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

Inspection report children’s home: SC060839 1 SC060839 Registered provider: Blackford Education (Schools) 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 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 children or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in July 2019. However, a new manager was appointed in July 2019 and she became the registered manager in December 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 11 to 12 December 2019

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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: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC060839 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/09/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/12/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC060839 3

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, all staff should receive training in ‘children with sexually harmful behaviour’. 01/04/2020

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Recommendations

 Ensure that children are consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good-quality care and support and make good emotional and social progress. They receive care from staff who know their needs well, and who develop positive, warm and nurturing relationships with them. Children say that they like living here. Inspection report children’s home: SC060839 4 Staff encourage children to be independent. For example, children visit the local shop on their own, and in agreement with her social worker a child spends short periods of time on her own in the house. These steps enhance children’s self-esteem and confidence, and prepare them well for later life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children access a good range of leisure activities and pursue their interests. A child thoroughly enjoys playing for a local rugby team and continues to attend a local St John’s Ambulance Club. Children say that they like the activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff regularly seek children’s views about activities, menus and discussions about far- reaching matters that affect them in wider world. Children say that they feel listened to. However, staff do not always seek their views about the home and the quality of care that they receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the health needs of children are met. They encourage the children to lead a healthy lifestyle. As a result of this, a child has recently lost weight and another child has recently attended a dental appointment. The children are proud of their achievements. In addition, the children have good access to therapeutic support services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, one child has left the home and is now living in foster care and another child has recently moved in. Staff ensured that the children experienced well-planned moves that were managed sensitively and caringly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children currently living at the home attend the organisation’s school, and their education is planned around their specific learning needs. Considering their starting points, children are doing well and making progress. Children say that they like going to school.

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

The arrangements to safeguard children are good. Leaders and managers respond effectively to safeguarding concerns. Staff receive regular safeguarding training and demonstrate a good awareness of safeguarding processes. Children are safe and they say that they feel safe. Since the previous inspection, there have not been any concerns in relation to children going missing, the misuse of substances or alcohol.

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

Positive behaviour is encouraged. Staff are provided with support plans that guide them well in managing the children’s emotions. In addition, children are involved in the development of their plans. These are regularly reviewed and updated to take account of the children’s current needs. Restraint is rarely used; if used, it is as a last resort to keep children safe.

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

Staff are provided with detailed risk assessments that guide them well in how to manage risk and to support the children in taking age-appropriate risks. For example, assessments include the support provided to children who are visiting the local shops, and how the risk is managed and reduced. Staff have a good awareness and Inspection report children’s home: SC060839 5 understanding of these plans.

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

Children live in a safe and well-maintained home. The recently reviewed location assessment is comprehensive and identifies the known risks and social and leisure opportunities for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the previous inspection, the registered manager has left and a new registered manager has been appointed. The home is well managed and staff have high expectations for what young people can achieve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Social workers speak well of the care and support that children receive. They say that children are making progress. In particular, a social worker said that a child recently moved into the home in order to develop her independence. To date, this has been successful. In addition, the placing authorities say that there is effective communication between them and the staff. This demonstrates good partnership working.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the previous inspection, the registered manager has undertaken a detailed review of the quality of care provided. She has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has identified realistic targets for improvement. Regular visits by the independent visitor continue to take place. The registered manager responds effectively to recommendations made in the independent visitor’s report.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s placement plans are detailed and child-friendly, and identify how their individual needs are to be met. These plans are regularly reviewed and updated. Staff have a good understanding of the children’s needs and how these are to be met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive effective supervision and support. They say that they feel well supported and speak well of the manager. However, due to recent changes in the management of the home staff have not received an annual appraisal.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a wide range of training, including both mandatory training and specific training to equip them to support the children well. However, not all staff have received training in relation to supporting children with sexualised behaviour.

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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. Inspection report children’s home: SC060839 6 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

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Information about this inspection

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 children’s home: SC060839 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blackford Education (Schools) Ltd

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC060839 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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