Children's Home run by Oracle Care Limited in Bedford

Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Staff understand the importance of education and actively support and encourage the children to attend school and support them to complete their homework.  There is a stable, dedicated staff team that knows and understands the individual needs of the children and is committed to working with them.  Staff understand the importance of contact for the children, families and important people in their lives. Staff support and facilitate this happening.  Staff are consistent with boundaries and appropriately challenge inappropriate behaviours.  Children take part in a wide variety of activities both in the home and in the community. This supports them to build social skills with their peers.  Children are supported to learn appropriate risks in consultation with social workers.  Children say that they feel safe living in the home and that staff listen to them if they are worried or upset.  Children know how to complain but do not have the opportunity to comment

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The children’s home provision is good because:

or sign to say they are happy with the outcome.  The use of physical intervention is low, but when it has occurred children have not commented or signed to say that they understand why the measure has been used.  Staff have not received supervision in line with the home’s policy.  There are comprehensive placement plans in place, which support the staff working with the children. However, children do not sign to say that they have read or are in agreement with these.

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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 (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 registered person must ensure that within five days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(c)) 30/10/16

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) 30/10/16

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. This is with particular regard to fully following up any complaint made by a young person. (Regulation 39(3)) 30/10/16

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  The young people should have the opportunity to comment and sign their placement plan. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 18, paragraph 3.31)

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Information about this children’s home

 This home is a privately owned children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children up to the age of 18 who present with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home provides a therapeutic approach to care

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/03/16 Interim Declined in effectiveness 23/07/15 Full Outstanding

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Good

The children have built good relationships with an enthusiastic and dedicated staff team that knows and understands their individual needs, and supports them to progress. An independent reviewing officer commented about one of the young people that ‘he has little anecdotes to tell about the staff and smiles when he hears their names’.

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Good

There is a wide variety of activities to take part in, both in the home and in the community. Children are supported to participate in individual hobbies such as horse riding, football club and falconry. A professional commented, ‘Staff arranged a trip just so he could follow his hobby and attend a show. He loved it.’ This gives children the opportunity to follow new interests and to build on their social skills with their peers in the community.

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Good

Children have made good progress since moving into the home. There is good role modelling by staff, who celebrate children’s achievements and positive behaviours with them. This supports children in building confidence and self-esteem.

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Good

Staff understand the importance of education and actively support and encourage the children to attend. Educational games and flash cards have been purchased by the staff, which support children with their learning at school. This shows that staff and education work in partnership to support children’s educational learning. Children complete homework with the support of the staff on their return from school and this is incorporated into their weekly planners. Staff give a brief handover to teaching staff and receive feedback about how the children have been during school when they pick them up. The headteacher commented, ‘The children always arrive at school on time, in the correct school uniform and with equipment needed for that day.’ Communication between the school and the home is ‘excellent’. All children have 100% attendance. A young person commented, ‘I’m doing really well at school, I like school and did well in English last year.’ Children

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Good

are proud of their educational progress.

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Good

All children are completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award at school. One child is due to go to Snowdon for two days as part of the award. Staff from the home will also attend to support him during the activity. Staff see this as important part of building children’s confidence and self-esteem.

p.6

Good

Staff have good knowledge of why the children are in care, and their current and future plans. Children spoken to could explain why they were currently living in the home. Staff understand the importance of transitions into the home. Children spoke about how they came to visit before moving in and were able to meet staff and see their room. They are informed of any potential new admissions through children’s meetings. Staff start a photo album from the time children come to visit the home which contains photos of activities, achievements and celebrations to ensure that they leave with positive memories of their time in the home. Staff have also created an album from the time the home opened, to share with children who may revisit the home in the future. This shows the children that they were and still are an important part of the home and gives them a sense of belonging.

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Good

Staff understand the importance of contact between families or important people in the children’s lives. They support and supervise contact in line with the care plan.

p.7

Good

Children have individualised targets which incorporate life skills such as personal hygiene and cooking. Staff use positive consequences to acknowledge when children have tried or achieved something positive. This could be in the form of a meal out, a magazine or an extra activity. Achievements are also discussed in children’s meetings, which helps to build children’s self-esteem and self-worth.

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Good

Children’s health needs are promoted. They are registered with local doctors, dentists and opticians. Staff support them in attending regular health checks and follow-up appointments. They have also had health assessments from the children looked after nurse. All actions are recorded on their individual health plans, which are regularly reviewed and updated when needed.

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Good

There is a bright, colourful children’s guide which informs children how they can complain, and explains rules and boundaries and what children can expect while living in the home, along with details of the day-to-day routine and outside agencies they can contact if they are worried or upset and wish to speak to someone independent of the home.

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Good

The home is in a rural village overlooking fields. There is a large, spacious garden with a vegetable patch and goalposts. The home is decorated to a good standard. The house has recently been re-carpeted and painted throughout. There are pictures and photos of the young people on activities and around the house, and this gives the children a sense of belonging.

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Good

Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms. One child commented, ‘I have had all new stuff for my room and I chose it.’ Another commented, ‘I have posters and a CD player, I like my room.’

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Good

Sanctions are fair and proportionate, and relate to the behaviour. However, children do not always comment and do not sign to say they are in agreement or understand the sanction. Children have individualised placement plans, which support staff in working with them effectively. These are regularly updated and staff sign to say that they have read any amendments. However, there is no evidence that children read or agree to these or that the social workers are in agreement with the home’s plans, which could lead to professionals not working consistently with the children.

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Good

Staff challenge unwanted behaviours and reinforce boundaries. Children have reflective conversations with staff to support them to look at the behaviour and see how they could manage it in the future. A professional commented, ‘Behaviours have been openly addressed from day one and quickly diminished. The child is outgoing and positive now, without many of the negative behaviours we were concerned about.’

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Good

There are comprehensive behaviour management plans in place, which give staff good insight into potential triggers, behaviours and how to work with a child after an incident, and support them in working with the children in a consistent way.

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Good

During the inspection, there were observations of good interactions between staff and children. Staff used appropriate humour and banter to engage with children. They were given the opportunity over dinner to talk about their day and plans for the evening.

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Good

Comprehensive risk assessments are in place, which outline the risks in both the home and the community and the strategies for managing these behaviours safely. These are reviewed regularly and amended when necessary. The therapist has recently reassessed children’s risks with staff, meaning that staff are not working in a risk-averse way.

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Good

Staff support children with independence according to their age, understanding and ability and teach them to manage certain risks, for example, using their bank card when out in the community.

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Good

There are impact risk assessments in place, which look at the potential risks of a new child coming into the home, including the risks to – and presented by – the other children, along with strategies for risk reduction in order to safeguard all children.

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Good

Health and safety checks are completed and up to date. There is an area risk assessment in place, which outlines potential risks in the area and actions for reduction. The manager has had input from the police and other local services. This makes staff aware of potential risks and how these can be reduced to keep children safe.

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Good

Children spoken to said they felt safe living in the home. One commented, ’I like it here and feel safe because of the staff and where the house is.’ Another commented, ‘The house is a nice safe place.’

p.9

Good

Staff spoken to had a good understanding of safeguarding and have attended all the appropriate training.

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Good

The children have not gone missing from the home. Individual protocols are in place should this happen, and staff were aware of each child’s risk, and actions to follow. All children spoken to were aware that staff would look for them before calling the police.

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Good

There have been some incidents of bullying since the last full inspection. Staff have challenged the child involved and have put a plan of work in place to support him in understanding what bullying is. When bullying has occurred, staff and children will talk through the issue using a restorative approach to help rebuild relationships. Staff have recently attended anti-bullying training, which has supported them in understanding what bullying is and the impact on children.

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Good

Since the start of the summer holidays, incidents of bullying have significantly decreased. A child spoken to commented, ‘He sometimes calls me names, but the staff tell him off and he has listened, staff always say something and act on it.’ A professional commented, ‘Peer relationships are monitored and supported. The child feels confident approaching staff and seeking support when a situation is beyond their ability to resolve.’

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Good

Medication is appropriately stored and recoded. For a child on medication, a letter from the GP has been obtained, informing staff what house-held medication they can give. Consent for medical treatment and first aid has been signed by parents and social workers. All staff have completed medication training, which further safeguards children.

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Good

There have been three physical interventions since the last full inspection. These were low-level and recorded appropriately. However, children are not always given the opportunity to comment and sign to say that they understand why physical intervention was used and if they have been debriefed. The manager has not always signed and commented on holds, making it difficult to evaluate the suitability of the action taken.

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Good

The children know how to complain. There have been three complaints since the last full inspection. A child commented, ‘I know how to complain. I would fill out a form and put it in the office or just talk to staff and they will sort it.’ However, there was no evidence that all children have the opportunity to comment or sign to say they are happy with the outcome of the complaint. This means that staff have no record to say whether that children are satisfied with the outcome or wish to take it further.

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Inadequate

There has not been a registered manager in post since November 2015, which has resulted in a judgement of inadequate. However, this has not had an impact on the children. The organisation has had good interim arrangements in place and the home has been managed by an experienced person. An application for a permanent registered manager is in progress. She has worked in the home before and children spoken to say that they are looking forward to her coming back.

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Inadequate

There was one requirement and three recommendations from the last inspection. These have all been met.

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Inadequate

Staff support children to participate in their reviews. An independent reviewing officer commented ‘The child came to the review with a PowerPoint presentation. With the support of his key worker, he shared activities he enjoyed, foods he liked and disliked and his hopes for the future. He loved telling us and we loved seeing the photos and hearing a vivid and lively account of life in the home.’ This shows that staff understand the importance of children contributing to their reviews.

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Inadequate

Children have alarms on their bedroom doors to alert staff if they get up in the night. Children are aware of these and why they are in place, and children, parents and social workers have signed consent forms.

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Inadequate

Recruitment is robust and all checks are in place and verified before staff can begin to work in the home.

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Inadequate

Staff have completed all mandatory training, as well as autism and anti-bullying training recommended at the last inspection. Some staff have completed their national vocational qualification level three. Staff who are still on probation need to be registered.

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Inadequate

Staff cover gaps in the rota or they are covered by staff from the sister homes. They understand the importance of the children having staff around them who they know and trust, and the importance of them having consistency to keep them safe.

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Inadequate

Staff meetings are regular and provide the opportunity to discuss the children and strategies for working with them, and support staff in working with a consistent approach. However, some staff have not had regular supervision to support their development or practice.

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Inadequate

The manager monitors care practice and children’s progression through a computer system used by the home to record all information regarding the children. This is able to plot progression and outcomes by transferring information into monthly graphs. This supports the manager and staff to evaluate patterns and trends.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children’s home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children’s home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children’s home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children’s home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children’s home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children’s home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference that adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other, and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children’s

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. the guidance ‘Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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