Children's Home run by Oracle Care Limited in Central Bedfordshire

Unique reference number SC421531 Inspection date 24/03/2014 Inspector Stephen Halliley Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 28/08/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home provides accommodation and care for up to three young people who have experienced emotional and behavioural difficulties. A private company owns and operates this setting.

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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 good progress .

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Progress

This home was last inspected in August 2013 when the service provision was found to be adequate. This included a good judgement for outcomes and an inadequate judgement for leadership and management. That was linked to the fact that at the time there wasn't a manager in post and no application to register a manager in progress as well as to the condition of the home and the failure to follow through on Regulation 34 actions. Two requirements and four recommendations were made at the time of that inspection.

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Progress

Since that time a new Registered Manager has taken up her post and the home has made very significant progress. All requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection have been satisfactorily addressed.

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Progress

The home is clean, well decorated and well maintained and a great deal of work has been done in this area since the last inspection. New external doors are due to be fitted within the next month which will complete the current renovation and refurbishment programme. The new Registered Manager has instigated a robust system for monitoring and improving the quality of care provided in the home. This clearly includes consultation with parents, children and social workers in order to provide a well-rounded overview of the service. Additionally the care lead for the area carries out monthly quality assurance visits and this provides an additional layer of monitoring to ensure regulations and standards are being met.

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Progress

Young people are now routinely asked to comment on sanctions and restraint records ensuring that their views are recorded and that they fully understand why the sanction or restraint was used. The Registered Manager has cancelled some sanctions given by staff because she felt they were either inappropriate or slightly disproportionate. Work has been undertaken in staff meetings and with young people to devise an agreed set of sanctions which can be used for specific behaviours. This will ensure a more consistent approach so that all staff and young people understand the use of sanctions and how they are used.

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Progress

The children's guide has been updated to include relevant information about who they are able to contact to find out about their rights or raise a concern. The guide has also been developed in a DVD format which includes a tour of the home and an introduction to the staff who work there. This ensures the information is available to all young people and allows them to develop some level of familiarity with the home before they move in.

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Progress

A development plan was put in place following the last inspection covering September 2013 to April 2014. The plan has been reviewed and updated monthly making notes of areas which have been completed, areas where progress has been made and identifying possible new areas which can be built into the plan. This approach has ensured the home has continued to develop since the previous inspection.

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Progress

Three staff and the Registered Manager have successfully completed the Children and Young People's Workforce Diploma level 3. One member of staff continues to work on this and another has just registered to undertake this qualification. The Registered Manager is also undertaking her level 5 award. This ensures all staff are suitably qualified to provide consistent, good quality care to young people.

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Progress

Young people are engaging very well in education and the number of sanctions given is continually reducing. There have been no restraints used or incidents of young people going missing from the home since the last inspection. This is a stable and well-run home in which young people feel safe and cared for. One young person has a very detailed transition plan in place ensuring staff support for her planned move back to her home area when she finishes her education.

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Progress

With comprehensive action taken to address the requirements and recommendations identified previously and evidence of improving outcomes for young people, the home is judged to be making good progress.

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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 sanctions and rewards for behaviour are clear, reasonable and fair and are understood by all staff and children. (NMS 3.8)

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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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