Children's Home run by Oracle Care Limited in Staffordshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . There has been a change to the management arrangements in the home since the last inspection in May 2016. The current registered manager moved to another home within the organisation in September 2016, although has not yet resigned from this home. An acting manager is now in post. He is currently in the process of completing his registration with Ofsted. At the last inspection, Ofsted raised eight requirements. The registered manager and the acting manager have taken sufficient action to address five of these requirements. However, three requirements are outstanding following this inspection. Young people experience improved care and support because managers have established working partnerships with other agencies, and better engage with these services. This means that young people benefit from easy access to the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

specialist provisions that they need to support their development, such as health counselling services. However, staff do not ensure that young people’s case files include all necessary statutory documentation and information. Consequently, internal care planning processes may not accurately reflect the aims and objectives of the placing authorities. This requirement was raised at the last inspection and managers have failed to take sufficient action to address this shortfall. The registered manager and the acting manager now recognise the direct impact the quality of care provided by the home has on young people’s progress and personal achievements. This supports young people’s development because they are the focus of the day-to-day routines in the home. Staff make sure that young people’s individual risk assessments now detail all known risks and that they review these documents regularly. Risk assessments

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

highlight the strategies in place to reduce these risks. Furthermore, risk assessments specify the actions required of staff to promote young people’s safety. For example, when young people are missing from the home or absent without permission, staff now search the local area and endeavour to contact the young person. Young people participate in one-to-one keywork sessions in relation to their personal safety in the community. Staff use these sessions to help young people to recognise their own risk factors and instil a sense of responsibility for their own safety, such as remaining in regular contact with staff when they are away from the home. This practical approach means that there has been a reduction in young people going missing from the home since the last inspection, and there have been no overnight missing episodes since June 2016. There have been no new admissions to the home since the last inspection,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

although the acting manager has reviewed and revised internal induction processes. This means that, when placing authorities refer young people to the service, managers and staff are able to assess the compatibility of young people to reside in the home together. These assessments now take account of presenting risk factors, known vulnerabilities and specific behaviours. Consequently, managers are able to consider the likelihood of the service successfully meeting a young person’s individual needs prior to admission. Since the last inspection, the acting manager has made sure that the resources specified in the statement of purpose are available to all young people. For example, all young people now have access to bespoke therapeutic interventions and are encouraged to participate in these sessions to support their development and personal growth. As a result, the statement of purpose now accurately reflects

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the aims and objectives of the home. The acting manager supports staff in their role through regular and practice-related formal supervision sessions, but has not made sure that staff complete all necessary training courses. For example, at the last inspection, the registered manager was required to ensure that staff complete bespoke training to reflect young people’s specific behaviours. Staff have yet to complete this training. The external monitoring of the service has improved. A new independent visitor undertakes monthly visits and produces the required report. Within these reports, the independent visitor comments on how effectively young people are safeguarded and if the service promotes their well-being. This improved scrutiny allows the acting manager to review the quality of care provided by the home and create suitable action plans to address any noted shortfalls. Nevertheless, the quality of care review report does not include consultation with young people, their

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

families or external agencies. This means that this document does not provide an inclusive evaluation of the strengths and/or weaknesses of the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to two children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The provider also offers education and therapeutic services. A private provider owns and operates the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

02/03/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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

13. The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference to skills and monitoring, the registered person must: (2)(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child and ensure that they are kept up to date. (Regulation 36(1)(b)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the review of the quality of care provided for children (‘the quality of care review’) ascertains and considers the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(5)) 31/03/2017

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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 who 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 Childrens 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 children looked after 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 at: 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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