Children's home run by Blue Elephant Childcare Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2619357 1 Registered provider: Blue Elephant Childcare Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care for up to three children, aged between eight and 18 years, with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post is vacant. An acting manager is in post and has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was undertaken to assess the progress of the home since the full inspection in March 2022, when the home was judged inadequate.

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This monitoring visit

Two children now live at the home. One child moved out the day before this visit. The team recognised that they could not meet the child’s needs. The manager made the difficult decision to give him notice to move.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection in March, some serious incidents concerning children’s behaviour have occurred. These incidents have been notified to Ofsted as required. The manager has identified the importance of ensuring consistent practice among the staff team and has put in place measures to achieve this.

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This monitoring visit

An action plan is in place to address the requirements set following the March 2022 inspection. Progress has been made toward meeting these actions, but it is early days; more time is needed to embed change. These requirements are therefore restated.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted will continue to monitor the home’s progress. An additional full inspection will be carried out within 16 weeks of the last visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2619357 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/03/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2619357 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 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;

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to creating boundaries and routines that support the children to achieve their care plans. 25 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2619357 4 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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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;

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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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This refers to staff carrying out the smoking cessation plans effectively and seeking advice when children are under the influence of illegal substances.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 8 April 2022

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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 18 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2619357 5 necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to staff understanding each child’s risk assessment, and their role in keeping children safe at all times.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 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

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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 25 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2619357 6 The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any [other] incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, serious incidents and other concerns must be notified to Ofsted to ensure transparency.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 18 March 2022

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2619357 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blue Elephant Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 30, Chivenor Business Park, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 4AY

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Inspectors

Michelle Oxley, Social Care Inspector Paula Lahey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2619357 8 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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