Children's home run by Blossom Care Group Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2617199 1 Registered provider: Blossom Care Group Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties. There were three children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in February 2025.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2617199 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/08/2023 Full Good 14/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/09/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2617199 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. Since the last inspection, four children have moved into the home and two children have moved out. When the two children moved out, staff worked hard to prepare them for this transition. This supported them to adjust and settle into their new environment after they had left the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know children well. Children have meaningful relationships with staff in which they feel safe. Staff listen to children and have supported their suggestions to develop the home environment. An example of this is that a sensory room has been created where children go to relax and enjoy soft lighting in different colours. During the inspection, staff supported children to put together a fish tank. This has developed their sense of belonging in the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are treated with respect and dignity. Staff are sensitive to children’s individual needs, including family history, experiences and race. One child was supported to learn how to care for their hair, which had previously been a source of distress for them. The child experienced sensitive care that helped develop a positive sense of their own identity.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work effectively with professionals to build and develop children’s independence. Children are supported to take risks appropriate to their age or level of understanding. Children are encouraged to be involved in their plans and are listened to by staff when they disagree. For example, when a child wanted to have more free time, staff arranged a meeting with the child and their social worker to explore the matter together.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are child centred in their practice. They recognise that children have different starting points and have encountered varied challenges that impact their behaviour and well-being. The individual progress children make is acknowledged and appropriately rewarded. For example, one child was praised for being open with staff about having contact with a peer who presented as a risk to them.

p.3

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

Children have made progress from their starting points. This is notable in their education. Staff work collaboratively with education professionals to ensure children have access to resources to support learning and are in the most suitable provision to meet their needs. Staff advocate for children and support them to engage in decision- making. For example, following a child’s visit to their potential new provision, staff helped the child to put together further questions they had. Inspection report for children’s home: 2617199 4 Staff have cultivated effective working relationships with the external organisations, for example the police. This has allowed children to have positive experiences of professionals and understand their role in keeping them safe.

p.3

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

Use of restraint has reduced. When restraint is used it is proportionate and appropriate procedures are followed by staff. All incidents are recorded and monitored by managers. Children are supported by staff to share their views, and their welfare is prioritised. As relationships between staff and children have strengthened over time, children have become more receptive to de-escalation strategies that staff use to help them calm down.

p.4

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

Children are protected from harm and feel safe in the care that staff provide them. Staff understand the risks associated with children using drugs, self-harming, offending, going missing or being exploited. Staff are motivated to support children to understand danger. They use initiative when sharing information and consider the child’s preferred method of communication.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff are pro-active and resourceful in their efforts to reduce the risk of harm to children. Risk assessments detail known vulnerabilities for each child and clearly set out what measures staff should take to manage risks. These assessments are reviewed and updated regularly and reflect children’s present circumstances.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment is an established practice. Managers consistently undertake thorough checks on applicants to ensure only suitably qualified staff are appointed. There is a core team of staff who know the children well. Staff enjoy working at the home and feel supported by managers and leaders.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective monitoring systems are in place that enable the manager to have good oversight of the home. These systems ensure the quality of care is regularly reviewed. External monitoring of the home is undertaken by those with the required skills and experience. When managers and leaders were dissatisfied with the quality of independent visitor assessments, prompt action was taken to address this matter.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and leaders take swift action to address concerns or complaints from children and local residents. Thorough investigations are undertaken and involve external professionals where necessary. For example, when a child raised concerns about the care provided to them by a member of staff, a comprehensive internal investigation was carried out. The child was kept updated throughout and given opportunities to share their wishes and feelings.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A pro-active approach is taken by managers and leaders to ensure staff can meet the specific needs of the children living in the home. For example, when a child had a health condition, specialist training was arranged and delivered to all staff by a medical professional. This training was effective and increased staff’s ability to safeguard the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2617199 5 Leaders and managers undertake good quality impact risk assessments in respect of children coming to live at the home. Planning is child focused and considers the needs of the children already living in the home. When new information becomes apparent, it is appropriately addressed with safeguarding prioritised.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations have been made. Inspection report for children’s home: 2617199 6

p.5

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: 2617199 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blossom Care Group Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 19 Anglesey Business Centre, Anglesey Road, Burton On Trent, Staffordshire DE14 3NT

p.7

Inspector

Becky Rutter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2617199 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8