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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged as requires improvement at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have begun to make some progress since the last inspection. They have begun to participate in activities in the community, supported by the staff. This gives them the opportunity to mix with their peers and to build positive relationships. Children have begun to build relationships with the staff, and there has been a decrease in violent outbursts. The majority of the staff team has changed since the last inspection. This includes a new manager who moved from a sister home in mid-August and has the relevant qualifications and experience to manage the home. The new manager has begun to address the shortfalls from the last inspection. There were nine requirements from the last inspection, three of which have been met. There were also six recommendations, of which four have been met. Children continue to attend education, and one child sat his GCSE examinations in the summer. There have been no complaints from school since the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is regular communication, and staff continue to support children in school. New school uniforms have been purchased, and staff ensure that children take packed lunches and appropriate equipment into school. Children have also started to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh award. The children were involved in an open day at school for external professionals. One of the children made a speech in front of 20 adults about his experiences in care and at school. He then mingled with people during lunch. This is something that this child would not have managed in the past and shows that he has grown in confidence. Another child was involved in taking small groups of professionals around the school and interacted well with them. A child has recently moved from the home into supported independent living. Since leaving, he has returned for Sunday lunch and has maintained contact with the staff. He commented that his visits have had a positive effect on the other children,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

who now want to start to be more independent. This is being planned and structured, according to the children’s ages, understanding, abilities and risk and in consultation with the social worker. Staff are enrolled on the level 3 vocational qualification but have not yet completed the qualification. New staff commence once they complete their probation. Staff are receiving more supervision regularly to support them in working with the children. There are regular staff meetings, which give staff the opportunity to discuss children and any care practice issues. The home has recently nominated a member of staff to have extra safeguarding training, and they will meet regularly with staff from the sister homes to discuss issues, concerns and strategies. This will give staff the opportunity to share practice. The manager is undertaking training to become the designated safeguarding person for the home. There are regular children’s meetings, in which children have the opportunity to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

discuss wishes and feelings and purchases for the house. Staff complete rewards sheets to celebrate children’s achievements. However, there is no evidence that staff share these with children as they do not comment or sign them. This means that staff are not celebrating children’s achievements in a way which is meaningful and shows children that staff recognise these. There have been no complaints from children since the last inspection. However, two anonymous complaints were made to Ofsted. The responsible individual was contacted, investigated the complaints and responded to Ofsted, which was satisfied with the outcome. The child’s placing authority also visited the home and was happy with the outcome of the complaint. There have been recent concerns regarding a vulnerable child who repeatedly goes missing. On occasions, there have been concerns from professionals that staff are not as vigilant as they could be and that they have not always followed the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

strategies put in place. Some records of missing incidents were not clear, which meant that it was difficult to see when and how the child left the house. Thus, it is unclear whether staff understand their responsibilities for recording accurate information and their responsibilities for keeping the children safe. A designated person from the placing authority undertakes a return-to-home interview following children being missing from the home. Risk assessments are reviewed and updated. However, one of these did not clearly outline the different risks and strategies for staff to follow, which are dependent on the time of day. Thus, staff do not always follow the strategies for keeping the child from absconding from the home. One child has begun to have free structured time in the community after consultation with his social worker and is managing this well. The manager is supporting staff to become less risk adverse with children, taking into account their

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

ages, understanding and risks. Placement plans are in place to support staff working with the children. However, children do not comment on or sign these. Thus, it is not clear whether children understand or agree with the plans in place. The home is going through a redecoration programme. The kitchen and dining areas have been completed to create a large, bright open-plan area. The lounge is in the process of being moved to the back of the home. This will create a large, comfortable area for children. The old lounge is in the process of being converted into the staff office. Children have had their bedrooms redecorated. They choose the new furniture and bedding. This has resulted in their taking more pride in their rooms, and damage has decreased.

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Information about this children's home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to three children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. All children can access the linked school provision. A private company owns and operates this setting.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

22/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

25/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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

7. The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard In order to meet the views wishes and feelings standard, the registered person must: (2)(a) ensure that staff (ii) help each child to express views, wishes and feelings; and (iv) regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. 31/01/17

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. In particular, they must ensure that clear records are made of the date and circumstances of all incidents when a child goes missing from the home, including any information relating to the child’s whereabouts during the period of absence, and ensure that records are consistently, accurately and comprehensively recorded. (Regulation 36(1)(a)) 31/01/17

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained the level 3 diploma for residential childcare (England) (‘the level 3 diploma’) or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the level 3 diploma. The relevant date is, in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1 April 2014, the date which falls two years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or, in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1 April 2014, 1 April 2016. (Regulation 32(2)(a),

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Requirement Due date

14. The care planning standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard, (2) in particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure (f) that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. 31/01/17

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Requirement Due date

12. The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure: (2)(a)(v) that staff understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. 31/1/17

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the home’s staff recognise and celebrate the achievements of their children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.7)  Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording, with particular regard to key working sessions. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection, 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

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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 0300123 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, workbased 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

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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