Children's home run by Flourish (Gloucestershire) Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2651501 1 Registered provider: Flourish Gloucestershire Limited 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. It offers care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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 manager. The previous registered manager resigned in July 2024. The current manager registered with Ofsted on 15 August 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2651501 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/05/2023 Full Good 24/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2651501 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children were present during the inspection and time was spent talking with them both and observing staff’s interactions with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say they ‘love’ everything about living at the home and have positive and strong relationships with all staff. They said they feel safe at the home and can talk to the staff and express their wishes and feelings. The home environment has a warm and cosy feel and there are soft furnishings and photos of children on the walls. Children’s bedrooms are personalised in line with their interests and hobbies. Children have decorated the home for Halloween and are planning a party.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff’s interactions with children are kind, caring and warm. Staff have supportive conversations with children, showing positive encouragement. Staff have developed trusting relationships with children, which means that children enjoy spending time with them and feel relaxed and comfortable in their presence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have their health and well-being needs met and are accessing tailored therapeutic services. In addition, staff engage in specific workshops focusing on disorganised attachment and the different parenting approaches they can use to ensure that they can support children’s emotional and well-being needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children eat a varied diet and sit down for meals together each evening with staff. Children choose the weekly menu and like helping staff to shop for items online or visiting the local supermarket to shop for the weekly groceries.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to enjoy hobbies and interests, such as baking cakes, being creative and engaging in art activities. Children visit friends, and they go on day trips and holidays with staff. Children have recently enjoyed UK and overseas breaks away. They enjoy positive family time, and staff help them to build and maintain relationships with people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Despite one child living in the home for a short length of time, they have settled in well and are already making progress. Staff support children to attend school or engage in educational activities each day, such as visiting an aquarium or going to the library. When there are challenges, staff consult closely with educational professionals to explore options in line with children’s support needs. One professional said that staff ensure that children complete their schoolwork, and they always use a child-centred approach.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to learn independence skills, such as cooking, cleaning, washing laundry and maintaining personal hygiene. Children said that they enjoy vacuuming and dusting their bedroom, cooking their own lunch and cleaning out their pet hamster’s cage. Inspection report for children’s home: 2651501 4 Professionals and parents say children that are making good progress, and they recognise the contribution that staff have made towards this due to the care that they provide and the relationships that they have built with children. Staff support children to express their views during important conversations and during informal open discussions. However, children are not engaged with independent advocacy services.

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

Safeguarding incidents have significantly reduced over recent months. Staff have a good understanding of risks to children, including going missing from care, so they know how to manage these. Staff continue to consider any potential risks and have measures in place to address these, and strategies are clear so staff can keep up to date and informed.

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

There has been a significant decrease in the use of restraint over the year, as staff are finding positive ways to support children to express their feelings. Records demonstrate good management oversight and that restraint is necessary and proportionate.

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

All children use devices with internet access. Robust filtering systems and device checks being in place, however, staff have not taught children how to keep safe online so that they understand and recognise the risks associated with the use of social media. This may leave children more vulnerable as they grow in independence around what is safe online use and how to recognise unhealthy relationships.

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

Leaders and managers address any concerns about staff effectively. When concerns arise, leaders report these to relevant safeguarding professionals. External professionals say that there is good communication throughout incidents, which keeps children’s needs at the forefront of decision-making.

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

Errors in medication are actioned effectively by the registered manager, and staff receive additional training to ensure that they are aware of correct protocols and how to action these. Leaders and managers have recently sought additional medication learning from an external provision and all staff have engaged in further training.

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

The home’s location assessment supports staff to recognise and understand the risks in the local area, while considering the needs of children in the home. It provides an overview of resources and services in the area, with risks identified and measures in place to address these.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Despite the registered manager being new in post, she has a good understanding of children and staff in the home. Her main priority is to ensure that children experience a stable and secure environment. She focuses on children’s progress and includes them in their plans. She recognises that consistency is vital for children, so is keen to provide a high level of support to staff, alongside training and upskilling them, so they can provide children with high-quality care and a nurturing and therapeutic home environment. Inspection report for children’s home: 2651501 5 Over recent months, the home has experienced several staff and managerial changes, but leaders and managers recognise that stability is important for children. They have confidence in the new manager and that she can build and develop the team, with enhanced support from leaders. If shifts need covering, two familiar bank staff are available, who are known to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they enjoy working at the home and that leaders and managers are supportive. Staff said they provide good-quality care to children and that children feel safe because staff have built positive relationships with each child and understand their likes, dislikes and support needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers identify relevant training opportunities for staff to ensure that they have the skills required to support children effectively. Leaders and managers provide additional training opportunities to staff and have arranged a bespoke training plan for them in line with children’s changing needs. All staff have either attained the level 3 qualification in residential childcare or are working towards it. New staff complete a robust and structured induction plan, and leaders and managers provide regular check- in sessions, alongside frequent supervision, so staff receive a high level of support.

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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. The independent person has continued to visit the home monthly. However, the reports have not been submitted to Ofsted as required. This was identified during the last inspection. Furthermore, the registered manager conducted a quality of care review but did not submit this to Ofsted within the required timeframe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2651501 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 ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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. 18 January 2025

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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)) 18 January 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2651501 7 In particular, the registered person must ensure that the quality of care review is submitted to Ofsted within the time frame specified.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all children have access to appropriate advocacy support. In particular, the registered person should ensure that all children know and understand that they are entitled to an independent advocate to advise them and ensure that they have the support needed to express their views, wishes and feelings about their care and lives. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.16)  The registered person should ensure that staff educate children about online risk and healthy relationships so that they are aware of what is safe in a relationship and have an understanding of mutual trust, respect and consent. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.10)

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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: 2651501 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: 2651501 9 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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