Children's Home run by 247 Bluebell Care Limited in Luton

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2611991 1

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247 Bluebell Care Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to two children who may have complex social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2021.

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This monitoring visit

The home registered in January 2021. One child has moved into the home since registration.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted conducted this visit following significant concerns raised through safeguarding notifications. At the visit, several serious shortfalls were identified. The provider is likely to be subject to enforcement action. The visit was undertaken remotely.

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This monitoring visit

The manager’s monitoring and oversight are not effective. The manager has failed to identify or address shortfalls in staff’s practice. The records of the child’s missing- from-home episodes have not been reviewed to check for patterns or triggers. Therefore, the child has continued to go missing from the home and be at risk.

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This monitoring visit

The matching and assessment of the child prior to their admission was poor. The admission assessment failed to consider whether the staff team has the relevant experience and skills to meet the child’s complex needs. The manager accepted the referral request for a rural therapeutic placement, despite the home’s urban location. Risks, including assault and child sexual exploitation, were not given enough consideration. Consequently, the assessment failed to fully consider how the staff can keep the child safe. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2611991 2 The child has no placement plan or behaviour management plan. There is no guidance written by the manager to inform the staff of how the child’s needs are to be met. Therefore, the staff are unclear about how to care for the child safely.

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This monitoring visit

The child’s risk assessment fails to identify all the risks and the actions to reduce these. The risks include child criminal exploitation, gang involvement and locations of significant concern. Consequently, the staff do not have enough information to safeguard the child.

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This monitoring visit

The location risk assessment does not identify risks associated with the location of the home. An area in which the child is able to lose the staff who are following her has not been reviewed. There are no details of local names and addresses of people who are known to pose a risk to the child. This means that the staff may not be aware of these dangers.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has failed to inform Ofsted of a significant incident at the home. This does not provide Ofsted with a realistic overview of the serious events at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and the deputy manager have relevant experience of working with children with complex needs. However, the staff team lacks training and experience. The training provided does not reflect the risks that the child is exposed to. Therefore, the staff lack the necessary experience and skills to meet the child’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

The staff speak with enthusiasm about their roles. They enjoy working at the home and say that the manager is supportive and approachable. The child engages with staff at times, for example to play board games, and undertakes some schoolwork. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2611991 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f)(h)) 5 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. 26 March 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2611991 4 (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the staff have the necessary experience and training to meet the individual needs of children living at the home.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor concerns raised through safeguarding notifications.

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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: 247 Bluebell Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 to 8 Stuart Street, Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 2SJ

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Inspectors

Natalie Burton, Social Care Inspector Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2611991 5 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

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

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