Children's home run by Blossom Care Group Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2620184 1 Registered provider: Blossom Care Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by an experienced and qualified registered manager who has been in post since August 2021.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2620184 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2023 Full Good 17/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2620184 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living in the home. They recognise the good progress they have made in their lives, which they are proud of. They have positive and long-standing relationships with a dedicated staff team. Children can rely on staff to care for and support them but also to challenge them when appropriate to help their progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The two children living at the home have remained settled since the last inspection. One other child has left the home as they were well prepared and ready for semi- independent living, in line with their plan. Their move out of the home was thoroughly planned and staff continue to support them through outreach work. This has helped the child to settle into their new home. The child’s social worker was very complimentary about staff going above and beyond to support their child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are robust independence plans for children. Staff encourage children and use formal and informal approaches to guide them and develop their independence skills and confidence. As a result, children can manage many important aspects of their own lives. This includes budgeting, relationships and household tasks. One child has also been making safer decisions in the home and in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s education and aspirations. Both children achieved qualifications that have enabled them to attend college. They are on track and motivated to achieve their chosen qualifications.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children choose varied activities to get involved in and enjoy. These include going trampolining and to the cinema and visiting theme parks. One child has also cared for a horse, as she wishes to work with animals in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with local health services and they attend routine appointments. They are also supported to understand age-appropriate topics such as healthy relationships and consent. This gives children a better understanding about how to keep themselves safe and well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to maintain their identity and to celebrate diversity. Children spend time with their families and friends. One child is supported by staff to build positive relationships with their siblings. They have also enjoyed spending time with their friends in the home. There have been regular cultural events at the home, arranged by the diverse staff team. At these events, children and staff wear traditional clothing from a variety of cultures. They learn about the traditions of these cultures and they cook food from these cultures together. As a result, children have gained a deeper understanding and respect for difference.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is well maintained. Children have personalised their bedrooms with their choice of lights and wallpaper. Pictures of them enjoying activities brighten up the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2620184 4

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

The manager and staff know the children and their needs and strengths very well. When safeguarding concerns arise, they respond to manage issues and work with external professionals. Through the support and understanding of staff, children have been helped to minimise potential risks. Updated risk management plans provide staff with clear guidance about actions to take.

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

There have been no complaints or allegations made by children against staff. There has been one occasion when staff have had to use restraint to keep a child safe. This was managed well and work was undertaken to repair the relationships between the child and staff. The recording of this incident was completed in a timely manner. However, the quality of this record and some others relating to children’s behaviours has not always been consistent. The manager has provided additional support for staff around record-keeping. They acknowledge that this remains an area of ongoing development.

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

Children understand and have contributed towards drawing up some of the rules and boundaries in the home. The manager and staff actively educate children about their risks. They use a variety of approaches, including regular direct work and informal conversations. Children are also encouraged to reflect with staff when they make poor decisions, or following incidents. This has led to children being able to show some insight and to learn from their actions in the home and community.

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

When children go missing, staff follow children’s plans and search for them to ensure their safe return home. On one occasion, one child managed to leave the home without staff knowledge. The child came to no harm and staff acted swiftly as soon as this came to light. The manager completed a thorough investigation and learning review. They put into place additional training for staff and other relevant measures. This has prevented a similar incident occurring again. The child’s social worker was clear that staff managed the situation well. They applauded the manager and staff for the review and learning culture in the home.

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

The storage, administration and recording of children’s medication is robust. Staff carry out daily medication audits and the manager carries out weekly audits. The manager also has systems in place that enable them to monitor ongoing staff practice in relation to medication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager continues to be a firm and positive presence in the home for children and staff. They are well respected by the staff team and other professionals. The manager is well supported by an experienced responsible individual and a deputy manager. Together, as a management team, they have helped to create an environment in which children develop and succeed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All the staff have completed their mandatory training courses. They have also completed additional training courses that are relevant to the children’s individual Inspection report for children’s home: 2620184 5 needs. Staff have regular supervision meetings and team meetings to support their development. New members of staff have a well-planned package of induction, probation, training and regular reviews. This has helped them to feel supported and equipped to provide good care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most of the staff have the required qualification for residential childcare. A few of the staff are in the process of completing their qualifications and have experience of working with children. However, one member of staff has not completed their qualification within the required timeframe. The manager continues to support them with this. They have a plan in place to ensure that this is completed without further delay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have good monitoring and reviewing systems in place. When children’s progress is affected, they have recognised this. They have worked with and appropriately challenged the children’s wider professional network to address issues. External professionals said the home is a positive and safe place for children to live. Inspection report for children’s home: 2620184 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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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 (2)(a)(b) (3)(b) (4)(a) (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff complete the appropriate qualification in a timely manner. 15 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2620184 7

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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 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: 2620184 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blossom Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Staton Young, Anglesey House, Anglesey Road, Burton-on-Trent DE14 3NT

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Inspector

Nurul Kabir, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2620184 9 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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