Children's home run by Flourish (Gloucestershire) Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2631690 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 provides care for up to three children who have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of 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 left in March 2024. The current manager commenced in post 1 April 2024 and has applied to be registered with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 5 December 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2631690 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/12/2023 Full Outstanding 28/02/2023 Full Good 08/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2631690 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All three children were present during the inspection, and time was spent talking with them and observing staff’s interactions with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide children with a high level of care and commitment. They demonstrate that they strive for children to reach their potential and flourish in their care. Staff work exceptionally hard to ensure that they maintain structure and routines for children to alleviate anxiety and stress so that children feel safe and secure in their home. Staff have implemented effective bedtime routines, so children are settled during the night.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

After a period of crisis, one child, who did not leave the home for several weeks, is enjoying regular trips out with staff, including visiting a theme park, going for walks on the beach and going to the cinema. This is because staff have worked consistently hard to build the child’s confidence. Professionals commented, ‘The child presents as much happier now, and it is a joy to see the way they have built trusting and affectionate relationships with the team around them,’ and ‘The team have done an excellent piece of work rebuilding their ability to engage with school and activities.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff successfully support children to express their views, wishes and feelings using a range of non-communication methods, including the Picture Exchange Communication System and short stories using widgets. Staff create animated stories to help children understand expectations and share how they are feeling. Some children use communication books to understand their daily routine, which helps reduce anxiety.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff’s interactions with children are warm, friendly and supportive. Staff are very attentive and committed to ensuring that children experience a nurturing and stable home. They show children affection and are dedicated to their emotional needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff prioritise children’s education and have ensured that all children attend school. Some children did not attend school, but staff have work extremely hard to help them return to education, so all children have excellent attendance and go to school every day.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children engage with community and specialist health services with the help of staff. Staff work closely with a range of professionals to meet children’s needs. They ensure that children have excellent personal care support, while encouraging their independence. Staff were overjoyed to share the news that one child who had not had their hair cut for three years, recently visited the hairdressers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to eat a full and varied diet. All children have been introduced to a wide range of food, so they enjoy healthy meals. They enjoy choosing what they eat, helping with shopping and preparing meals. Inspection report for children’s home: 2631690 4 Children are supported by dedicated staff who maintain purposeful relationships with children’s family members. Staff have encouraged family relationships, so these have developed positively for the children, who spend time with the people who are important to them. Staff welcome family and friends at the home or arrange for children to spend time with their family and friends in the community and on day trips. They arrange video calls and organise quality time with wider family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is decorated to a very high standard and is welcoming, with lots of soft furnishings in bright colours, so it feels homely for children. There are sensory areas for the children and lots of toys and books for them to play with.

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

Staff have a very good knowledge of children’s needs and risks and how to manage these. They understand safeguarding processes and are motivated to keep children safe. Plans are detailed and show thorough consideration of children’s behaviours, helping staff to understand how to respond to any risk or harm. 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

If there are allegations against staff, leaders and managers thoroughly investigate concerns and take immediate and appropriate action to ensure that children are not at risk. They follow protocol and work with external agencies to make effective decisions in the best interests of children.

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

There have been some medication errors since the last inspection, but the staff involved have completed thorough training to address these mistakes. The manager followed protocol each time, and checks were made to ensure there was no impact on children. Furthermore, leaders have taken action to change the medication system. New measures have been in place for several months and there have been no medication errors since.

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

The use of restraint has significantly declined over recent months. When restraint is used, it is necessary and proportionate, and detailed and clear records demonstrate this. There is good management oversight to ensure restraint is used as a last resort to keep children safe.

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

Staff spend time supporting and encouraging children in a way they can understand. They cover a range of topics with children, including road safety, decorating their bedroom and helping them understand what is happening, if they get upset about something. Staff use child-friendly language and a nurturing approach to help children feel safe and secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Since the last inspection, there have been several staff changes in the home, and a new manager started in April 2024. However, there was no gap in management, as the previous registered manager completed a comprehensive handover. The previous registered manager is now the operations manager, so continues to support and visit the Inspection report for children’s home: 2631690 5 home, providing consistency for children. When agency and bank staff cover shifts, regular staff are used, so they are familiar to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are very confident and committed and care a lot for children. The manager has a thorough understanding of the children and staff. Her main priority is to ensure that children experience a stable and secure home. She is focused on children’s progress and is keen to provide staff with a high level of support, alongside training and upskilling, so they can provide children with a nurturing and therapeutic home environment. One child has recently returned to live with their parents, after a successful period at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager dealt with some complex challenges during her first few months and recognised that this had an impact on the quality of recording. She is making considerable efforts to address this issue. Leaders and managers have excellent oversight of the home and offer a high level of support to staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel highly valued by leaders and managers and have completed a range of training so that they can support children’s complex needs. Staff take a proactive approach when faced with challenges so there is minimal impact on children. Leaders and managers are enthusiastic about the care provided, and all staff spoken to have an excellent understanding of children and give positive examples of exceptional progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All staff complete a thorough and extensive induction programme that encompasses a wide range of mandatory and specialist training. Staff also engage in regular team meetings and group clinical supervision, so they are fully supported with additional learning so they can meet children’s specific needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Effective monitoring and review systems are in place. Leaders and managers complete an internal quality assurance process each month, so they evaluate all aspects of children’s support needs. Additionally, there are regular manager and operations meetings to consider areas of learning. Meticulous checks help to ensure that all staff working with children are recruited in line with safer recruitment guidance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals and parents say communication with staff is very good. They say that staff are very supportive of children and that the children are thriving at the home. One parent said, ‘Staff never gave up on putting the child’s needs first and fighting for the support they felt was needed in the face of a challenging professional network dynamic’, demonstrating that managers and staff advocate strongly for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2631690 6

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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: 2631690 7

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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: 2631690 8 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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