Children's Home run by Flourish Children’s Services Limited in Rotherham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2562678 1 Registered provider: Flourish Children’s Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider owns and manages this home.

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Information about this children’s home

It provides care for up to four children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home does not have a registered manager, but there is a manager in post who has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

This children’s home was judged inadequate by Ofsted at a full inspection on 14 March 2023. Following this inadequate judgement, Ofsted issued a notice restricting accommodation at the home and three compliance notices under regulations 12, 13 and 20. Inspection report for children’s home: 2562678 2 A monitoring visit took place on 19 April 2023. The provider had met the compliance notice for regulation 12 and 20. The provider had not met all the steps within the compliance notice for regulation 13, so this was reissued. The notice restricting accommodation at the home remained in place. Inspection report for children’s home: 2562678 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2023 Full Inadequate 15/03/2022 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2562678 4

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improvement to be good

Children sometimes experience conflict in their relationships with each other. Staff talk to children about these relationships, but the child’s feelings about the conflict are not always captured.

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improvement to be good

There are times when children use discriminatory language towards staff members. Staff respond to this in a sensitive way and seek to improve children’s knowledge and understanding of the language they use.

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improvement to be good

Children’s daily experiences are captured in recordings by staff. However, there are inconsistencies in how these are recorded, and the language used is not always sensitive, which can lead to children feeling unvalued.

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improvement to be good

When children move out of the home on an emergency basis, efforts are made to minimize the impact and try and make the ending more positive.

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improvement to be good

Children attend school regularly, and staff maintain contact with school to ensure continuity. They advocate for children to ensure that the right support is in place. Staff understand the barriers to education for some children. School staff explained that one child is the most settled they have been since they moved into the home.

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improvement to be good

The children have different needs and interests. They are supported to access activities that they enjoy. They are supported to enjoy individual and group activities to help them have one-to-one time, as well as time with their peers.

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improvement to be good

The home has been redecorated. It is homely, and the children’s personalities are reflected throughout the home. There are photos of children and staff throughout the home. Children are involved in decorating their bedrooms in line with their personal choice.

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improvement to be good

Some children have indicated that they feel bullied. One child made a complaint about this, but there is no record of any conversations between staff and the child to explore this with them further. Children do not always get the help and support to manage their conflicts.

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improvement to be good

An increase in challenging behaviours from one child led to them moving out of the home quickly as the staff could not keep them and others safe. The manager was aware of the incidents, but they have not all been recorded by staff. Information about the incidents was not available at the inspection, including whether debriefs with staff and the child took place. Inspection report for children’s home: 2562678 5 The use of the restraint is rare. However, when it has been needed, records do not provide full information about the lead-up to the incident and the steps taken by staff to avoid the measure being used.

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improvement to be good

Children are not formally reprimanded for their behaviours, and there were no records of consequences being used. However, records of discussions between staff and children show that staff speak about using consequences as a way of helping children to manage their behaviours. It is unclear if these are applied, but the type of consequences discussed with children are disproportionate.

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improvement to be good

Staff responded appropriately to a serious incident involving a child who had possession of unsafe items and was making threats to harm staff. The police were alerted but no bedroom searches took place to ensure the ongoing safety of staff and others.

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improvement to be good

Detailed risk assessments identify all known risks to children. They provide staff with clear guidance on how to respond to children’s behaviours. Risk assessments are reviewed, but they have not always been shared or discussed with the child’s placing authority. This has led to an inconsistent approach regarding how one child’s family time is supported.

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improvement to be good

Children do not go missing from the home. There are clear procedures in place for staff to follow should this happen, and staff understand their responsibilities to children who go missing from the home.

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improvement to be good

Allegations are taken seriously. Investigations are completed, and appropriate safeguarding professionals are informed.

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good

This home was judged inadequate at the last full inspection. Since then, a newly appointed manager has started in post. She is aware of the shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home and has a plan to develop the home. The new manager’s auditing tool is helping to improve the monitoring and oversight of staff practice and the care provided to children. This is still in its infancy and has not yet achieved the desired outcome of being embedded in practice.

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good

The quality of children’s records is still inconsistent, and there are ongoing concerns that have not been identified by the manager about how staff respond to children’s behaviour.

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good

Leaders and managers have not completed a review of the quality of care provided for children. This is a missed opportunity for the manager to have a full understanding about the care that children are receiving and the progress that they are making. Inspection report for children’s home: 2562678 6 The induction plan for newly appointed staff does not identify timescales for mandatory training to be completed. There are gaps in training for newly appointed staff. These staff have not completed all core training. For some staff, the outstanding training that should have been part of their induction has not yet been booked several weeks on.

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good

Not all staff who have worked at the home for at least two years have completed the requisite qualification for the role.

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good

The manager was not aware of an escalation procedure and therefore has not escalated concerns in relation to missing documents from the local authority. This could mean children’s most up-to-date plans are not followed.

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good

Staff receive regular supervision. Records show that the children are discussed. Staff have received single-subject supervision specific to the risks for children who live at the home. Team meetings take place regularly. They provide staff with the opportunity to discuss the risks to children and the children’s plans.

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good

The manager knows the children and is developing her relationships with them and the staff. She knows the importance of positive relationships between staff and the children, and she is committed to wanting the best outcomes for children. She values her staff and provides them with support and positive role modelling. This positive environment has meant that children have become more settled and have started to make progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 2562678 7

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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

If the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should escalate concerns when other professionals have not provided the information needed about children. This specifically relates to ensuring children have an up-to-date local authority care plan held on their file. 28 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(xii)) 28 August 2023

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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

that staff— 28 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2562678 8 assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if 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

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

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

children’s risk assessments are in line with the child’s plan;

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Requirement Due date

staff understand what bullying is and respond to children when they feel bullied;

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Requirement Due date

bedroom searches take place when there is a concern about a child’s safety; and

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Requirement Due date

staff record all incidents that involve the children and that staff and children.

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(f)(h)) 28 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2562678 9 The registered person should recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (1)(3)(b)(4)(a)(b)(5)(a)) 28 August 2023

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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. (Regulation 33 (4))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that there is a plan for the induction of new staff to the home that includes timescales for the completion of mandatory training. They should ensure that staff complete all core training within those timescales. 28 August 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; 28 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2562678 10 details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(ii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months. (Regulation 45 (1)) 28 August 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. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that is helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 623, 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: 2562678 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Flourish Children’s Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Flourish Children’s Services Limited, 96 Blacker Road, Birkby, Huddersfield HD1 5HN

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Inspectors

Rachel Webster, Social Care Inspector Cat Clasper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2562678 12 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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