Children's Home run by Park Blue Homes Limited in Bath and North East Somerset

Inspection report for children’s home: 2815302 1 Registered provider: Park Blue Homes Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in December 2024 and is owned by a private organisation. It provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties and may also have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left his post in May 2025. The covering manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2815302 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspector met both children during the inspection and spoke to them individually, giving them an opportunity to discuss their thoughts and experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children have settled in well and are making progress in most areas of their lives. One child expressed feeling comfortable approaching any of the adults when they have a problem, describing the home as ‘the best place I have lived’. Another child said they like living in the home ‘most of the time’ and appreciate the staff's support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have formed positive relationships with some of the adults in the home. However, they appear less at ease with some of the newly appointed staff members. The high turnover of staff has affected the consistency of care, making it more difficult for children to establish long-term, trusting connections. Managers have now taken action to address these challenges. The home has a warm atmosphere and instances of laughter, playfulness and good humour were frequent, reflecting the nurturing environment staff strive to create.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child had been making good academic progress in an alternative provision. However, their transition back to mainstream education has presented some challenges, as the current school placement does not fully meet their needs. The managers and staff continues to advocate on the child’s behalf to ensure that they receive the appropriate support. Another child had been out of education prior to moving into the home. Since they moved in, staff have worked effectively to support the child to re-engage with their education. The child is now attending an alternative provision that meets their individual needs and is making steady progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to maintain good health and regularly attend health appointments. Children actively engage in various activities in the home, promoting a sense of well-being. Wellness Wednesdays provide an opportunity for children and staff to prioritise their health and self-care through activities such as gym sessions, swimming and breathing exercises. Photos of children and staff are displayed on the walls, capturing moments of them having fun together. The manager hopes to take the children abroad on holiday this summer, creating meaningful experiences and lasting memories for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, offering enough space for children so they can enjoy their own personal areas comfortably. A large dining table serves as a central gathering point so that children and adults can sit together for meals or to play games. Efforts are made to create a sense of tradition in the home; with a weekly Sunday roast dinner bringing everyone together to eat and chat about their week. However, consistent improvements in cleanliness are required, particularly by removing dust and properly disposing of dog waste in the garden. Inspection report for children’s home: 2815302 3 The children’s bedrooms are spacious and well maintained, providing a comfortable and welcoming environment. Each child has personalised their bedroom with decorations that reflect their unique style and personality, making the space their own. Additionally, children have input in how the home is decorated and the furniture choices, ensuring

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

that their surroundings feel familiar and suited to their tastes.

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

The manager has a strong understanding of the children’s needs, allowing for effective identification and management of risks. When children make mistakes, staff provide support to help them reflect on their actions and learn from the experience. Additionally, the manager works closely with children, to reduce the restrictions necessary for their safety, through developing their independence and building confidence to take age- appropriate positive risks.

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

Allegations are taken seriously and handled quickly and sensitively by the manager. Investigations are thorough, and any lessons learned are shared with the team to support ongoing improvement. The manager also identifies any areas where staff may need extra training to strengthen their skills. While there have been several allegations, each one has been addressed appropriately. Children are listened to and supported, and efforts are made to restore trust and maintain a positive environment in the home.

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

Children’s individual plans outline the support they need, but they have not been updated with the latest local authority plan. The manager has raised this matter with the local authority team manager to ensure that they receive the most recent version.

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

There has been one instance of a child going missing from home in this inspection period. The staff adhered to the missing-from-home protocol, taking necessary measures to protect the child.

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

Children receive guidance on online safety and healthy relationships, helping them navigate these areas responsibly. A plan is in place to encourage children to be more involved in shaping their care plans and decisions that affect them.

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

Restraint has been used in the home when necessary to ensure the safety of staff and children. These interventions have been proportionate, with staff demonstrating patience and kindness in their interactions, providing reassurance and support during difficult moments. However, some staff members have required additional training and guidance to strengthen their ability to use de-escalation techniques effectively when children are distressed. These incidents have been further exacerbated by the presence of inexperienced staff who, due to their limited time in the home, have not yet had the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with the children.

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

Despite these challenges, management oversight of such incidents remains robust, ensuring that appropriate measures are taken to support staff and maintain a safe, stable environment for the children. The home actively engages in restorative work to Inspection report for children’s home: 2815302 4 repair and strengthen relationships between adults and children. During the inspection, children expressed that they feel safe in the home, highlighting the positive impact of staff’s efforts to create a secure and supportive environment.

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

Safer recruitment processes are followed. During recruitment, managers take detailed employment histories and scrutinise records for employment gaps.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home has faced significant staffing challenges, with five staff members joining and leaving within the first six months of operation, including the registered manager. This turnover has affected the children’s ability to form positive and trusting relationships with staff. Leaders and managers have acknowledged the significance of this disruption and have taken steps to improve the stability of the staff team. In response, the previous deputy manager has assumed the role of acting manager, ensuring a familiar and trusted presence remains in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Although the manager is new to the role, they have already begun making positive changes to improve the quality of care for children and the support provided to staff. The team has started to notice these early signs of progress. Professionals and parents have praised the manager’s commitment to the children, recognising their efforts to bring stability to the home. Staff feel heard, supported and valued under their leadership, which helps create a more consistent and nurturing environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Regular supervision sessions play a key role in helping staff build a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. They actively participate in team meetings and reflective group supervision, which allow them to explore challenges and review incidents in more depth.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

However, the effectiveness of these sessions in improving practice has been affected by staffing stability issues in the home. In response, senior managers have stepped in to support the team, exploring these challenges and developing strategies to improve staff retention. A key focus has been placed on staff well-being days to help create a positive and supportive working environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers use simple but effective monitoring systems to track children’s progress and check how well extra support and training are working. These systems help ensure that staff can adapt their approach to meet each child’s changing needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2815302 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are provided with a home environment that meets high standards of cleanliness and hygiene. This includes keeping the home's floors clean and promptly disposing of pet waste. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 7, paragraph 3.7)

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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: 2815302 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Park Blue Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 38 Freemans Way, Harrogate HG3 1DH

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Inspector

Karen Hallam, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2815302 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 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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