Children's home run by Blossom Care Group Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2617199 1 Registered provider: Blossom Care Group Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties. The home was registered in June 2021.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged as inadequate at its first full inspection on 21 and 22 September 2021. The provider was issued with two compliance notices under regulation 11 and regulation 12. A notice to restrict accommodation was also issued.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the provider’s progress in meeting the compliance notices.

p.1

This monitoring visit

One child lived at the home at the time of the visit.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The registered manager has completed a detailed analysis of challenging incidents that have happened at the home and in the community in recent months. The analysis has helped him to understand triggers and patterns which affected children’s behaviour, and what he and the staff could have done differently to manage these.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The child’s risk assessment has been updated and now gives staff a clear understanding of the children’s behaviour and risks, as well as strategies to manage the behaviours. This is helping staff to de-escalate negative behaviours more effectively. Challenging incidents are starting to reduce.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The registered manager has sourced support from a psychotherapist for the child. The child is already engaging well with this. In addition, training for the manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2617199 2 and staff is scheduled in to help them develop their knowledge and skills to work with children who have suffered trauma.

p.1

This monitoring visit

When there are any concerns around the child’s behaviours, staff have been working reflectively with him to help him develop skills to keep himself safe and gain an understanding of the impact of his behaviours on others. The work ranges from discussing boundaries and behaviours towards females, what constitutes positive and healthy relationships, and the effects of smoking to his health.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff are clear that children under the legal age are not permitted to smoke in or around the home, and that the child does not do so. A referral has been made to help the child with smoking cessation.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The registered manager has been working closely with the team members to ensure that there are clear expectations around their roles and responsibilities to meet the needs of children and to keep them safe. This includes revisiting procedures for managing allegations.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The registered manager has ensured that there is sufficiently experienced and skilled staff on shift to support children. There are plans to change the management structure in the home and to appoint a deputy manager, which will strengthen the management team and level of oversight and support that can be provided to staff and children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

As a result of the improvements made, the provider has met the compliance notices under regulation 11 and 12. Following the monitoring visit, no new requirements have been raised.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The improvements made are still in their infancy and need to be fully embedded into practice.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The requirements raised at the full inspection and the restriction of accommodation remain in place and will continue to be monitored by Ofsted. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2617199 3

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/09/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2617199 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(iv)(viii))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff support children to develop good routines and engage in structured activity during the day and support their return to school as soon as possible. 19 November

p.4

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.4

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 19 November Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2617199 5 that staff help each child to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, support children to eat a balanced diet, take exercise and stop smoking.

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

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

p.5

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)(c)(f)(h)) 19 November Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2617199 6 The care planning standard is that children—

p.5

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)) 19 November

p.6

Requirement Due date

This regulation applies to a child who is looked after by a local authority.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must co-operate with the child’s placing authority in agreeing and signing the child’s placement plan. (Regulation 17 (1)(2)) 19 November

p.6

Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7) (b)) 19 November

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

p.6

Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure; 19 November Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2617199 7 a description of the measure and its duration;

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.7

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2)(3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

p.7

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 19 November

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.7

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 19 November Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2617199 8 The registered person must notify, without delay, the local authority for the area in which the children’s home is located of every admission of a child into the home and every discharge of a child from the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person is not required to notify the local authority in paragraph (1) if that local authority is also the placing authority for the child in question.

p.8

Requirement Due date

A notification under this regulation must be in writing and must state—

p.8

Requirement Due date

whether the child is provided with accommodation under section 20 or 21 of the Children Act 1989(a);

p.8

Requirement Due date

whether the child is subject to a care or supervision order under section 31 of the Children Act 1989(b);

p.8

Requirement Due date

the independent reviewing officer appointed for the child’s case; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

whether the child has an EHC plan or a statement of special educational needs and, if so, details of the local authority with responsibility for the EHC plan or for maintaining the statement of special educational needs. (Regulation 41 (1)(2)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 19 November

p.8

Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that staff supervisions allow staff to reflect on their practice and learn. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

p.8

Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that staff follow the procedures for visitors to the home, ensuring that staff accurately complete the visitor’s book, and that staff explain the relevant health and safety protocols to all visitors. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2617199 9

p.8

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.

p.9

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2617199 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blossom Care Group Limited

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 56 Rolleston Road, Burton-On-Trent, Staffordshire DE13 0JZ

p.10

Inspector

Shazana Jamal, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2617199 11 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.

p.10

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.11

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

Inspector

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

p.11