Children's home run by Flourish (Gloucestershire) Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2557920 1 Registered provider: Flourish Gloucestershire Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider and offers care for up to three children who have learning disabilities. At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, there has been a change in registered manager. The current manager has been registered since June 2024.

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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

Date of last inspection: 14 November 2023

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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: 2557920 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/11/2023 Full Good 14/02/2023 Full Good 10/08/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2557920 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are engaged in education and are doing well at school. Staff have supported children to secure appropriate education placements and to attend each day. When children are not in school, they complete educational activities. One child is at college and has progressed well in their course and said they are really enjoying it.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff interactions with children are warm, friendly and supportive. Children enjoy spending time with staff, which demonstrates the positive relationships they have built with children and that children feel relaxed and comfortable in their presence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide a high level of care for children as they understand past trauma and offer a therapeutic and nurturing environment. Children said they feel safe and supported and have good relationships with staff. There are examples of children approaching staff when they are worried and seeking support from them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children express their views, wishes and feelings in regular conversations with staff. They seek children’s views in preparation for professional meetings, support children to attend meetings if they wish and help children to have their say in the day-to-day running of the home and discuss any changes they would like.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children enjoy quality family time because staff support them to spend time with people that are important to them. Staff have encouraged and promoted family relationships, and these have developed positively for children. Staff also plan activities for children and trips away, so they experience time away from home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to meet their health and well-being needs and engage in a range of appointments. The registered manager takes effective action to seek additional services, so children receive support from external professionals and services when needed. All children have access to therapeutic services, and there is support from a clinical psychologist who regularly visits the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have designed a children’s guide for children who have communication needs, using widgets to demonstrate information in a clear and simple way for them to understand. Similarly, staff have also created an adapted fire safety sheet, so children are helped to understand, using symbols to demonstrate what happens in the home if there is a fire.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment is mostly homely; however, there remains an office that is not in keeping with the rest of the home, but the registered manager said there are plans to convert it into a cloakroom. There are soft furnishings, including plants and ornaments in the home; however, there are no photos of children. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and decorated to a good standard in line with their likes Inspection report for children’s home: 2557920 4 and interests. However, one child, who recently moved in, is waiting for staff to decorate and personalise their bedroom. Staff sometimes carry a bunch of keys to unlock doors, which can make the home feel institutionalised and detract from the homely feel.

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

The registered manager and staff have a good understanding of children’s past experiences, complex needs and their likes and dislikes. They have built quality and positive relationships with children. Children trust them and so have a sense of belonging and stability in their home.

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

Staff help children when they feel anxious and upset to recognise their emotions and learn ways to deal with them. As a result, children have developed resilience and coping strategies. Staff support children to reflect on past behaviours using a nurturing and empathetic approach, so children feel safe and settled.

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

Staff support children to develop independence skills in line with their abilities and needs. During the inspection, one child was cooking dinner for their housemate, and they spoke about their love of cooking and how they enjoy creating recipes. They are learning maintenance skills at college and have put up curtain poles in the home and completed maintenance tasks, which is building practical skills that will help them manage their own home in the future.

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

When children move on, staff continue to offer support so children that have left the home have the choice to maintain the relationships they have with staff. Before children move into the home, the registered manager meets with them first and arranges a visit for them to meet the other children. Planning is robust so children experience smooth transitions and support.

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

Children use a range of electronic devices, but there are regular checks and a robust filtering system in place that is individualised to each child. This monitors all equipment, including apps accessed via TVs that children have in their bedrooms. Staff support children with internet use and teach them how to keep safe online. Older children have completed sessions focused on topics that pose a risk with internet use and social media.

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

Professionals at school say there is good communication with the home, and they have seen positive changes in children’s behaviour. Since recently moving into the home, one child has significantly progressed at school. They are responding positively to communication, presenting as happy and calmer in their surroundings. Parents say that children feel settled at the home and that the registered manager visited their child before they moved into the home to start building relationships.

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

Over recent months, there has been no use of restraint. When staff used restraint previously, leaders and managers monitored the incidents and confirmed that the Inspection report for children’s home: 2557920 5 intervention was necessary and proportionate. Staff spent time with children afterwards so they could express their feelings about it.

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

The registered manager has addressed medication errors effectively. Involved staff completed a competency assessment and medication training, and the whole staff team completed refresher training. However, medication records are disorganised and unclear.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, there have been two registered managers in post. The current registered manager previously worked at the home and returned as manager in April 2024. She demonstrates a high level of commitment and dedication to children, wanting them to have a loving, stable and nurturing home environment and receive a level of care that helps them thrive. Staff report that the registered manager is approachable, supportive and experienced.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is committed to the staff team. She has made positive changes and recognises the skills and experience of staff. She promotes training and learning opportunities so staff can widen their expertise and provide children with nurturing and supportive experiences. Staff said the recent change in management is positive and the new manager wants to upskill them, so they can complete their roles to the best of their ability and improve their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers recognise when staff performance needs developing, so all staff practice is at a high standard. Leaders recently took immediate and effective action to ensure that all staff fully understand safeguarding processes and act accordingly in the best interests of children. The registered manager takes learning from incidents and reflects so there are improvements and effective planning in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has good oversight of documents, and monitoring and review systems are in place. However, despite independent person visits taking place regularly, the reports have not all submitted in line with the Children’s Homes Regulations. Furthermore, the registered manager did not complete a review of the quality of care provided for children within the required timescales. Leaders and managers said they understand this and recognise this is an area for improvement, and so they have taken action to address it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Several new staff members have been recruited over recent months. They work alongside staff who have remained in post for many years, therefore providing a good balance of expertise. Staff say that they feel supported and there is a learning culture within the home. There has been an increase in the use of agency staff, but the registered manager uses regular staff so children are familiar with them. This gives children stability and security in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2557920 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, The 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 registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that clear and accurate records are kept and that these are easily accessible when needed. 20 October

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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.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (3) (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the quality of care review is submitted to Ofsted within the time frame specified. 20 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. 20 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2557920 7 The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (4)(a)(b) (7)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that a copy of this report is submitted to HMCI each month by the independent person.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing environment that meets the needs of the children. In particular, the registered person should continue with their plans to review the office and review staff practice of carrying keys. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2557920 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Flourish Gloucestershire Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 27 Westend Office Suites, Westend, Stonehouse GL10 3FA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Samantha Summers

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Inspector

Emma Fryer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2557920 9 regulates and 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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