Children's home run by Blossomcare NW Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2714454 1 Registered provider: Blossomcare NW Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for one child who experiences social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living in the home at the time of this inspection and was spoken to by the inspector.

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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: 2714454 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2714454 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has positive, caring and trusting relationships with staff. The staff know the child very well, invest time in them and promote their well-being through shared activities and celebrating their achievements. The child has a strong sense of stability and security. The child said, ‘I like living here and the staff keep me safe.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff collaborate very well with external professionals to ensure that the child’s educational needs are met. The staff carry out focused work with the child to help them meet the aims and goals of their education plan. The child is well prepared for their future and is developing independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is in good health. Staff support the child to attend health appointments. All appointments are up to date. The child is supported to improve their oral hygiene with positive results. This support enables the child to achieve good health outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has an individualised independence plan that is suited to their age and understanding. The plan is thorough and includes support with budgeting, shopping and personal hygiene. The team uses creative ways to implement the plan, such as a ‘£5 meal challenge’. This promotes a fun approach to their learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has personalised their bedroom and is settled and happy at the home. Staff ensure that the home environment is welcoming, safe, clean and tidy. Health and safety checks are carried out regularly, and health and safety risk assessments are reviewed regularly. However, there is no suitable window covering in the child’s bedroom. This compromises the child’s privacy.

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

There have been several missing-from-home incidents since the last inspection. Staff understand and follow the home’s missing-from-home policy. Staff are proactive in seeking the safe return of the child. When the child returns home, they are welcomed warmly by staff. For example, the child likes a bubble bath to be prepared for them on their return home.

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

The staff understand the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. They take time to talk to the child and educate them about risk. Staff support the child to find alternative strategies to de-escalate situations, reduce risk and improve their ability to stay safe.

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

Staff understand how the work they do contributes towards increasing the child’s safety. Risk assessments are easy to follow and show how risks change over time. Staff are responsive to the changes in risks and work well with the child and professionals to address areas of concern in a timely way. Inspection report for children’s home: 2714454 4 The home has a nurturing environment where the child’s views are acknowledged and understood. The child participates in direct work sessions with the staff to explore and express their wishes, views and feelings.

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

The staff support the child to safely participate in a range of planned activities inside and outside the home. Activities include horse riding, dancing and playing a musical instrument. The child has also joined Girl Guides.

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

The manager and staff are introducing research to inform and develop secure relationships with the child. Research-based help and support sessions enable the child to explore and understand a range of issues that affect their daily life. This helps to improve outcomes for the child.

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

Consistent rules and boundaries are in place, which are tailored to the child’s age and stage of development. Staff work hard to support the child to understand the impact of their behaviours through focused work and reflection. However, consequences are not always restorative and natural to support the child’s understanding and impact of their behaviours.

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

Physical intervention is used as a last resort to keep the child safe. Staff are trained in physical intervention and de-escalation techniques. The registered manager evaluates all holds used in the home and has evaluated them as being appropriate and proportionate. However, there are inconsistencies in the information recorded in some physical intervention records.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager speaks passionately about her role and the care provided to the child. She has a stable team of staff who feel supported personally and professionally. Staff give significant feedback about the positive ethos and values held in the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are encouraged to develop their skills and knowledge and take on responsibility in the team. The manager ensures that staff attend training opportunities and carry out all required training. Training is also encouraged in relation to any gaps in learning. Examples of training include topics such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, self- harm and trauma and young people. Development through training ensures that staff can meet the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff team have good working relationships with professionals and appropriately share significant events with relevant authorities. Appropriate and proactive challenge is used when needed to achieve better outcomes for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are effective monitoring and review systems. Scheduled reviews include annual staff appraisals, while staff supervision and team meetings occur monthly. Other review mechanisms are undertaken in response to specific incidents. Existing monitoring and review systems help the manager to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the service. Inspection report for children’s home: 2714454 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff record information clearly and in detail. Specifically, physical intervention recordings should detail what precipitated the event and the intervention used. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that necessary adaptations to the home meet the needs of the child. Specifically, consideration should be given to anti-ligature fixtures for windows. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.24)  The registered person should ensure that consequences used to address behaviour are restorative in nature to help the child recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves and those caring for them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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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: 2714454 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blossomcare NW Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Carfax Fold, Rochdale OL12 7GH

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Inspectors

Debbie Dawson, Social Care Inspector Lisa Mulcahy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2714454 7 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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