Children's Home run by 247 Bluebell Care Limited in Luton

Inspection report for children’s home: 2611991 1 Registered provider: 247 Bluebell Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children who may have complex social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children are not protected or their welfare is not safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: At the full inspection on 17 and 18 July 2023, two compliance notices were served. These notices were in regard to the help and protection of children, and the leadership and management of the home. A restriction of accommodation notice was issued. Inspection report for children’s home: 2611991 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/07/2023 Full Inadequate 25/04/2022 Full Good 25/11/2021 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2611991 3

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inadequate

This inspection was undertaken as a second full inspection following the inadequate judgement, and to monitor the steps in the compliance notices. The steps have not been met, and two further compliance notices have been served. The provider has complied with the restriction of accommodation notice.

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inadequate

Since the last inspection, one child is living at the home and one child has moved out. There continues to be serious and widespread shortfalls in the care provided and, consequently, children have made limited progress.

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inadequate

One child moved out at short notice due to staff being unable to meet their needs. Before this, the child told the staff that he felt depressed and was struggling with nightmares. This information was not shared with staff or integrated into behaviour management plans and risk assessments. Staff did not seek any mental health support for the child. During subsequent incidents, the staff did not have the knowledge or skills to support the child. This led to a very distressing and traumatic ending for the child, who was unable to say goodbye.

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inadequate

Children are not listened to when they raise issues about the running of the home. A child made a complaint on two occasions to two different staff members. The complaint was not taken seriously, and the child was told that it was a concern and not a complaint. There is no evidence that the child was happy with the outcome as this has not been recorded, and there is no clear audit trail. This devalues the child’s voice.

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inadequate

A child has a college placement for three days a week. The staff have not planned any meaningful activities for the rest of the week. During the inspection, the child was not able to go to college due to the management of risks. The staff were not responsive to these changes in providing something meaningful for the child. This limits the daily experiences of the child, and reduces their learning opportunities.

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inadequate

A key-worker session took place with a child that indicated that the child smokes tobaccos and cannabis. The child gave the staff paraphernalia linked to substance misuse. Following this discussion, appropriate health advice has not been sought to support the child with smoking cessation. Following a routine appointment for a very serious injury, the child was advised that they may experience seizures. This has not been transferred into the child’s care plans. Therefore, there are no clear instructions about how to support the child in the event of a seizure.

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inadequate

The garden remains uninteresting and uninviting. A kitchen cupboard door has come off its hinges and looks unsightly. The ground floor bathroom has a large tile missing, exposing the plaster behind. There are pieces of wood missing that boxed Inspection report for children’s home: 2611991 4 in the waste pipes; this exposes the pipes and looks unsightly. The child said that these areas of the home are ‘not nice’.

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inadequate

A child has joined a local football team and is enthusiastic about this. The child has enjoyed days out to Camden Town and theme parks over the summer holidays.

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

The previous shortfalls that meant that children were unsafe and at risk have not been addressed. The manager and staff do not demonstrate enough understanding or identification of risks to children. Overall, there is a lack of effective risk- management strategies.

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

Children are at risk outside the home, including being at serious risk of child criminal exploitation. Risk management plans do not provide enough information to ensure that risks are understood and adequately mitigated. Contextual information in the location risk assessment about local risks has not been integrated into the child’s risk assessments. This is especially important as the child is starting to reintegrate into the community without staff supervision and attend college. This has the potential to compromise the child’s safety.

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

The first page of a child’s risk assessment details the child’s criminal offences. There are other serious risks to the child that are not prioritised in this document. The offences are all linked to gang affiliation and influence. The child was seriously attacked, resulting in life-threatening injuries. Details about the perpetration of this attack have not been followed up by the manager as a priority. As a survivor of an assault that resulted in a very serious head injury, this does not show enough concern for the child’s well-being, and demonstrates unconscious bias.

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

The child’s behaviour management plans do not clearly instruct the staff. Managers have not interpreted information from incident reports that could support staff to reduce incidents. Therefore, the staff are not able to help children with their feelings. On three occasions, the staff have relied on the police for support with the management of incidents. This means that children have had unnecessary involvement with police, and this affects the relationships that children have with staff.

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

Fire safety checks are poor. Weekly fire checks are not regular. Due to restrictions placed on one child by a court order, the external doors of the building are always locked. The fire risk assessment does not take this into account.

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

Staff who have recently joined the team have had relevant recruitment checks carried out prior to starting. This ensures that staff are suitable to work with children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2611991 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager is working towards her level 5 qualification. The manager has not addressed the previous shortfalls identified. This fails to provide children with an adequate quality of care. At this inspection, six out of the nine requirements have been restated, and a further two have been added.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The managerial monitoring of the home remains ineffective. Managers do not understand the risks to children, and appropriate action is not taken to address concerns as they arise. This fails to provide assurances that managers are aware of their role in supporting the progress of children and keeping them safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The staff have not had specific training to meet the individual needs of the children. For example, training in relation to county lines, gang affiliation and internet safety has not been undertaken. One member of staff is leading shifts without the appropriate training. This fails to ensure that staff are equipped to carry out their roles effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager is not providing enough support to staff. Practice issues are not identified and, therefore, not dealt with. This means that staff continue to work in ways that are unhelpful to children, and they are not able to improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Supervision sessions are not provided in line with the home’s workforce development plan. For example, one senior member of staff has not had supervision for two months. Supervision sessions fail to include discussions about the children’s risks and needs. This reduces opportunities for staff to debrief and reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The staff rotas do not identify which staff are on shift. A number of agency staff are used. However, it is unclear who is in the house, on which days, and whether continuity of staffing supports children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Feedback from a social worker is positive. The staff said that they enjoy working at the home and feel that the manager is supportive. Inspection report for children’s home: 2611991 6

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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 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 necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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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

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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff are aware of each child’s specific risks and take all necessary action to reduce risks for children.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that records are updated, reviewed, communicated and implemented by the home’s managers and staff. This is in regard to updating care plans, health plans, risk- management plans and risks in the local community. 9 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2611991 7 Ensure that the home’s manager and staff act in accordance with and implement safeguarding procedures. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage in a way the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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)(b) (2)(a)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all incidents are reviewed by the manager and appropriate action is taken.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skill to meet the individual needs of children.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff practice concerns are monitored and addressed.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure the effective review, evaluation and monitoring of all records and documents to ensure that they are accurate and reflect the individual children who they relate to.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 9 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2611991 8 The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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 develop the skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, support children to improve their sleep hygiene and obtain medical advice for children with any injuries.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

If the regulatory reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employment), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2611991 9 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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a) (2)(b)(iii)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

ensure that children are able to use all of the home;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that consideration is given to the use of the third first-floor bedroom, and that the risks associated with the flat roof inform this decision; and

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Requirement Due date

provide the necessary resources that support children’s skills, ages and interests, and support the activities that stimulate and interest them.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2611991 10 The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2611991 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: 247 Bluebell Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Aw House, 6-8 Stuart St, Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 2SJ

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Inspector

Hannah Phillips, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2611991 12 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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