Children's home run by Oasis Young People’s Care Services (UK) Ltd in Southend-on-Sea

children since the most recent full inspection

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

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children since the most recent full inspection

All of the requirements and recommendations raised at the last full inspection have been met. This demonstrates the home’s ability to improve. The manager’s attention to detail means that rather than just improving practice-based supervision on a superficial level, he has implemented new processes that fully link with training. These are inclusive of quarterly competencies on safeguarding, ‘prevent’ and the safe administration and disposal of medication. A strong recruitment drive has resulted in the addition of seven new members of staff, which strengthen the current skill set of the team. This increase in staffing means that the manager and responsible individual do not need to cover shifts. Safeguarding the children is more effective. There is a clearer sense of direction and a positive outlook. A new member of staff said, ‘The manager has been very supportive, I can raise any concerns, and the whole team are very supportive of each other.’

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children since the most recent full inspection

When necessary, the manager challenges local authorities. For example, documented information is placed on the children’s files to evidence that important information pertaining to the care of a child has not been received and the impact that this can have on the home’s in-house care plans and the child. The manager, supported by the staff team, continues to review the progress of all the children, how well the home provides care, and how they can further improve the running of the home. The home has responded quickly to safeguarding concerns and taken prompt and robust action when necessary. This includes liaising with other professionals and appropriately forwarding notifications as part of external arrangements.

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children since the most recent full inspection

The home is large and well maintained. There is ample space for the children to relax, spend time together and in private. The rooms are large and furnished with bright colours. There are plenty of age-appropriate games throughout the home. The children’s bedrooms are adequately furnished and personalised. Some of the bedrooms are in need of preparation for new admissions to the home. However, the manager is currently not taking any new admissions until the home is more settled. The location of the home is near to the beach, with plenty of attractions and places of interest, which the children visit often. The children’s individual risk assessments and care plans are promptly reviewed. The files are subject to management oversight, agreed and updated to make sure that risks are minimised and the children are protected. The staff read documentation regularly to ensure that they remain updated and sign to confirm

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children since the most recent full inspection

Health and safety checks are monitored and reviewed according to policy and procedures. The children take part in fire evacuation practices. One of the children spoke with interest and acknowledgement of how important safety within the home is.

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children since the most recent full inspection

Most children continue to make steady progress. For example, one child who did not attend school has successfully returned to mainstream education on a full-time basis. Another child has secured a place at a local school and had started their first day on the day of inspection. The staff were excited for his return home to see how his first day had gone. The children’s needs are robustly identified and met. For example, before placing a child, the manager took into consideration and agreed to allow the child to bring her small animal from home, as this has a positive impact on her emotional well-being and motivation. The manager has made significant progress in building working relationships with other professionals. As a result, children have access to and engage with professionals who are skilled in meeting their needs.

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children since the most recent full inspection

Most children have good relationships with staff and a sense of security and belonging in the home. This means that, for the most part, children do not go missing. However, the home’s recent chain of unsettling events, including a spate of challenging incidents, has proven difficult for the staff team to contain. The manager and the staff team follow locally agreed protocols proactively. These are applied effectively, providing further safeguards if and when children are missing. In addition, the manager has arranged for joint strategy meetings to be held in respect of the children who were perceived to be putting themselves at serious risk during these missing episodes. The manager’s and the staff team’s hard work to keep the children safe is echoed by children’s positive comments. A child said, ‘I love it here, I feel very safe and protected. I want to stay here until I am 18.’ Although the home is quite unsettled at the moment, the staff have gone above

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children since the most recent full inspection

and beyond to protect the children in their care.

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children since the most recent full inspection

An experienced manager leads the team by example. He is forward thinking in his drive to improve the experience of the children living in the home. He is currently designing and implementing further monitoring tools to disseminate information gathered in relation to patterns of children’s behaviour and what affects this, to aid planning and focus development.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is operated by a private company and is registered to provide six places for children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 13/10/2016 Full Requires improvement 29/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 10/11/2015 Full Good 24/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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 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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