Children's home run by Flourish (Gloucestershire) Limited

Inspection report children's home: 2682317 1 Registered provider: Flourish (Gloucestershire) Limited

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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. The home is registered to provide care for up to 3 children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children's home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in October 2023. She is currently on maternity leave.

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Information about this children's home

The deputy manager has stepped up to the manager position and was registered with Ofsted in November 2025. She is undertaking the level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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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 children's home: 2682317 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/03/2025 Full Good 21/02/2024 Full Good 21/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2682317 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home. No children have moved in or left since the previous inspection. All three children were seen during this visit.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well and provide stability and security through a nurturing approach. Children have lived in the home for several years and are making excellent progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop essential life skills. For example, children have become continent, tried new foods and activities, and discovered personal interests. Through staff’s support children’s communication skills have improved significantly; one child who previously did not speak now communicates verbally and initiates conversations. As a result of staff’s care and support children are happier, more confident, and more tolerant of others.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make effective use of a range of communication tools to support children to express their views. However, staff do not use these tools fully to help children understand more complex decisions affecting their lives. This limits the extent to which these children can express their views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a wide range of enjoyable experiences both in the home and in the community. Activities include trips to the beach, parks, farms, wildlife parks, and theme parks. One child recently enjoyed a holiday at a popular resort, taking part in beach activities and fairground rides.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education, routine and structure. They support children attend school regularly. Staff take children to and from school no matter the distance. This commitment enables children to maintain continuity in education and relationships with familiar adults.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well managed. Staff seek prompt medical advice when concerns arise. For example, when a child experienced seizure-like episodes, staff followed professional guidance, monitored the child closely, and provided detailed information to clinicians. This led to a child receiving an accurate diagnosis and avoided them having to take unnecessary medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have positive relationships with children’s families. They facilitate children’s visits with their family and encourage family involvement in the child’s care. Parents spoken to were positive about the care and progress their children are making. Where a parent raised concerns about communication, the manager acted promptly to improve information sharing. Inspection report children's home: 2682317 4 The home environment is welcoming and well maintained. Recent redecoration was informed by research into the impact of colour on children. Children were offered choices, ensuring they were involved in the decisions about the home and their bedrooms.

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

Children’s safety is prioritised by a staff team who know them well. Staff use their understanding of individual children to de-escalate situations effectively and respond to their needs. This approach has led to a reduction in incidents and children are now more settled.

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

One child is subject to a deprivation of liberty order. Restrictions on children’s freedoms are applied only when necessary to keep them safe and kept to a minimum. When staff identify that a restriction is no longer required, they remove it promptly.

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

Staff provide high levels of supervision when children are at home and when in the community. As a result, no child has gone missing from the home. Staff are clear about the home’s missing-from-care protocol and the actions they must take should an incident occur.

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

When concerns arise about staff practice, managers act swiftly to report these to the appropriate people. When necessary, staff are asked not to work at the home until investigations are concluded.

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

On occasions, staff use physical intervention to keep children safe. These interventions are proportionate and for the shortest time possible. However, records do not consistently provide sufficient detail about the type of intervention used or which staff were involved. In addition, records do not demonstrate how the manager has used their professional curiosity to review and explore staff actions to identify learning and inform staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, there have been changes in the leadership and management of the home. The deputy manager has taken on the role of registered manager. This has been managed effectively and has not had a negative impact on children or staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from strong support provided by the manager through regular supervision session, clinical oversight, and informal day-to-day discussions. Staff spoke positively about the manager’s approach, highlighting her flexibility and consideration for both work and home life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are committed to staff’s development. A senior training programme has been introduced, enabling staff who are not yet ready for promotion to develop the necessary skills before progressing to more senior roles. This initiative has helped staff feel valued and has contributed to improved staff retention. Inspection report children's home: 2682317 5 Staff receive a thorough induction and ongoing training. However, the most recently appointed member of staff has not yet completed training to help them care for children with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, or personal care needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has undertaken research and provided staff with resources to inform practice. Staff have begun to use this information when developing children’s plans, which is helping them understand the rationale behind specific approaches.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from families and professionals is consistently positive. They report that children are doing well and describe the home as welcoming. Inspection report children's home: 2682317 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, 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to new staff having training to support children with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities and how to support children who require help with their personal care. 30 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 30 March 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2682317 7 the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) (b)(i)(ii) (c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This is with regards to records around physical intervention. That there is sufficient detail to understand the need for the intervention, what intervention has been used and by whom. That leaders use professional curiosity to explore the action staff took and why.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff have the skills and confidence to communicate easily and understand the importance of listening to, involving and responding to the children they care for. Specifically, that staff use children's communication tools to support children to understand more complex decision making and make their views known. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 22, paragraph 4.10)

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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, Inspection report children's home: 2682317 8 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 children's home: 2682317 9

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Flourish (Gloucestershire) Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 20 Westend Office Suites, Westend, Stonehouse, Gloucester GL10 3FA

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Samantha Summers

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Children's home details

Registered manager: Bethany Roberts and Jacqueline Dawson

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Inspector

Debbie Bond, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2682317 10 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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