Children's home run by Park Blue Homes Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2628430 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 five children with social and emotional difficulties, who may also have a learning disability. At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2023 and is moving on to manage another home within the organisation. A new manager is now in post and the home is currently undergoing a period of transition to ensure leadership continuity and stability for both staff and children.

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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 outstanding

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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: 11 December 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: 2628430 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/12/2024 Full Good 16/01/2024 Full Good 08/03/2023 Full Good 15/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2628430 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspector saw all three children living in the home and spent time with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have strong, trusting relationships with the core staff team, which helps them feel settled in the home. Staff use their skills and experiences to connect with children and offer support in ways that feel open and personal, creating a warm and nurturing environment. The home itself is welcoming and well looked after, giving children a space where they feel safe and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are actively involved in decisions about the home, and their views are taken seriously. Recently, they were consulted about changes to the snug, which is now being turned into a cinema room based on their ideas. Children’s bedrooms are personalised, spacious and well maintained, reflecting their individuality. While the home maintains a warm and homely atmosphere, some institutional features such as window restrictors detract slightly from the homely feel. The manager has acknowledged this and is open to exploring changes to enhance the environment further.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are given experiences that are personal to them and help build their confidence. Staff are enthusiastic and committed to making sure children have fun and opportunities. One child attended a Japanese festival because of their interest in the culture. Another child visited the country they were born in and a third has taken part in activities like axe throwing and golf. These experiences reflect the manager and staff’s effort to understand what matters to each child and to create opportunities that are both enjoyable and meaningful. Staff also support children to get involved in the community, attend youth clubs and go on holidays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to celebrate special occasions. Events such as birthdays, Christmas and Halloween are thoughtfully planned, with celebrations and meals out tailored to each child’s preferences. When appropriate, family members are invited to join in, helping children feel connected, valued and part of a wider support network.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All three children have lived together for several years and, since moving into the home, they have made progress in most areas of their development, particularly in their emotional and social growth. The staff and manager show consistent commitment to supporting and encouraging the children, even when progress in areas such as education has been slower. The manager works proactively with the wider professional network to ensure that every possible measure is taken to support the children’s educational development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child, previously considered nonverbal and who struggled to engage with the community, now speaks some words in both her native French and English, attends school full time, participates in community activities and is demonstrating increasing independence. This progress has been supported by strong relationships with staff, Inspection report for children’s home: 2628430 4 consistent routines and a focus on maintaining cultural and family connections. However, bespoke life-story work remains incomplete, despite the manager advocating on the child’s behalf.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Advocacy is well embedded, with children’s voices actively shaping decisions that affect them. The registered manager advocates well for children, ensuring that their needs are met and their views are heard. While staff have raised concerns about a lack of clarity around transitions for two children, there was a delay in doing so. The manager has acknowledged this and is taking steps to address it.

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

Children say they feel safe living in the home and know they can talk to adults if something is worrying them. Staff regularly cover important topics like online safety, self- harm and healthy relationships, helping children learn how to keep themselves safe.

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

When situations arise that could put children at risk, staff respond with education, emotional support and close teamwork with other professionals. This joined-up approach has helped reduce incidents and supported one child to safely enjoy independent time in the community. Staff use tools like social stories to support another child’s understanding, and they make sure that advice from other agencies is built into the way they care for the child.

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

Children’s support is personalised and broken down into practical, achievable steps that make sense for each child. The manager is able to track progress and has made clear distinctions between routines that are now part of everyday life and goals that children are still working toward.

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

Restraint is used only as a last resort. Staff rely on strong relationships and de-escalation strategies to manage behaviours when a child is upset. When restraint is necessary, it is proportionate, well-documented and followed by reflective oversight involving staff, children and managers.

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

Safeguarding practices are robust and consistently applied. There has been one allegation made by a child since the last inspection and it was handled appropriately, with the child being listened to and believed. Investigations are thorough and involve all relevant parties, with clear feedback provided to children on outcomes. These incidents and outcomes are further reflected on in team meetings, promoting a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The current registered manager is described by staff as inspirational and highly supportive, creating a culture of reflection, development and high expectations. They demonstrate excellent oversight of the home, ensuring that all plans are impactful and directly relate to the children’s needs. Their commitment to listening to children and staff Inspection report for children’s home: 2628430 5 alike creates an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute to positive change.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular, reflective supervision sessions that help to build their confidence and supports their professional development. They also benefit from specialist training and therapeutic advice, which helps them respond well to children’s emotional needs and behaviours. A therapeutic approach is now part of everyday practice in the home, and staff feel it helps them understand children more deeply. The current registered manager has a clear grasp of what the home does well, such as building strong relationships, working positively with other agencies and keeping children at the centre of everything. They are also aware of what still needs to work, especially around helping children prepare for future transitions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Families and professionals consistently praise the quality of care, describing staff as ‘amazing’, the home as ‘clean and welcoming’ and communication as ‘consistent’. Staff are proud of the home and describe a nurturing culture, where strong relationships with children and a well-supported team are central to everyday practice. The recent transition in management has been smooth and staff express confidence in the new leadership. The current registered manager’s ability to maintain stability, build trust and uphold high standards during a period of change reflects remarkable leadership and a clear commitment to continuous improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers maintain excellent oversight of safeguarding and care through the use of detailed trackers, behaviour monitoring, monthly audits and reflective team discussions. This proactive and responsive approach ensures that children’s needs are consistently met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2628430 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there is a clear rationale for the use of locks on windows throughout the home. Where no clear rationale exists, windows should be unlocked. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that they are proactively advocating for a child and are forceful in their challenge to the relevant person so that a child’s needs are met. In particular, the registered manager should ensure that children’s transitions and bespoke life-story work happen in a timely way to meet the child’s needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 11, paragraph 2.4)

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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: 2628430 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: 2628430 8 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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