Children's Home run by Blossom Children’s Homes Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2732125 1 Registered provider: Blossom Children’s Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to 5 children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 5 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2023.

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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 for children’s home: 2732125 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/06/2025 Full Good 23/04/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2732125 3

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Summary of findings

Since the last full inspection, all 5 children have remained living at the home. They are all making progress in line with their age and stage of development. One of the older children is beginning to work towards independence, while other children have made improvements in their health and communication skills.

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Summary of findings

The leadership and management of this home are strong. Together with the staff team, leaders are good advocates for all children and want the very best for them. The staff team has remained consistent, with minimal changes. Staff are encouraged to develop their skills and knowledge, and they receive a high level of support and training.

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Summary of findings

There has been one significant incident in which staff failed to keep a child safe. However, managers have undertaken extensive reflection following this incident. They have gone to great lengths to provide the staff team with further guidance and training. This provider learns from mistakes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s outcomes continue to improve as a result of living at this home. A child who initially spoke very few words is now able to communicate clearly with staff. As all children remain settled, several other areas of their lives have continued to improve. This includes being healthier and increased participation in their community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have extensive knowledge of children’s individual communication needs and always have various tools to support effective communication. As a result, children have several ways to make their needs known to staff, which helps to ensure that their voices are heard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is prioritised. Children are supported to engage in and attend education through positive reinforcement, praise and routine. When children are not receiving the education to which they are entitled, the registered manager challenges the appropriate authorities. The registered manager is a strong advocate for children and is committed to ensuring that they receive the very best standard of care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to make choices about aspects of their care in line with their level of understanding. Staff are skilled at communicating with children to gain their views, wishes and feelings. They ensure that children are fully involved and have a voice in many aspects of their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff enable children to participate in all activities and at a pace that suits their individual needs. They know the children extremely well and recognise when some activities may be too overwhelming. For instance, when children celebrate special occasions, all Inspection report for children’s home: 2732125 4 children are encouraged to take part and contribute in any way they can. Success, however small, is always celebrated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have worked hard alongside children to make the home a nurturing and homely environment. The home reflects the children who live there. There are many toys and activities for children to enjoy. However, some furniture in children’s bedrooms requires repair or replacement. A programme of improvements is scheduled to take place in the near future.

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

Medication administration processes are carried out only by staff who have been trained and assessed as competent. However, on one occasion, staff failed to prevent a child from accessing another child’s medication. This is not a regular occurrence, and managers have taken robust action to reduce the risk of recurrence. Processes have been strengthened, and there are now multiple checks and safeguards in place, including management auditing to minimise the risk of errors.

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

Incidents involving children are rare, but when they occur, staff ensure that they are recorded in detail. They explore the antecedents of each incident and reflect on the actions taken, considering whether alternative approaches could have been used to keep children safer. Managers maintain thorough oversight of all incidents. When required, risk assessments are reviewed and updated. Where appropriate, children are involved in debriefs following incidents, using formats that they can understand.

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

There have been no complaints from children since the last inspection. However, children know how to make a complaint. Complaints are discussed with children during regular meetings. Children have a pictorial and accessible book that shows who they must contact if they have any worries or concerns. For children with more complex communication needs, staff know to look for signs and changes in their usual behaviour that may indicate they are worried about an aspect of their care. Staff act as strong advocates for these children.

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

When there are allegations or serious incidents, managers inform the relevant safeguarding professionals. The registered manager has co-produced an allegation risk assessment with the local authority designated officer. This shows good multi-agency working to keep children safer.

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

Only staff who have been through a thorough safer recruitment checking process are permitted to work with the highly vulnerable children at this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is a highly dedicated and passionate advocate for the children living in the home. Alongside a senior staff team, they manage a team of care staff effectively. Together, they form a coherent team around each child. This shared team Inspection report for children’s home: 2732125 5 vision ensures that all staff are helping children to make progress towards their individual targets and aspirations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s families say they are happy with the care provided in the home. They report that they are always listened to, and they hold the staff in high regard. Families value the consistent approach to caring for their children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers ensure that staff receive regular and effective supervision and training, including support to achieve essential qualifications. Supervision provides support and guidance and promotes development, and staff’s understanding of the children’s care needs is assessed. Staff’s skills and knowledge are further enhanced through additional, child-specific training when required. However, 2 members of staff have not achieved the required childcare qualification within the necessary timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable and diverse staff team. Staff report being very happy at work. They are invested in the children’s care. Staff say they feel supported and have confidence in the registered manager. Staff are supported to develop in their roles. Weekly team meetings are informative and provide various opportunities for learning and reflection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working and collaboration with external agencies are strengths of the home. During this inspection, social workers, independent reviewing officers and therapists praised the registered manager and staff for their good communication and the high- quality care they provide.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have not always maintained effective oversight of all aspects of the home environment. Some areas of the home required repair. However, the registered manager, alongside senior staff, addressed some of these issues during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

One requirement and 2 recommendations from the last inspection have been met. At this inspection, one requirement and 2 recommendations have been made. Inspection report for children’s home: 2732125 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, 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 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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff must ensure that children’s medication is always stored safely and securely. 10 September 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing, supportive, homely and domestic environment that meets children’s needs. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that all staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, have achieved the required childcare qualification within the expected timescales. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12)

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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: 2732125 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blossom Children’s Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suites 7 and 8, Moran House, 449 to 451 High Road, London NW10 2JJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Matthew Wakeling

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Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2732125 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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