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 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. The home provides care for up to three children who may have social and emotional needs. The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2019. At the time of this inspection, the registered manager was on a planned leave of absence. An interim manager has been appointed.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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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

Date of last inspection: 20 February 2020

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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

20/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/12/2019 Full Good 05/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC060839 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home. One child’s move was planned and happened in line with the placing authority care plan. The second child’s move was not planned. Leaders and manages identified a rapid decline in his needs. Staff were unable to manage his behaviors and prevent them from having a detrimental impact on the other children. As a result, leaders and managers made a difficult decision to give notice to the child’s placing authority. This decision was in the best interest of all the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers ensured that both children experienced a positive move from the home. The children enjoyed a planned celebratory event. This provided them with an opportunity to say farewell to all the staff who cared for them. Leaving gifts included a memorabilia album of their time living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The remaining two children are comfortable living here. The atmosphere in the home is akin to that found in a considerate and loving family home. The adults create a genuinely warm and welcoming living environment that children call their home. A social worker agrees with this and said, ‘The home is very homely; the organisation prioritises children’s experiences and their living environment.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff place the children’s needs at the centre of their practice. They provide genuine nurturing care. As a result, children display confidence and trust in the adults that care for them. Children confidently approach staff for their company and help.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy spending their leisure time doing age-appropriate activities that benefit their health and well-being. Good use is made of the local resources. A social worker agreed that staff really help the children to explore their different interests and activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s educational needs are, without exception, prioritised and promoted well. Both children attend the organisation’s school. Their bespoke timetable provides them with a blended education package. This includes formal learning and attending the animal school and woodland school. Children say that they enjoy going to school, and they particularly enjoy looking after and learning about how to care for animals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are gained through informal discussions, house meetings and one- to-one discussions. Despite this, records of these meetings do not evidence the children’s contributions or if actions agreed at the previous meeting have been considered or acted on. Prior to this inspection, the interim manager identified that this is an area that requires further development and has included it as an action in the home’s development plan. Inspection report children’s home: SC060839 4

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

A strength of this home is how well leaders and managers recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns. Good relationships have been established and are maintained with safeguarding agencies. Records relating to all safeguarding concerns detail what actions have been taken and the outcome. A social worker agrees with the quality of safeguarding practice and said, ‘Safeguarding concerns are reported promptly. The manager’s attendance and contributions during strategy meetings are valued. All agreed actions are always implemented.’

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

Since the last inspection, there was a brief period when a number of high-risk incidents occurred with one child. During this unsettled time, the interim manager identified that the children were at potential risk of harm and their welfare compromised. In response, senior leaders took swift action to manage and mitigate risks. Senior leaders and managers worked collaboratively with safeguarding agencies.

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

The records relating to physical interventions confirm that interventions are proportionate and only used as a last resort. Following these incidents, the views and experiences of the child are sought. The manager uses this information to review behaviour management plans and targets.

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

Children are helped to contribute to their care and support plans. In addition, the interim manager ensures that these important plans are regularly reviewed and updated. As a result, these documents provide clear guidance for staff. Staff currently working in the home understand children’s needs well and provide the right support to help them. However, two risks for one child have not been formally assessed and documented. The interim manager confirmed that she is currently reviewing this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has taken a planned leave of absence. In the interim, an acting manager has been appointed. The interim manager is managing this home effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager ensures that all staff receive regular formal supervisions. Team meetings take place weekly and attendance is good. Despite this, these meetings do not provide the staff with an opportunity as individuals or as a team to discuss patterns and trends of behaviours or explore effective behaviour management strategies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager has ensured that the team has continued with essential training during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The requirement raised at the last inspection relating to staff receiving training in understanding sexually harmful behaviour has not been met. This is due to COVID-19 restrictions being in place. Inspection report children’s home: SC060839 5 Since the easing of restrictions, the interim manager has identified a suitable training course which she aims to book when available dates are issued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Internal and independent monitoring of the home takes place routinely. Audits are of a good quality and identify actions to improve the quality of care that children receive. Inspection report children’s home: SC060839 6

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)) 25/06/2021

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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. (Regulation 33 (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, all staff should receive training in supporting children with sexually harmful behaviour. 25/06/2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when seeking children’s views, children 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)  The registered person should ensure a record of supervision provides evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation. In particular, ensure formal supervisions and team meeting provide staff members with the opportunity to reflect on their practice individually and as a team. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3) Inspection report children’s home: SC060839 7

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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 children’s home: SC060839 8

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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

Sharron Escott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC060839 9 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 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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