Children's home run by Park Blue Homes Limited

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2509892 1

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Park Blue Homes Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated and managed by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered in July 2020 and has not been inspected previously. There has been no registered manager in post since 13 November 2020. The current manager started in November 2020.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted received information, via safeguarding notifications, that highlighted potential breaches of regulation and poor practice in relation to the care and protection of children. This visit was carried out in response to those concerns. At this visit we found no serious or widespread concerns.

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This monitoring visit

Since the home was registered, three children have been admitted to the home, two of whom experienced unplanned placement endings. The current manager has reviewed the admission processes and completed a ‘lessons learned’ exercise. This is to avoid future placements ending abruptly. The effectiveness of this will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has ensured that staff receive training which is relevant to the needs of the children in their care. More recently, training has included autism awareness and learning difficulties. The home has a skilled workforce, which means that children are more likely to receive better care and protection.

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This monitoring visit

Staff work with a range of agencies in order to meet the needs of the children successfully. This multi-agency working leads to improved outcomes for the children. A professional commented, ‘I was really impressed, they have a good understanding of [Name] and his needs in such a short period of time. Good working together Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2509892 2 between the home and school has been impressive. [Name] has made very good progress.’

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This monitoring visit

Staff are effective in communicating with children who have additional needs and/or communication needs. Children can share worries and concerns with staff in different ways, including the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). This helps children to develop relationships with staff and helps them to express their wishes and feelings. This improves their overall experiences.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has developed her own monitoring systems to review all areas of practice, including the day-to-day running of the home. These have been effective in identifying shortfalls, particularly around managing children’s behaviour. Consequently, critical incidents in the home have reduced, which means that children experience fewer crisis episodes that can be distressing for them.

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This monitoring visit

During the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic restrictions, the manager has ensured that children are kept active through doing daily activities that they enjoy. Additionally, staff support children to spend time with people who are important to them, where it is safe to do so and in line with government guidance. This improves children’s emotional well-being and allows them to maintain their sense of identity..

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This monitoring visit

There is an inconsistent approach to recording information in children’s documents. The information in some records is not clearly communicated and could be misinterpreted. This means that it is difficult for children to see how they will be supported and to recognise their own progress. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2509892 3

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Park Blue Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fairfield Lodge, Evenwood, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham DL14 9NH

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Inspectors

Jacqueline Tate, Social Care Inspector Paula Shepherd, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2509892 4 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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