Children's home run by Flourish (Gloucestershire) Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2682317 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

This home is owned by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide care for up to three children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children lived at the home, and the inspector met two of them.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since October 2023.

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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: 21 February 2024

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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: 2682317 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2024 Full Good 21/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2682317 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children regularly express their views, wishes and feelings. Staff understand children very well and support them to express themselves using a range of communication methods. This includes the use of social stories, PECS (picture exchange communication system) and widgets but also using expression, sounds and body language. Staff support children with a range of topics to help their understanding and have created visual aids so children can choose what activities they want to do and what food they would like to eat.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff were observed interacting with children positively and in a warm and nurturing way. They encourage children to take part in play activities and were attentive to their needs and recognised what children wanted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to engage in education. All children go to school and have good attendance. They all enjoy school and are progressing well. Professionals and parents said that children are happy in the home, communication is good, and that staff share regular updates with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to eat a varied diet. Staff support children to try new foods and introduce fruit and vegetables into their meals. Children choose what food they want to eat so staff can plan weekly menus.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy regular activities and day trips. They enjoy going out with staff to the beach and theme parks, for walks, and to the park. Staff encourage family relationships, so they develop positively for children, and they spend time with people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure children have their health and well-being needs met, and take them to all appointments. They are supported with additional services at school, which helps promote children’s overall well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is well-presented, welcoming and cosy for children. There are soft furnishings and pictures on the wall, so it feels homely for children. Children benefit from large bedrooms that are equipped to meet their needs.

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

When restraint is used in the home, it is proportionate and necessary to ensure children are kept safe. Records are clear and completed within timescales and with management oversight. All staff have completed restraint training, so they have a good understanding of physical intervention. Staff understand safeguarding processes and work closely with children, so if they go missing, effective action is taken. Inspection report for children’s home: 2682317 4 Children’s plans focus on behaviours of children and their support needs, which help staff understand how to respond to risk or harm. Strategies are clear so staff can keep up to date and informed. However, some records are very brief and do not capture the actions that staff take or demonstrate the way that staff have supported children.

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

All children have consistent routines and structure to help them have stability in the home. Staff support children with positive mornings and bedtimes, so they are ready for school each day and settled for the night. Children enjoy bath or shower time and having a bedtime story.

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

Children play on devices with internet access, but there are filtering systems and device checks in place. Children do not go on social media. Instead, they choose to play games, but staff monitor use, so children are kept safe.

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

Leaders and managers take effective and timely action to address any concerns or allegations surrounding staff. Internal investigations are robust, appropriate steps are taken, and external professional advice is sought. There have been no complaints or allegations made by children.

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

There have been medication errors in the home. However, the registered manager followed protocol each time and spoke to medical professionals to ensure there was no impact on children. Involved staff completed additional medication training, and leaders and managers have updated the medication process, so there are daily audit checks and safer working practices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager focuses on children living in a settled and thriving home environment, so children feel loved, safe and welcome in their home. Leaders and managers are committed to staff and recognise individual skills and experience, but also promote learning opportunities, so staff can upskill and widen their expertise. They reflect on incidents and consider where improvements are required, so children receive the best level of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said they enjoy working at the home and have built positive relationships with children. Staff share examples of progress, which shows they understand children. Staff said they feel supported by leaders and managers and have regular supervision and valuable team meetings. Staff engage in additional learning with a therapeutic professional, which enhances their knowledge and enables them to support children with additional needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have a good understanding of the home, and they recognise areas of strength and development. They acknowledge the positive work that staff do with children and how they support them, with a particular focus on promoting children’s independence, so they are prepared for young adulthood. Inspection report for children’s home: 2682317 5 The registered manager has oversight of records and there are regular and robust monitoring and review systems in place, so effective action is taken for any issues or concerns in the home. Safer recruitment checks are thorough and follow practice guidelines. Inspection report for children’s home: 2682317 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records of children are clear and detailed to reflect their lived experiences and show the actions that staff take to support them. Staff should understand the importance of keeping records that are objective and demonstrate the interventions that take place. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2682317 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: 2682317 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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