Children's Home run by Blue Elephant Childcare Limited in Devon

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2568557 1 Registered provider: Blue Elephant Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This children's home provides care for up to 3 children with emotional and social difficulties. It is part of a local organisation that owns several homes.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the visit, 2 children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with one child.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been in post since September 2025 and has applied to be registered with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

At the inspection on 9 and 10 March 2026, the inspector identified serious and widespread shortfalls in safeguarding practices. The home was judged inadequate, and a compliance notice was issued to address the concerns around the safety of children at the home.

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This monitoring visit

This visit took place to review the action taken by the provider in response to the compliance notice. One child was spoken to during the visit. They felt that the last few weeks had been positive and they are looking forward to moving on to a supported accommodation provision in the coming weeks.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection, the provider has undertaken work to enhance the response to the fire risk in the home. Staff have been supported to create a more robust approach to reducing the risk of fire. This includes ensuring that children are not smoking in their bedrooms or within other communal areas, and that regular fire safety checks are being completed. Further practical steps have also been taken in line with the home's fire risk assessment, such as fire-retardant spray being added to one child's bedroom and the hallway. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2568557 2 Incidents in the home have reduced. Staff have provided a more consistent response to children, which has supported the prevention of one child using cannabis and smoking in the property. This has therefore meant that the other child living in the home has not been exposed to any further incidents related to cannabis use.

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This monitoring visit

Plans have been updated. These plans now mostly reflect the expected responses of the staff team and are clearer in respect of what actions they must take to reduce risk. Records that reflect the daily experiences of children show that staff are following these plans and taking action. The manager has not had oversight of these records, but states that he knows what actions staff are taking.

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This monitoring visit

Important conversations have been held with children in respect of what to do in the event of a fire in the home, and there are plans to enhance this further from a visit from the local fire service.

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This monitoring visit

Senior leaders have enhanced their monitoring of care quality in the home and are providing additional support to the manager. Staff have also been provided with additional supervisions from the senior leadership team.

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This monitoring visit

Staff responses to children's behaviour continue to be inconsistent. For example, boundaries are not always clearly upheld when children do not follow the expectations of the home in respect of cannabis use or when children should return from time out of the home. This is an area of development that is recognised by leaders and managers.

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This monitoring visit

Sufficient action has been taken to address the compliance notice, although the wider improvements required in the home will need time to become fully embedded. Ofsted will continue to monitor the home. A second full inspection will take place, during which all requirements from the initial inspection will be reviewed in detail.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/03/2026 Full Inadequate 20/08/2024 Full Good 23/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/08/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2568557 3

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health; and 27 March 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2568557 4 (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must take immediate action to ensure that staff have the necessary knowledge and skills to prevent cannabis and cigarette smoking within the premises.

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Requirement Due date

This must include support for staff to understand the associated risks and to help children cease smoking and their use of substances.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h)) 1 May 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2568557 5 In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff are following up-to-date and well-recorded plans, providing consistent care to children that supports them to progress.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must also ensure that they have clear oversight of the practice of staff in the home, including records that are created.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child's welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child's needs, as recorded in the child's relevant plans, taking account of the child's background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children's plans and records are written in a child-focused way and include information that supports staff to understand how best to support the child. 1 May 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2568557 6 The registered person must also ensure that staff understand, and act in accordance with, the overall aims and outcomes that the home seeks for children.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children's home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2568557 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Blue Elephant Childcare Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Unit 30, Chivenor Business Park, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 4AY

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Inspector

Helen Cushnie, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2568557 8 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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