Children's home run by Blackford Education (schools) Ltd in Somerset

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC060839 1 SC060839 Registered provider: Blackford Education (Schools) Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company that also operates a number of other homes and one school in the locality. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since December 2018.

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Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been a change in the post of registered manager. The current manager was registered for this home in December 2018 after moving from another home in the organisation. The registered manager has a good awareness and understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has produced a realistic development plan for improving the service. However, his aims and aspirations for the service need to embed into practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Not all staff receive regular supervision and an annual appraisal. This shortfall was identified at the last inspection and remains now. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC060839 2 At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. He moved from another home within the organisation. Before moving in, he visited the home and chose his bedroom. In addition, some staff from his previous home moved with him. This ensured continuity and consistency of care.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have detailed plans that guide them in how to meet the child’s healthcare needs. Staff provide the child with good-quality homemade snacks and balanced meals, and help him to maintain an appropriate weight and develop positive eating habits. However, staff do not always record in detail what the child has eaten, nor do they monitor his weight. This makes it difficult for staff to ensure that the child’s healthcare plan is being implemented effectively. In addition, staff have not booked an appointment for the child to visit the dentist.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager ensures that the child’s risk assessments and plans are regularly reviewed and updated. Risk assessments clearly identify the known risks and how these are to be managed and reduced.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have developed positive and trusting relationships with the child. He said that he is happy living in the home and loves the staff. He gave 10 out of 10 for living here and for how much he likes the staff. The child said that he loves the activities, and during the inspection he was looking forward to making pancakes and going to St John Ambulance Cadets that evening.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the use of physical intervention has increased, although it is only used as a last resort to keep children safe. The registered manager and senior managers monitor these incidents to look for triggers and trends, and to ensure that interventions are appropriate and proportionate. Because of this monitoring, the registered manager is reviewing the method of physical intervention used with the current child to ensure that the approach is the most suitable to meet his needs. Not all intervention records clearly describe the behaviours that children present prior to an intervention. This is a recording matter currently and does not negatively impact on the safeguarding and well-being of the child.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that the environment is homely and welcoming. All areas of the home are well maintained and decorated to a good standard. The child said that he likes his bedroom, and he has personalised the room nicely with lots of toys and personal possessions.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A comprehensive location assessment includes the impact of the local amenities on the home and the children it provides for, and the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have not been any safeguarding concerns, complaints or missing-from-home incidents. Staff are effective at addressing matters in relation to bullying. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC060839 3 Two of the three requirements made at the last inspection have been met.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/09/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/12/2016 Full Good 07/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 30/06/2019 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC060839 4

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Recommendations

 Ensure that where children have specific health needs or conditions, they are supported to manage these subject to their age and understanding. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.10)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that staff clearly record the child’s dietary intake, monitor his weight and make an appointment for him to attend the dentist.

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 9.60)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that detailed records are maintained in relation to the description of the behaviours presented by children that lead up to the use of an intervention.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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’.

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Children’s home Interim inspection report children’s home: SC060839 5 Registered provider: Blackford Education (Schools) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Blackford House, Blackford, Minehead TA24 8SY

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Inspector

David Kidner, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC060839 6 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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