Children's home run by The Mulberry Bush Organisation Ltd

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1275569 1 Registered provider: The Mulberry Bush Organisation Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

According to the home’s statement of purpose, the home provides an integrated combination of residential therapeutic care, treatment and education for primary school-aged children with severe social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is made up of three separate houses, providing care for children for either 38 or 52 weeks a year. At the time of the inspection, 21 children were living at the home across the three houses.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 18 June 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspectors only inspected the social care provision at this school.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 20 December 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1275569 2 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1275569 3

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Children are cared for by staff who are attentive and familiar with each child’s personality and needs. Interactions between children and staff are warm and nurturing. Children have an enjoyable time and are supported to make good progress towards goals that are important to them.

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The care of children

Staff understand the importance of predictable routines for children. Children are supported to engage in education, and they make good progress from their starting points. Activities are planned around the education timetable, and children told the inspectors that they can participate in a range of activities that they enjoy.

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The care of children

Managers make sure that children have regular opportunities to discuss the way that the service is run. This helps to reassure children that their views are important and that their voices are being heard.

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The care of children

Some children have told managers that they sometimes experience racial discrimination and bullying from other children. Managers respond robustly to help children understand that this is not acceptable. Additionally, there is a whole-school focus on celebrating diversity.

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The safety of children

Managers have invested time and energy into addressing the shortfalls that were identified at the last inspection.

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The safety of children

Records of physical restraint demonstrate improved practice in relation to the use of de-escalation techniques to try and avoid the need for physical restraint.

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The safety of children

All incidents of physical restraint are now followed by a debrief with the children and staff involved. The information gathered during the debriefs is used to consider how to prevent a recurrence.

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The safety of children

Managers have arranged to have a daily time slot with the local authority designated officer to discuss allegations and complaints about staff and any other safeguarding concerns. As a result, there is opportunity for timely independent scrutiny of the safety plans that are put in place to safeguard children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1275569 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Management monitoring of the use of physical restraint has improved. Managers carry out a careful review of all incidents of physical restraint to ensure that the use of the measure was appropriate and proportionate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff speak positively about the support they receive from managers. Leaders have recognised that the head of care would benefit from assistance due to the complexity of the role. Leaders are in the process of recruiting safeguarding and quality assurance managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff recruitment and retention have been ongoing challenges for managers. There is not currently a full staff complement, and managers are actively recruiting to fill care staff vacancies. In the interim, managers are making sure that there are sufficient staff to care safely for children by reducing the amount of residential provision that is offered. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1275569 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/12/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/04/2021 Full Outstanding 05/11/2019 Full Outstanding 23/10/2018 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1275569 6

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Mulberry Bush Organisation Ltd

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Inspectors

Helen Simmons, Regulatory Inspection Manager Lee Kirwin, Regulatory Inspection Manager Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1275569 7 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

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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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