Children's home run by Blossomcare NW Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2714454 1 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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Registered provider: Blossomcare NW Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in May 2023 and is operated by a private company. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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 May 2025.

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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: 15 October 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: 2714454 2 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/10/2024 Full Good 03/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2714454 3 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home, and another child has moved in. However, the responsible individual agreed with the child’s placing authority that they would take the child who was due to move in on holiday for one week until the previous child moved out. This arrangement is in breach of the home’s registration, as it is registered to provide care for only one child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Careful consideration was given to the needs of both the child who moved out and the child who moved in. This has helped the children settle into their new homes well. Staff have formed strong relationships with the child living at the home. A professional said, ‘I am really pleased with the progress of [name of child]. From them moving in to now, things have drastically changed for the positive.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is attending college full time and is making good progress. Staff support the child with informal learning opportunities and developing their independence skills. For example, the child is learning to travel independently to and from college. This supports the child’s learning and helps them achieve their aspirations for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s general health and emotional health needs are recognised and understood by the staff. The child is registered with healthcare providers and is regularly encouraged to attend routine health appointments. This helps the child remain in good health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff and managers highly regard the child’s views. The child can express their views, wishes and feelings about their care at the monthly team meeting, children’s meetings, key-work sessions and during important conversations. This helps the child feel heard and involved in their care planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively encourage the child to spend time with their family and friends. They recognise this is important to the child, as it helps them maintain a sense of identity. A parent said, ‘I have no concerns. The staff are doing their best. My child is getting the best care possible.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child lives in a clean and tidy home. It is decorated and furnished to a good standard. Staff treat the child with dignity and respect. This promotes a sense of stability and safety for the child.

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

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. As a result, appropriate risk management plans are developed and kept under regular review. This helps the staff manage and reduce the risks and safeguard the child effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2714454 4 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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

Staff have positive discussions with the child about relationships, intrusive thoughts, images, impulses, education and regulating their emotions. These discussions help the child develop socially acceptable behaviours. As a result, the child is now able to recognise, build and sustain positive friendships.

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

The child receives good support to learn how to stay safe online. When concerns arise, staff respond appropriately and carry out key-work sessions to address any issues. Internet safety settings are installed on the Wi-Fi and the child’s mobile phone. Random checks of the child’s mobile phone take place. This ensures that the child remains safe when using technology.

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

The staff and management team take prompt action if there is a safeguarding concern or disclosure. Safeguarding policies and procedures are followed, which ensures that the child remains safe. Relevant professionals are alerted in a timely manner. One professional said, ‘There is nothing that I have had to raise with [name of manager] as a concern; all incidents I feel have been managed well.’

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

On some occasions, both the previous child and the current child have required staff to use physical intervention to keep them safe. Physical intervention is only used as a last resort. The manager reviews and evaluates the incidents, speaks to the staff and children involved and has deemed all the interventions necessary and proportionate to keep everyone involved safe from harm.

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

Incidents of children being missing from home are low in number. When children go missing, staff take appropriate action to try to locate them and report them missing to the police to support their safe return home. On their return, children are offered an independent return home interview to identify the reasons why they went missing and to prevent it from happening again in the future.

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

Children receive consequences to support and promote more positive behaviour. Although consequences are fair and proportionate, the manager does not ensure that they speak to the staff member who gave them. This does not enable the manager to identify and track patterns and trends or consider the effectiveness of the consequence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is an effective leader who has a clear vision for the home. The manager holds a relevant childcare qualification and is currently working towards a management qualification. Professionals, parents and the staff team hold the manager and seniors in high regard. One staff member said, ‘I feel that the seniors, managers and safeguard leads are always there when needed for advice or support.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have opportunities to attend regular team meetings, supervision sessions and training. A consultant psychologist supports team meetings. This helps the staff to reflect on their practice and look for ways to enhance their performance, discuss the child and generate new ideas. Actions are set that drive improvement, and staff receive an annual appraisal, which supports their development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2714454 5 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Because the organisation is opening two new homes, some staff members from this home will be transferring to work at those new homes. The child has been consulted about this, and their views contribute to the decision-making regarding the staff who will continue to work at their home. This is being managed with care and sensitivity to ensure that the child receives continuity of care and support from staff they know well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that new staff are safely recruited. This ensures that all staff working at the home are safe to do so. New staff receive a thorough introduction to the organisation, their role and the home. On completion of their probationary period, new staff are enrolled to achieve a relevant qualification if they are not already qualified. This leads to consistency in care and support for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team has effective reviewing and monitoring systems in place to continually assess and review the quality of care. This helps leaders and managers to capture and address any shortfalls in a timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The recommendations raised at the last inspection have been met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2714454 6 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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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

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is always conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (1) (5))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must not admit any children into their care if the home is already at full capacity. 28 December 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when staff use consequences to address behaviour, they are spoken with to ensure that the consequence is proportionate and effective. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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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: 2714454 7 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blossomcare NW Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Carfax Fold, Rochdale OL12 7GH

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Inspector

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2714454 8 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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Inspector

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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