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Social care · Children's home inspection (SCCIF)

Children's Home run by Park Blue Homes Limited in Doncaster

Inspected 8 Apr 2026 · published 23 May 2026 · URN 2862750

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Summary

What we read, and from where

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  • Group verified

    Park Blue Homes Limited

  • Inspection date verified

    8 Apr 2026

  • Inspectors verified

    Lisa Richards

  • Helped and protected verified

    Good

  • Leadership and management verified

    Good

  • Overall effectiveness verified

    Good

  • Name on report verified

    2862750

  • URN verified

    2862750

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

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Grade profile

Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.

  • OverallGood
  • Helped and protectedGood
  • Leadership and managementGood

70% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Good (12,716 inspections).

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

+31Mostly positivemore positive than 42% of reports of this type graded Good
OutstandingGoodRIInadequate

In line with other reports of this type graded Good.

Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.

Praisestrongeffectivesafefeel safepositivetrusting relationshipsenjoywarm
Criticismnot alwaysseriousconcernsconcernlimited

How the report reads, start to finish

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FindingsAbout the inspectionWhat needs to improve positive critical
  • Findings1170w+42
  • What needs to improve284w−60

Strengths

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Concerns

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Next steps

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What the report dwells on

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Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
8
Words of findings
1,452
about usual (typical 1319)
Reading level
Hard
Flesch 44, typical 51
Average sentence
16 words
Next steps
5
typical 4
Hedged sentences
3%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 65%What needs to improve 16%About the inspection 20%

Full report text

Inspection report for children’s home: 2862750 1 Registered provider: Park Blue Homes Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately operated. The home provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home. Both were seen interacting with staff during the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager and home registered with Ofsted in November 2025. This is the home’s first inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not appliable Inspection report for children’s home: 2862750 2

p.1

Summary of findings

Children’s voices are strong in the home. Children can identify staff to share how they are feeling and what they need. Staff listen to children and spend time with them to help them feel safe and supported.

p.2

Summary of findings

When children move into the home, they are made to feel welcome. The manager ensures that the changes in dynamics on other children living in the home are considered. Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms and other areas.

p.2

Summary of findings

If a physical hold has taken place the manager has not always provided written oversight or notified the regulator of an incident that they note as serious.

p.2

Summary of findings

Staff sufficiency and consistency have been varied, and this has meant that the children have not benefitted from a stable staff team. This has affected the children’s ability to form relationships and attachments.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming, well maintained and decorated to a high standard. Children have ample space to spend time together or have privacy apart. There is a range of age- appropriate activities for the children to enjoy and the home is decorated with photos of the children and staff to help it feel homely.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to try new activities that help them develop new skills, improve their self-esteem and have a sense of achievement. One child has started horse riding classes and staff encourage participation. Staff spend meaningful time with children, listen carefully to their views and use warm, respectful language that helps children to develop trusting and positive relationships.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is given a high priority by staff. They are persistent and proactive in seeking appropriate full-time education for children. Where this is not immediately available, staff provide structured learning support in the home to ensure that children continue to make progress and maintain routine and engagement with learning.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moves into the home are carefully planned and managed well. Staff prepare existing children for new arrivals and ensure that new children feel welcomed through thoughtful gestures such as personalised welcome packs. Children are encouraged to personalise and decorate their bedrooms, helping them feel settled, secure and develop a sense of permanence.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have made progress. New skills are learned and achievements are recognised and celebrated, which further boosts the children’s confidence and motivation. One Inspection report for children’s home: 2862750 3 childloves baking and cooking and this is something that has been encouraged since they moved into the home. Therapeutic support is readily available to guide staff and this enhances their ability to meet children’s emotional and developmental needs. Children are also supported to access specialist services in the local community when required.

p.2

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

Staff spend meaningful time with children and provide regular opportunities for them to talk openly about their feelings, worries and concerns. When children are upset, staff respond with sensitivity and offer reassurance, helping children to feel listened to, valued and emotionally supported. Staff encourage children to explore their feelings and provide positive feedback, which helps children develop trust.

p.3

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

Staff actively help children to understand and manage risks both in the home and the wider community. They talk openly with children about safety, including risks associated with the internet and social media. Age-appropriate online safety measures and restrictions are in place and children report feeling safe because of these arrangements. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of safeguarding risks and take a proactive role in helping children develop safe decision-making skills.

p.3

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

When risks are identified, individual risk assessments are completed promptly and provide clear guidance for staff on how to support children safely. These are reviewed regularly and updated when circumstances change.

p.3

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

Children can clearly identify trusted staff in the home. Staff complete mandatory safeguarding training, which supports them to provide safe care and respond appropriately to concerns or incidents. There is a well-established and coordinated response when children go missing from the home. Staff act quickly, follow agreed procedures and ensure that return-home discussions take place, allowing children to share their experiences and receive support.

p.3

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

Restrictive practice is used appropriately and only as a last resort to keep children safe. Incidents are clearly recorded detailing the events and actions taken. Children are provided opportunities to discuss how they felt about these incidents and staff explain the reasons for interventions and the steps taken to reduce future risk. One incident was identified where management oversight was not fully recorded.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager spends regular time with the children and has developed strong, trusting relationships with them. Children feel comfortable approaching the manager and sharing information, which helps them feel safe, listened to and supported. This visible and approachable leadership contributes positively to children’s experiences in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2862750 4 The manager demonstrates a strong understanding of the children living and monitors their progress and day-to-day experiences effectively. Monitoring systems record and track children’s care and development and these are regularly reviewed by the manager to ensure that care remains responsive to children’s needs.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works collaboratively with partner agencies and individuals who are important to the children. Communication with professionals is described as timely and well-coordinated. Weekly reports provide updates on children’s progress and wellbeing ensuring that all professionals involved remain informed.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff training and development are given appropriate priority. The manager actively seeks out training opportunities to enhance staff knowledge and skills, enabling them to provide more tailored and effective support for children. Staff receive a comprehensive induction when they begin working at the home and their progress is monitored to ensure that they are suitably prepared for their roles.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Formal supervision sessions have not always been provided in line with the home’s supervision policy. However, staff report that the manager is accessible and available for support when required. Regular team meetings provide opportunities for reflection and discussion, and staff’s views are actively sought following incidents involving children. This helps promote learning and shared responsibility within the staff team.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing arrangements have not always been stable, and the use of agency and bank staff has been necessary to maintain safe staffing levels. This has affected the consistency of care provided to children. The manager is aware of this issue and is working to improve staff stability to establish continuity of care and relationships for children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Significant incidents relating to children’s welfare and protection are recorded and subject to management oversight. The manager reviews incidents to identify learning and reduce future risk. However, it has been identified that not all incidents deemed serious by the manager were notified to the regulator. Inspection report for children’s home: 2862750 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

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

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(d)(e)) 3 July 2026

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records of restraint enable them and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint. Records should help to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure that it meets the needs of each child. (The Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards page 49, paragraph 9.59)  The registered person should notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)-(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (40(4)(e)). (The Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards page 63, paragraph 14.14) Inspection report for children’s home: 2862750 6

p.5

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: 2862750 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Park Blue Homes Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 38 Freemans Way, Harrogate HG3 1DH

p.7

Inspector

Lisa Richards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2862750 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Inspector

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Inspector

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

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