Children's home run by Parker SC Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2680042 1 Registered provider: Blossom SC 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 and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties. Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered in July 2022. This is its first inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2022.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2680042 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a positive and nurturing environment. They receive support from a caring staff team who are committed to helping them to settle in to the home. Staff understand the plans in place when children move in to the home and make sure that these are followed. Children receive a welcome gift and child-friendly guide to help them to understand what life will be like at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education attendance for the children is variable. For those children who experience barriers to attending school, staff work closely with schools to encourage progress in small steps. In addition, staff also advocate and challenge professionals to ensure that children receive education that is tailored to their needs. This ensures that children’s learning needs are met and that children are helped to understand the importance of education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to maintain healthy lifestyles and enjoy a healthy diet. They receive all the help that they require with their healthcare needs. Children trust staff and talk to them about their concerns. Staff have frequent opportunities to discuss with the home’s therapist the issues that matter most to children. This helps staff to respond better to children’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of leisure activities. These activities allow children to have age-appropriate experiences and develop their self-esteem. Leisure activities include horse riding and trips to theme parks and cinemas. These opportunities create lasting memories of the children’s time in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children keep in touch with members of their family. For some children, this involves staff helping them to reunite with relatives who they have not been seeing on a regular basis. Promoting family time ensures that children maintain family ties and a sense of positive identity.

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

Staff complete detailed risk assessments and behaviour support plans. Staff regularly review and amend these documents as children’s risks change. There are clear strategies and guidance on what action staff should take to respond to risk. This ensures that children are better protected from harm.

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

Children start to learn how to keep themselves safe. This is because staff complete focused work with children around a number of topics, such as internet safety and bullying. This work is evaluated to ensure that it meets the needs of the children. This helps to promote children’s welfare and well-being.

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

Physical restraint is only used as a last resort to keep children safe. Following incidents, reflective discussions are held with children in a timely manner. Staff discussions are also conducted swiftly. In addition, the manager has good oversight Inspection report for children’s home: 2680042 3 to ensure that the physical interventions are proportionate. This practice helps to keep children safe.

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

Safer recruitment processes are effective. The manager ensures that employment checks, Disclosure and Baring Service checks, and previous employment references are scrutinised before staff work with children. The manager is aware of how to deal with allegations against staff. She follows the safeguarding procedures to inform the local authority designated officer. All these measures ensure that children are safeguarded effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is currently undertaking the qualification relevant to the role. The manager is a positive role model for children and staff. She works well with the responsible individual to embed the ethos of the home. Leaders and managers are supported by a caring staff team. They are committed to providing good-quality care to the children and are enthusiastic about the future of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are good monitoring systems in place to help the manager to track the children’s progress. The manager responds well to the feedback from the independent person. Any recommendations are discussed in team meetings with staff. Plans are put in place to address the recommendations quickly. This approach helps to improve practice and outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report that they feel well supported by the management team. They benefit from regular team meetings, training and reflective supervision sessions. Supervision explores the progress of children and reflects on how to deliver better care. This helps to improve the day-to-day care that children receive from staff. However, there is no record of the induction plans for new staff. This does not give assurances that new staff receive the support required at the time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most of the children’s records are well documented. However, there are some key entries that used language that stigmatises the child. This recording is not helpful to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Liaison with other agencies is effective. The manager is developing positive relationships with members of the professional network. She challenges other professionals if they do not carry out their responsibilities adequately. Children’s progress is enhanced by the way in which the manager fosters good communication between the home, social workers and teachers. These close relationships ensure that children receive the help that they need in a timely manner. Inspection report for children’s home: 2680042 4

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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

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction. (Regulation 33 (1)(a) 31 May 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2680042 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Mistel, West Harlsey, Northallerton DL6 2DS

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Inspector

Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2680042 6 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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