Children's home run by Blue Elephant Childcare Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2546960 1 Registered provider: Blue Elephant Childcare Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care and support for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties. The home is one of six operated by the same provider offering placements to one local authority.. The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child and one young person who had just reached their 18th birthday were living in the home.

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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: 8 February 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2546960 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/02/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2546960 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like living in this home. Staff have created a welcoming and homely environment for the children. Children’s bedrooms are personalised, and staff support them to take care of their rooms and model good parenting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff enjoy working with the children and providing opportunities for them. Staff understand the needs of the children well and encourage them to reach their potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to try new activities and participate in clubs. The staff are proud of the children’s achievements and celebrate these, for example attending a child’s football presentation alongside their parents.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff work effectively with wider professionals to meet the needs of the children. The manager advocates for the children and wants the best for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Plans are in place for both children regarding their post-sixteen education. One child has maintained a part-time job with the support of the staff. The other child is also being supported with some work experience and the manager is liaising with local colleges to formalise this with relevant training.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

While the care and knowledge of the children is good, the written records are of poor quality. Children’s plans are lengthy and lack sufficient detail to be effective.

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

Staff set appropriate boundaries for the children to help keep them safe. Staff talk to children about risks and why they worry. Children understand the concerns and respond well to the boundaries imposed.

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

When incidents have occurred, there is good reflection and practice is improved as a result of lessons learned.

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

Staff know the children well and how best to respond when the children are upset. Staff can pre-empt challenges for the children and try to mitigate these as best they can, by suggesting known strategies that help the children feel calm.

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

Physical restraint is rarely used in this home. On the occasions it has been used, this has been with minimal intrusion and to prevent immediate harm to the child. Staff do not consistently receive a thorough debrief when they have physically intervened and debriefs are not always recorded effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2546960 4 Children are given opportunities to practise their independence in safe and creative ways. Children are empowered to have some autonomy in their lives, which helps prepare them for their futures.

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

Staff work well alongside other professionals to meet the needs of the children. Where possible staff try to encourage a positive relationship with significant family members and those relationships that are important to the child to facilitate safe and positive time together.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager recognises the areas of weakness in the home and uses review mechanisms effectively to improve the service provided to children. Furthermore, the registered manager has plans to develop the home, so it has more to offer children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report a positive working environment where they feel well supported. All mandatory staff training is up to date. Staff told the inspector that training is of high quality and helps them to feel equipped for the job. The inspector found that staff had received training relevant to the needs of the children in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and staff report that there is always help available in between supervision when needed. However, supervision recordings are weak. The records do not capture the detail of the conversation and agreed outcomes, which could be open to interpretation if reviewed at a later date. Supervision is not reflective and does not encourage staff to think reflectively enough about their work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is staffed by permanent employees. There is currently one vacancy which is filled by cover staff within the company who are familiar with the home and the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment practices are in place at this home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2546960 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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff receive high-quality reflective supervision that is well recorded. 31 March 2023

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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; 1 September 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2546960 6 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”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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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 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that debriefs with staff are thorough and recorded with the details of the restraint.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that records accurately capture important information and that this information is easily accessible to staff. 31 March 2023

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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 for children’s home: 2546960 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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Inspector

Katie Ratcliffe, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2546960 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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