Children's home run by Park Blue Homes Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2628430 1 Registered provider: Park Blue Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private organisation. It provides care for up to five children who may have needs associated with a learning disability and/or social and emotional difficulties. In addition, children may have experienced loss, trauma and abuse. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2628430 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good-quality care from a dedicated staff team that hold the children at the centre of their practice. The love and warmth shines through as staff talk about the children. On Valentine’s Day, each child received chocolates in a gift box suspended from a red heart helium balloon. Three of the four children have lived together for over four years. As a group, the four children moved from their previous children’s home to this house in March 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive relationships with the adults who care for them, understand them, and know them well. These positive relationships enable the children to successfully work through past traumas and begin to make progress in their social and emotional development. Staff effectively use their training in therapeutic parenting, and this approach is further supported by the recent appointment of a psychotherapist.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff team are proud of the children’s achievements and spoke warmly about them. Children have many opportunities for activities and fun. Despite three children having COVID-19 on New Year’s Eve, the creativity from the staff team led to a corridor party. Children sat in the doorway of their bedrooms to share and enjoy a socially distanced take-away meal with drinks and games. During the inspection, playfulness was evident. Children were observed enjoying their interactions with the staff team through dancing, telling jokes and having chats.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to attend school. Full-time education for all children contributes to their social, emotional and academic progress. Achievements are celebrated, such as regular attendance, a successful move to secondary school and taking mock exams.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The large house and garden provide suitable space for the children. Each child’s bedroom is decorated to reflect their likes and personality. At times of frustration, some children have caused damage to areas of the home. The maintenance team, who are known to the children, undertake repairs as soon as they can and were working at the time of the inspection. Some kitchen cupboards no longer have doors. However, leaders and managers are planning to install a new kitchen this year.

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

Risk management is effective and is supported well by comprehensive assessments. These documents alert staff to the children’s known risks and how to respond to keep children safe, both inside and outside of the home. As a result, there has not been any incidents of a child going missing from this home. However, as new risks Inspection report for children’s home: 2628430 3 are appropriately identified, the same approach is not always applied to review the relevance of historic risks that no longer apply.

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

Due to the complex needs of the children, the registered manager and staff are often challenged by the behaviours of the children. There are occasions when restraint is used to safeguard children who may be harming themselves or others. On two occasions, staff have not responded appropriately to children, and their poor practice has been reported to the designated officer in the local authority. Members of the staff team recognise their role in reporting safeguarding concerns. Leaders and managers have responded appropriately when such concerns have come to their attention.

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

Working collaboratively with the other professionals involved, ensures that a consistent response is provided to support the children. In November 2021, there were some serious incidents that led leaders and managers to consider the suitability of this home for one child. Effective multi-agency working prompted a medication review and identification of additional support services. This intervention has enabled the child to settle, be calm and feel secure in order to remain living at this home.

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

Suitability checks are completed for new and temporary staff, ensuring that safer recruitment procedures are followed. Staff are trained in the protection of children, prompting them to be curious about changes in behaviour. Through staff members being alerted to safeguarding matters, action has been taken to address concerns quickly, such as the inappropriate use of mobile phones. Suitable restrictions are imposed on the use of electronic devices, the Wi-Fi and video games. Further protection for children occurs through direct discussions on how to keep themselves safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager received support and mentoring from the previous manager in order to be successfully promoted to this role. Through regular monitoring of records and care practices, the manager has a good understanding of the strengths of this home and areas for improvement. Effective organisation and a proactive approach from the registered manager ensure that plans for children are suitable and implemented without unnecessary delay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals report positively about this home. Communication is reported to be very good, with prompt reporting of any concerns. Social workers report that they have confidence in the manager and the team. One social worker said that the staff go above and beyond to support the child and meet their needs. Another social worker reported that the manager and the team have always worked to high standards when keeping the children safe. In addition, a social care professional for two of the children recognises the warmth, dedication and care provided to the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2628430 4 Staffing levels are suitable. However, there have been some changes, with staff leaving and new staff being employed. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that some temporary staff from an agency, or other homes within the organisation, provided some care and support to cover staff absence. To provide

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

some continuity of care for children, regular temporary staff were employed. Staff training was achieved through online learning during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and now face-to-face training is being delivered. Several staff members expressed how they were looking forward to being together for a day’s training on safeguarding the week after the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff employed at this home speak positively about the support they receive from the manager and each other. Regular team meetings and supervision provide good opportunities for review and learning. Leaders and managers are reflective and prompt to review any difficulties. This allows them to consider if there have been any lessons learned to inform future practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2628430 5

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that damaged areas of the home are repaired quickly and that children are helped to express their frustration without damaging the home. 31 March 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that there is continual and active assessment of the risks to each child. In particular, reduce or remove a risk that is no longer present. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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, Inspection report for children’s home: 2628430 6 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 for children’s home: 2628430 7

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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 Gate, Bishop Auckland DL14 9NH

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Inspector

Clare Davies, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2628430 8 regulates and inspects 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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