Children's home run by Blossomcare NW Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2849170 1 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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Registered provider: Blossomcare NW Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company and provides care for one child who experiences social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in October 2025. The registered manager voluntarily cancelled their registration in February 2026. A new manager has been appointed and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home and was spoken to by the inspectors.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2849170 2 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The previous registered manager ensured that they thoroughly considered the child’s needs before they moved in. This has helped the child to settle in well and begin to build trusting and positive relationships with the staff team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is making progress from their starting point and risks are reducing because of the support staff offer. Staff help the child to improve their emotional wellbeing, self-care and health and to develop a positive daily routine. This has resulted in the child learning to use safe coping strategies to keep themselves and others safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand and respond effectively to the child’s complex needs. They work closely with a clinical psychologist, the child’s social worker and youth offending team to secure the best all-around support for the child, to support them holistically.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child does not attend full-time education. However, the manager works well with the child’s placing authority and education professionals to ensure that the child is provided with alternative learning opportunities to help them to progress. The previous manager advocated for an increase in education hours for the child, which has been successful. This supports the child to develop their knowledge and work towards their goals and aspirations for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to attend routine and specialist health appointments and have health assessments. This has resulted in the child receiving medication they require. This has made a substantial positive difference to their emotional wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to see people who are important to them. Family and friends are included in the child’s life. This makes the child feel valued and promotes the child’s identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated and furnished to a good standard. The child likes their home and is beginning to take pride in it. They live in a happy and safe home where staff treat them with dignity and respect. One professional said, ‘They clearly care about [name of child] and have provided a safe and nurturing home which they feel at home in. The staff and managers are reflective and trauma informed.’

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

The child’s plans provide staff with clear guidance on what steps they should take to keep the child safe. Staff know the child well and understand their risks and vulnerabilities. Staff follow the child’s individualised risk management and safety plans to safeguard the child and to support them to manage their emotions. Plans are regularly reviewed and updated. Inspection report for children’s home: 2849170 3 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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

Staff provide support and talk to the child to help them understand risks and how to stay safe. These discussions are regularly revisited and tailored to support the child’s level of understanding. As a result, the child’s risks and vulnerabilities have reduced, specifically, in relation to possession of weapons and incidents of substance misuse.

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

Significant incidents are managed well, in line with safeguarding protocols. Concerns regarding shortfalls in a member of staff’s conduct, which did not impact on the child’s safety, have been managed well, in line with safeguarding and employment procedures. However, not all serious incidents have been reported to Ofsted, or in a timely manner. This does not allow the regulator to have sufficient oversight and scrutiny of the home.

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

When the child has been missing from home, the manager and staff have taken a proactive approach to ensure they return home safely. Staff work closely with placing authorities and the police to assess and reduce risks. As a result of this coordinated approach, incidents of the child going missing from home have significantly decreased.

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

Staff are trained in physical intervention and de-escalation techniques. Physical intervention is used as a last resort. On 3 occasions, staff have used an environmental restraint when the child is in crisis. The interventions are proportionate and necessary to keep the child and staff safe.

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

Staff recruitment is done in a safe way. The manager ensures that the necessary checks are completed before staff start working with children. However, not all gaps in employment have been thoroughly explored for one member of staff. This would strengthen the safer recruitment process to ensure that the adults working with children are safe to do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager has worked in the home since it opened and has spent time observing the previous registered manager’s practice They worked effectively together, demonstrating ambition and high expectations for the staff to deliver individualised care to the child. The new manager holds a relevant childcare qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff receive an induction that provides them with a detailed programme of training and guidance for their new role. On completion of their probation period, staff are enrolled to work towards a suitable 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

All staff undertake a programme of training to meet the child’s specific needs. Staff also receive regular practice-related supervision and regular team meetings are held that consider staff wellbeing and offer them opportunities to reflect on their practice. The manager provides effective oversight and appropriate challenge to staff where required. This ensures that staff develop the appropriate correct skillset to care effectively for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2849170 4 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and responsible individual provide a supportive environment where the staff can seek advice at any time. One member of staff said, ‘I feel well supported by management and know nothing is ever too much to ask.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and responsible individual have systems in place to review and monitor the care provided to the child and the progress they are making. They are aware of the strengths and weaknesses in the operation of the home. When shortfalls have occurred, the management team are quick to respond and establish any lessons learned to avoid the situation from occurring again in the future. Inspection report for children’s home: 2849170 5 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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Statutory requirement

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 notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any [other] incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all serious incidents are notified to Ofsted, in a timely manner. 5 April 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they maintain good employment practice by ensuring that any concerns about a person’s gaps in employment are verified as far as reasonably practicable, to safeguard children and minimise potential risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: 2849170 6 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: 87 Elmpark Way, Rochdale OL12 7JQ

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Inspectors

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Shane North, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2849170 7 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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Inspectors

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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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