Children's home run by Oxfordshire County Council

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Only young people whose needs can be met move in to this home. The manager carries out thorough assessments of the viability of accepting a young person into the home. He declines referrals if his assessment shows that there are incompatibility issues or conflicts of interest that staff would not be likely to manage effectively. Young people are welcomed into the home and settle well. They develop positive relationships with staff, who care deeply about them and take time to get to know them and their needs well. Staff are supported in their work by the clinical team. There is a clear understanding of how young people’s past experiences have impacted on their emotional well-being and behaviour. Staff are skilled at working with young people to help them develop self-awareness and more appropriate coping strategies. When strategies are not effective, or new behaviours emerge, staff develop new ways of supporting young people. Staff are resolute in their determination to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

improve young people’s lives. As young people’s emotional well-being improves, their self-esteem and confidence increase and they make progress in all areas of their lives. Some young people are now engaging in education, despite the fact that previously they had not done so for some time. Others are now more settled and are attaining well in their education and planning for their future studies. Staff deal with any significant events effectively to ensure the safety of all. When a young person develops a pattern of going missing, staff work closely with the police and other professionals. Information is shared and clear multi-agency plans are developed to disrupt or break this pattern of behaviour. There are clear and consistent rules and boundaries applied. Young people understand these, even if they do not always like them. When rules are broken, young people know the sanctions that will be implemented. Staff take time to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

discuss the incident and its consequences with the young person. Through these discussions, young people develop the ability to reflect on their actions and go on to acknowledge that their behaviour was unacceptable. Restraints are used only in the most extreme circumstances in order to safeguard the young person or another person, or to protect the property from damage. Young people confide in the staff because they know that the staff will listen to them. They feel able to make complaints and these are dealt with efficiently. There have been no safeguarding issues that have required investigation. The local authority designated officer reported that the manager uses the service well for consultation and advice. Staff understand the complex relationships that young people have with their families. The staff’s work with young people and their parents helps to repair or improve family relationships. For one young person, this work has led to a

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

successful return home. Staff understand the importance of encouraging and supporting the other significant relationships that young people have. For example, careful and well-considered support is being given to one young asylum seeker in order to allow him to maintain contact with a friend who he made while travelling to England to seek asylum. Young people move on from the home in a planned and well-supported way. Care is taken to make sure that young people are prepared for the move into more independent living arrangements. Staff continue to support them until they become confident in their new arrangements. The monitoring arrangements are strong. The manager undertakes regular checks and has consistently shown a good capacity to plan and make improvement. His measured approach ensures that developments are well planned, become consolidated and then are built upon. The arrangements for an independent visitor

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to inspect the home are effective in supporting the development of the care provided. Not all of the reports of these visits have been forwarded to Ofsted, which means that the regulator has not been kept fully up to date with developments in the home. Since the last inspection, there have been a number of improvements, including changes to the environment of the home. The young people have been involved in planning these improvements and in painting and decorating areas of the home. There is now a well-stocked art and craft space that is frequently used. Improvements in the dining room have led to a far more homely, relaxing environment in which the young people and staff can share their meals. The new trampoline in the garden has provided the young people with an additional activity to enjoy and the chance to burn off energy; in addition, ladies from the retirement home next door commented that watching the boys have fun has given them great

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

pleasure. A homework club has been introduced to support young people’s learning. Over the Christmas period, an art and craft evening was held, during which young people enjoyed the company of a number of invited professionals, including police officers. The manager has ensured that the recommendations made at the last inspection have been met. The manager has improved oversight of the staff recruitment checks; arrangements for the use of cigarette lighters and chargers for electronic devices are now included in the fire risk assessment; there are improved arrangements for the use and storage of liquid medicines; and the regulator is notified of significant events are made when required.

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home is registered to accommodate up to six young people, and it currently only admits boys. The home is registered to care for young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/09/2016 Full Good 30/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/07/2015 Full Good 03/02/2015 Interim Improved 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44(1)(7)(a)) 14/04/2017

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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 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 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: 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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