Children's home run by Park Blue Homes Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2575788 1 Registered provider: Park Blue Homes Ltd

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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. It provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties and who may also have learning disabilities. At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2575788 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/10/2024 Full Good 20/02/2024 Full Good 07/12/2022 Full Good 28/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2575788 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During the inspection, the inspector spent time engaging in play with the child as it was the school holidays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made significant progress and identifies the home as their own. They have developed trusting relationships with core staff who are attuned to their emotional needs. Interactions are warm, nurturing and respectful, with staff using positive reinforcement and appropriate humour to build rapport. Relationships are allowed to develop at the child’s pace. However, some staff do not always apply this approach consistently, which affects the clarity of boundaries and the predictability of care, which are important for the child’s emotional security.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff provide a wide range of purposeful activities that support the child’s emotional regulation, resilience and social development. These include gardening, picnics, creative play, crabbing and hobbies within the local community. The child recently took part in a musical performance at a local theatre, which was a positive and confidence-building experience. The child is able to make choices about how they spend their time, which promotes confidence and a sense of control.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is well supported in the home. The registered manager has advocated strongly for the child to ensure that their transition to secondary school is carefully planned and that the chosen provision is well matched to their individual needs. Transitions have been managed effectively, with staff providing consistent routines that promote emotional stability. This child-centred approach increases the likelihood of a successful move to the new school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time is prioritised and facilitated in a way that maintains and strengthens important relationships with extended family and siblings. Family members report that the manager communicates well with them and keeps them informed about what is happening in the child’s life. They describe the child as happy in the home and having positive relationships with some of the adults. Memory books are being kept to capture and celebrate children’s personal memories. These books help children preserve their history, reflect on their experiences and build a sense of identity and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The house and gardens provide a suitable space for the child to play, run around and expend energy. The child’s bedroom has recently been refurbished with new furniture, including a double bed, reflecting the staff’s efforts to create a comfortable and personalised environment. However, the presence of locked doors within the home and delays in addressing damage and cleanliness detract from the otherwise homely atmosphere. The manager has acknowledged this and expressed a commitment to reducing restrictions when it is safe to do so. Inspection report for children's home: 2575788 4

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

Risks are well understood and managed effectively through detailed, regularly reviewed risk assessments and behaviour support plans that are tailored to the child’s needs and are child focused. During the inspection, the child went missing, and staff responded appropriately, demonstrating a clear understanding of safeguarding procedures. Care planning is robust, trauma-informed and aligned with local authority actions, supported by effective multi-agency working.

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

Since the last inspection, incidents have significantly reduced. This reflects the positive impact of therapeutic input for both the child and staff. Key staff demonstrate particular skill in de-escalation, contributing to a stable and emotionally secure environment. Some staff are still developing confidence in de-escalation techniques. They benefit from support and modelling by more experienced colleagues. This is helping to embed a more consistent approach across the team, ensuring the child continues to receive safe and effective care.

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

Where restrictive practices are used, these are usually proportionate and subject to regular review to ensure that they remain necessary and appropriate. Since the last inspection, the child has experienced 12 incidents involving physical intervention, with two identified as not proportionate. The manager responded promptly and appropriately, restricting the staff member from initiating further restraints until relevant training is completed. Oversight and debriefs were thorough and concerns were escalated to the responsible individual.

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

Since the last inspection, a fire was detected outside the home during the night. Staff responded swiftly, contacting emergency services and safely evacuating the child to a secure location. The fire was not deemed suspicious and was probably caused by paint stored outside, which has since been removed. The manager completed an investigation and supported the child to understand and process the event. The home's response was prompt and coordinated and demonstrated effective safeguarding practice.

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

During the inspection, the key cupboard in the office was observed to be left open while the child was present in the room. This cupboard contained the medication key. At the time, the manager was unable to locate the key when asked. This raised concerns about the consistency of security and the safe storage of restricted items, including medication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager provides consistent and effective leadership. They are described by staff as child focused, approachable and reflective, with a strong commitment to the child. The manager has built trusting relationships with both the child and the staff team and demonstrates a clear understanding of the child’s needs, the strengths of the home and areas for development. Inspection report for children's home: 2575788 5 Staff feel well supported and valued. Supervision sessions are regular and include reflective sessions that help staff understand the child’s journey and the meaning behind certain behaviours. The responsible individual provides regular oversight and contributes to reflective practice, supporting a culture of learning and accountability. Staff describe a cohesive and motivated team working under strong leadership, with both new and experienced staff feeling listened to and supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a robust induction and training programme for new staff. Core and specialist training is tailored to the child’s needs. A therapist supports reflective practice through team meetings, and wellness initiatives promote staff resilience and team cohesion through shared activities with the child. Suitability checks are completed for new staff, ensuring that safer recruitment procedures are followed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from professionals is consistently positive and reflects the manager’s commitment to collaborative working and high-quality care. Communication is reported to be very good, with prompt reporting of any concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recent staff turnover has impacted consistency and some newer staff require further support to fully understand and apply the therapeutic model. These issues are acknowledged by managers and are being addressed through supervision sessions and team development. Inspection report for children's home: 2575788 6

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Statutory requirement

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children's home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the keys for medicine cabinets kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them. 11 August 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff support the child to maintain a clean and tidy bedroom. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)

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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: 2575788 7

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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: 2575788 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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