lessons learned are embedded into practice. This helps to ensure that the child receives the protection and support they need, while lessons learned are used to strengthen practice and improve outcomes.

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

Safer recruitment processes are in place. This practice reduces the risk of unsuitable staff working in the home. In addition, the home benefits from stable and consistent staff team who know the child well and provide continuity of care. Consistency in staffing also ensures that staff have a good understanding of the child’s communication needs, routines and risks enabling them to respond effectively to the child’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child benefits from being care for by a team with strong and consistent leadership that is focused on meeting their individual needs. Managers demonstrate ambition for the child and ensure that staff are supported to provide consistent, good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and training, which supports their understanding of the child’s needs and helps them deliver consistent approaches. Clinical consultations with an external therapist provide staff with guidance that is helpful and informs the child’s care plans. Managers also prioritise staff wellbeing, enabling staff to provide reliable and consistent care for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff work effectively with partner agencies to ensure a coordinated and consistent approach to meeting the child's needs. They maintain regular communication with the team around the child, sharing information appropriately and contributing to planning meetings and reviews. Inspection report for children's home: 2724906 5 Leaders completed the last 2 quality of care reviews. However, they had not been submitted to Ofsted. This reduces the regulator’s ability to have oversight of the home’s quality of care and the actions identified to improve practice. Inspection report for children's home: 2724906 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the quality of care report is sent to Ofsted and the placing local authority of the child living in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ pages 64 and 65, paragraph 15.3)

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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: 2724906 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Focus Child Care LTD

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit A4, City Trading Park Dewsbury Road, Stoke-on- Trent ST4 2TE

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Inspectors

Reshma Kodampur, Social Care Inspector Helen Dunn, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2724906 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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