Children's Home run by Oakley House Children’s Home Limited in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC447457 Inspection date 21/11/2012 Inspector Michelle Spruce Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 10/07/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is a children's home for up to 3 young people, aged between 10 - 17, with emotional and / or behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a private company.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making satisfactory progress .

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Progress

The home has not provided accommodation to children and young people since its registration on 29 June 2012. This inspection focuses on whether the children's home meets its statutory requirements in order to maintain its registration and is ready to accept placements.

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Progress

The home is well presented, welcoming and ready to accept placements. Weekly health and safety checks are completed to ensure the home remains safe. The fire alarms are checked and drills undertaken to highlight any problems. The manager has taken action to update the risk assessments and recently changed the format, making them clearer and more robust. However, the smoking risk assessment identifies that there should be a wall mounted bin to discard cigarettes in, but this is not yet in place. The manager has provided an ashtray until the appropriate bin is purchased, this reduces the risk of fire. The home has window restrictors on all bedroom windows to keep young people safe. Although there is no window restrictor on the large landing window. This has the potential to put young people at risk. There is a manager in charge of the home who is undergoing the registration process. The manager is also waiting for a deputy manager to join the team once

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Progress

security checks have been completed. Some matters in relation to the legislation have not been included in the Statement of Purpose. For example, details about staff changes, including the addition of a deputy manager, and details of the relevant qualifications and experience of persons working at the home. Clearly there are no children on role at present but the document does not provide clear information to placing authorities, parents or carers.

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Progress

The manager confirmed that staff are ready to start work once young people are resident. However, the staff recruitment records do not provide sufficient information. For example, references are missing, verbal verification of the references that are available has not taken place and proof of qualifications are not on files. Although no young people are currently at risk, this does not protect young people from unsuitable candidates having access to them in the future.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the registered person shall notify Ofsted of any such revision of the Statement of Purpose within 28 days (Regulation 5(b)) 19/12/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure persons do not work at a children's home unless full and satisfactory information is available in relation to them, in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2. (Regulation 26(3)(d)) 30/11/2012

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure avoidable hazards are removed as is consistent with a domestic setting. In particular relation to providing a metal bin for smoking and a window restrictor (NMS 10.3)  ensure all people working in or for the children's home have telephone enquiries made as well as obtaining written references. (NMS 16.1)

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

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