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

Unique reference number SC421531 Inspector Angie Bishop Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Oracle Care Limited Registered person address Unit 1 Dane Valley Mill Havannah Street CONGLETON Cheshire CW12 2AH Responsible individual Steven Bromley Registered manager Danielle Louise Murphy Date of last inspection 26/01/2015 2 of 6 Inspection date 25/03/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

The Registered Manager was not available at this inspection; suitable arrangements were in place to cover her absence.

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This inspection

At the previous inspection, five shortfalls were identified; the manager has addressed one of the shortfalls. In addition to the four unmet shortfalls, a further two were identified during this inspection. The required maintenance and general redecoration of the home has not commenced; consequently, young people continue to raise concern about the impact on their routines of the outstanding works. The manager has not completed staff supervision at regular intervals in line with the home’s policy. Where supervision has taken place, staff have not signed the records and the duration is not recorded. The manager has not completed staff appraisals. This means the manager does not effectively manage her staff and staff have not accepted the content of the records. Monthly safety checks have not been consistently completed in line with the home’s policy. Where staff complete records there are some inaccuracies. The manager does not identify the inaccuracies and as

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This inspection

Staff work in conjunction with young people to develop individualised in house placement plans. By contributing to planning, young people invest in their care, which results in positive outcomes. Young people receive predictable care from a stable staff team who implement robust boundaries. Consequently, young people feel safe and do not experience the destabilising impact of changing care givers.

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This inspection

The manager and staff engage with external agencies to ensure they create comprehensive risk assessments. Staff regularly review risk and use a traffic light system to classify it. This means levels of risk are more easily identifiable and young people are safeguarded by robust risk planning. 3 of 6 All young people continue to attend full time education at the linked school provision. Staff transport young people to school and remain with them during the school day. As a result, young people have a constant level of support in school and can concentrate on maximising their potential. All young people are studying for formal qualifications and all achieve a number of star awards each week at school. All young people are described by staff as, ‘extremely active,’ they take part in a number of sports including diving, football, trampolining and going to the gymnasium.

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This inspection

Staff introduce young people to new activities and experiences; this promotes their integration into the local community and young people build social relationships outside of the home and school. One young person recently started to work as a helper in a gymnasium, which he attends. Consequently, he has an additional dynamic to his life through friendships he has made. He achieved a ‘commando award,’ and is very proud of this. Another young person enjoys cycling and staff accompany him to the local woods to join other young cyclists. One staff member said: ‘I transferred to work in this home as activities are what I am good at, the young people here love being active.’

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This inspection

All young people enjoy contact in line with their care plans. Staff maintain positive relationships with family members and through this they facilitate good quality contact in the home and community. A member of staff said: ‘One young person’s relationship with his mum has recently broken down again, we are supporting him to make sense of this.’ 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

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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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/01/2015 Full good 24/03/2014 Interim good progress 28/08/2013 Full adequate 27/03/2013 Interim satisfactory progress

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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 that all parts of the home to which children have access are so far as reasonably practicable free from hazards to their health and safety (Regulation 23(1)(a)) 26/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all persons employed receive appropriate supervision and appraisal. (Regulation 27 (4)(a)) 26/04/2015

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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 the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is 5 of 6 well maintained and decorated. With particular regard to some communal areas (NMS 10.3)  ensure a record is kept by the home detailing the time and date and length of each supervision held for each member of staff, including the registered person. The record is signed by the supervisor and the member of staff at the end of the supervision (NMS 19.5)  ensure all staff have their performance individually and formally appraised at least annually and this appraisal takes into account any views of children the service is providing for (NMS 19.6)  ensure all staff’s work is consistent with these Regulations and NMS, the home’s policies and procedures. (NMS 21.3) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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Information 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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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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