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

Unique reference number SC447457 Inspector Michelle Moss Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered manager POST VACANT Date of last inspection 11/11/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 24/03/2015

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection None

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This inspection

This home was judged adequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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This inspection

The nurturing and stable environment young people have previously experienced is no longer secure. Inconsistency in staffing is hindering young people’s progress. Instability in staffing due to poor staff retention and the use of agency staff means the overall staff group no longer have a shared understanding of young people’s needs. A change in key members of staff for some young people has impacted on their security.

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This inspection

Some young people’s behaviour has an adverse effect on the safety and well-being of others. For example, there has been professional concern about the presenting needs of some young people against the vulnerabilities of others. Young people openly talk about things no longer being good. They are frustrated by the ongoing use of agency staff and not having staff they trust or respect.

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This inspection

There is no management consistency in approaches to monitoring and review of records. For example, there is no managerial quality assurance of sanctions and missing from care records to ensure close monitoring and review of action taken by staff. Communication with placing authorities has declined and this means social workers have limited knowledge of their young person’s progress. Although managers have developed care planning, their review and monitoring of these key records is not effective. This means they do not map progress and or capture achievement.

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This inspection

Recruitment practice is more clearly defined and comprehensive pre-appointment checks ensure only suitable people work with children. There has been a marked improvement in opportunities for young people to receive a good education, tailored to their individual needs. This has meant staff advocating for young people to ensure they have access to meaningful education and attend school like other peers. Young people’s own commitment to their learning is commendable. Young 3 of 6 people have regular opportunities to receive positive reinforcement from staff through incentives and rewards. Specialist professional counsellors support staff to reflect on practice and in turn, support young people to make safer decisions. Poor staff retention and lack of management oversight hinders this approach.

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This inspection

Increased attention is now given to young people’s medication. As a result, the management of records ensure clear auditing of medication. Records of admissions and discharges are more detailed and verify young people being accommodated by the home.

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This inspection

Young people maintain appropriate contact with people important to them. Through creative tailored support, young people rebuild relationships.

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This inspection

The home’s Statement of Purpose has been updated to reflect the home’s conditions of registration. This aids professionals to know the range of children’s needs that staff can support.

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This inspection

The absence of a Registered Manager is hindering the service in fulfilling its caring responsibilities. For example, although a form for the assessment of the locality has been produced, there is no management input to bring it up to date and to reflect young people’s presenting needs and vulnerabilities, against the risk posed by the local and wider community.

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This inspection

Improving emotional and physical well-being is compromised as staff need to focus on managing increasingly challenging behaviours displayed by young people who choose to put themselves and others at risk of harm. For example, despite a commitment by staff to promote the health and well-being of young people, some young people continue to smoke and will attempt to smoke inside the home.

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This inspection

Young people’s compatibility has declined. This has resulted in daily disruption in the home with challenging and threatening behaviour towards some staff. This has created a breakdown in staff and young people’s relationships. Some young people are increasingly taking risks in the community and consequently are now involved with the youth justice system.

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This inspection

Young people have procedures that enable them to raise concerns. Despite this, they have little confidence in knowing their views will be taken seriously. Some young people report they have lost their faith in staff.

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This inspection

Notifying partner agencies, including Ofsted, about significant events such as the necessity to call out the police is ineffective. This leaves cross agency working compromised. 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/11/2014 Full adequate 24/01/2014 Interim good progress 16/05/2013 Full adequate 21/11/2012 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 the children’s home is conducted so as to promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated there (Regulation 11(1)(a)). 17/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that there is at all times a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working at the children home (Regulation 25(1)) 17/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the employment of any persons on a temporary basis at the children’s home will not prevent children from receiving such continuity of care as is reasonable to meet their needs (Regulation 25 (2)) 17/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure children’s case records are kept up to date (Regulation 28 (1)(B)) 17/04/2015 5 of 6 (2001) ensure any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in schedule 5 takes place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of events in column 2 of the table (Regulation 30 (1)) 17/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure a review of the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises is completed at least once in each calendar year. (Regulation 31 (1A(b)) 17/04/2015 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Reg. Requirement Due date

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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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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