Children's Home run by Blossom Children’s Homes Limited in Coventry

Inspection report for children’s home: 2743155 1 Registered provider: Blossom Children’s Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and provides care for up to six children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

An experienced and suitably qualified manager oversees the home.

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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: 2743155 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/08/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2743155 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, six children have continued to live at the home. Relationships between staff and children are nurturing and supportive. One child, who previously experienced frequent incidents, including property damage, has shown notable improvement. This progress is attributed to staff developing a deeper understanding of the child’s needs, enabling them to work more effectively. As a result, incidents have reduced, and the child’s engagement has significantly increased.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and staff demonstrate a strong commitment to helping children reach their full potential. Staff have successfully supported one child to build confidence in using the toilet and another to improve their mobility and walking. Children are encouraged to carry out small tasks, such as taking their plates to the kitchen and tidying their personal space. These routines have helped children develop greater independence in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff advocate effectively for children. On one occasion, a child was initially told they could not attend their school prom. The manager challenged this decision and arranged appropriate staffing to support the child’s attendance. As a result, the child was able to participate in the event and create positive memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a wide range of activities, including holidays, cinema visits, and creative arts in the home. One child took pride in helping staff build a go-kart they had earned as an incentive, which promoted a sense of ownership and achievement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The promotion of good health is evident. Staff clearly understand each child’s individual health needs, and there are well-established plans in place to support those with more complex conditions. Leaders ensure that staff receive training in key areas, such as trichotillomania, pica awareness, and the administration of buccal medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm and welcoming. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and well maintained. A rolling redecoration programme is in place to ensure that the home continues to meet high standards.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time is well supported. Staff maintain positive relationships with the families of children and make appropriate arrangements to facilitate visits while ensuring that the needs of other children in the home are considered. One parent told the inspector, ‘The management are always very flexible as to when I visit. Other family members were made to feel welcome by all.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make consistent progress in education. A collaborative approach between the home and school staff has led to improved behaviour in one child, resulting in better educational outcomes. However, on one occasion, the school did not receive clear communication regarding a child’s health issue. This led to uncertainty about the support the child required that day. Inspection report for children’s home: 2743155 4

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

There have been few allegations or complaints since the previous inspection. When an allegation was raised, it was managed appropriately and in line with safeguarding procedures. Leaders worked effectively with the police, the designated safeguarding officer, and the social workers for the children involved. This collaborative approach ensured that children remained safe in the home.

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

Leaders have maintained good communication with the regulator since the last inspection. All significant incidents have been reported to Ofsted in a timely manner, enabling appropriate external oversight.

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

Physical interventions are only used when necessary and as a last resort. Staff rely on their positive relationships with children to promote constructive behaviours. When incidents occur, staff use approved techniques for the shortest duration possible. Children and staff have the opportunity to reflect following each incident. This process provides leaders with assurance that staff practice remains safe and appropriate.

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

No consequences have been used since the last inspection. Instead, leaders and staff focus on follow-up work that promotes learning from behaviour. This includes the use of social stories, the Picture Exchange Communication System, and other tailored communication methods. These approaches help children reflect and understand their behaviours, contributing to a reduction in incidents in the home.

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

Medication is stored appropriately. However, one medication error has occurred since the last inspection. Leaders responded with a thorough investigation to identify learning points. Relevant training and competency assessments were implemented to reduce the likelihood of future errors.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager who demonstrates a clear understanding of the needs of children and staff. He is supported by an experienced responsible individual who maintains effective oversight of the home. This leadership contributes to the continued progress of children living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report feeling well supported by the manager, which has fostered a positive team culture and increased staff investment in their roles. One staff member told the inspector, ‘We all work well as a team, all understand each other. Children understand each other quite well, and we love to be around each other. It feels like a family.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a range of learning and development opportunities. Leaders ensure that training is accessible and relevant, which supports staff in meeting the needs of children effectively. Team meetings have recently been enhanced to include reflections on children’s progress and targets, and they also provide opportunities for peer learning. Since the last inspection, the manager has improved the quality of staff supervision by Inspection report for children’s home: 2743155 5 introducing a monthly theme. This allows staff to reflect on their practice and the experiences of children in the home, resulting in increased staff engagement and confidence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders routinely review the quality of care provided. The manager and responsible individual have established effective monitoring systems that identify areas for development and drive consistency and improvement across the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Not all staff are suitably qualified. One staff member has not achieved the required qualification within the expected two-year time frame.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders do not consistently submit the revised statement of purpose to Ofsted within the required time frame. The most recent version was not submitted within 28 days, despite staffing changes occurring since April 2025.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff are mostly recruited safely. Leaders ensure that references and right-to-work documentation are obtained. However, for two new staff members, there was no attempt to secure overseas police checks. It is unclear how leaders have assured themselves of the full suitability of these staff to work with children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2743155 6

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Statutory requirements

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

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 18 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual—

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Requirement Due date

does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or

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Requirement Due date

works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part-time basis. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b) (6)(a)(b)) 18 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2743155 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that prescribed medicines are only administered to the individual for whom they are prescribed. Medicines must be administered in line with a medically approved protocol. Records must be kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. Regulation 23 requires the registered person to ensure that they make suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of medication. These are fundamentally the same sorts of arrangements as a good parent would make but are subject to additional safeguards. Where the home has questions or concerns about a

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Recommendations

child’s medication, they should approach an expert, such as a general medical practitioner, community pharmacist or looked-after children’s nurse. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  The registered person should ensure that they have a key role in seeking to develop the home’s effective working relationships with each child’s placing authority. And with other relevant persons, which may include services, individuals (including parents), agencies, organisations and establishments that work with children in the local community, such as police, schools, health and youth offending teams (regulation 5 – engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met). These working relationships will also be key to success in delivering the care planning standard (regulation 14). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality

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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: 2743155 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blossom Children’s Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Units 7 and 8, Moran House, 449 to 451 High Road, London NW10 2JJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Matthew Wakeling

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Inspector

Chanel Bryant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2743155 9 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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