Children's Home run by Oakley House Children’s Home Limited in Staffordshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement 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

The staff team are motivated in their drive to provide good quality care and improve the operation of the home. The registered manager is strategic in her improvement plans. Staff fully appreciate her strong leadership. Young people, staff and social workers note significant improvements in the operation of the home and the outcomes for young people since her appointment as manager in June 2016.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All statutory requirements and the recommendation from the last inspection are met. For example, the registered manager is now fully versed about the notification process and keeps Ofsted up to date and informed about notifiable incidents in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

While there have been no incidents of physical intervention, the registered manager has introduced a detailed central recording format for staff and young people to complete should physical intervention be required. The detailed central record ensures that staff document all the regulatory requirements for recording physical intervention, thus meeting the statutory requirement from the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In addition, the young people’s guide has been updated and provides young people with good information about the home, complaints, and external support and advocacy, including Ofsted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessment is now detailed and robust, and gives staff excellent detail in how to manage risks. Management strategies are very child-centred and focus on positive reinforcement of behaviours. Young people are involved in their risk management as they sign their own agreements regarding expectations, rewards and consequences. For example, staff support young people with transport only if they continue to demonstrate positive behaviour in the car.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people experience good safety and security because staff work collaboratively on all risk management. Activities, free time arrangements and behaviour management plans are bespoke to each individual young person. As a result of good risk management processes, there are no missing from care episodes. Improved behaviour includes independent free time and positive friendships, instead of previous links to child sexual exploitation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s behaviour improves due to consistent reinforcement of positive behaviours. Reward charts are focused on specific behaviours and in accordance with the levels of understanding of individual young people. This child-centred approach means that young people invest in their behaviour plans, enjoy exciting rewards such as go-karting and are very proud of their achievements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working with local police is a key strength in keeping young people safe. While there are no safeguarding, anti-social behaviour or current child sexual exploitation concerns, the police visit and catch up with young people and staff on a regular basis. The registered manager and staff also regularly attend a police community forum in order to share information and adapt risk management plans to keep young people safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff also keep up to date with current social care issues. For example, staff are now prepared to identify and seek support should they have concerns about the potential radicalisation of young people at the home, after completing Prevent training.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Effective partnership working has a key impact on how young people experience safe and appropriate family contact. For example, staff work in conjunction with young people, families and social workers to ensure that young people are prepared for contact, and that their families are better equipped to manage some challenging behaviours with staff support.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Compatibility assessments are key to the admissions process and how well young people get on with each other. There are no concerns about bullying in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make good progress and have positive experiences. They live in a well-maintained and homely environment and recognise that their current long- term placement is the longest in their residential care history. Young people value their relationships with staff and hold the manager in high regard.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy good health outcomes, and receive excellent support for their emotional well-being. Both young people receive private counselling, funded by the home, to help them explore the impact of disrupted childhoods and challenging behaviours. The foundation of focused key working and high levels of nurture help young people to explore their feelings and develop greater emotional resilience.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff consider young people’s education to be a high priority, and they work extremely hard with placing and education resources to identify suitable education placements for young people. However, one young person struggles with attending a current education placement. While attendance is poor, the young person and staff are proactively looking for a more suitable placement. The young person looks forward to attending college in the near future.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Consultation is a key strength and young people feel listened to, and know their views are valued. They have full understanding and will use the home’s complaints process if required. However, they currently feel very confident in the manager’s ability to deal with their concerns. Strong leadership means that young people are listened to, and staff are supported with focused supervision. This improves the quality of staff performance and their relationships with young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager embraces staff training and her own development. Her recent completion of the level 5 diploma in management brings more expertise to the management of the home. The registered manager maintains effective monitoring systems, and independent monitoring visits confirm that the home continues to improve and is mainly compliant with the children’s homes’ regulations and quality standards. There is only one shortfall identified on this inspection, as staff endeavour to find and engage a suitable education placement for one young person.

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Information about this children's home

This is a children's home for up to three children and young people, aged between 10 and 17 years, who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities. The home is operated by a private company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/12/2016 Full Requires improvement 22/09/2015 Full Requires improvement 30/06/2015 Full Inadequate 24/03/2015 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

In order to meet the education standard the registered person must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

(2) (a) (i) help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; (ii) support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; (iii) understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; (iv) help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; (v) promote opportunities for each child to learn informally; (vii) raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority; (ix) help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to

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Requirement Due date

prepare for future care, education or employment. 31/05/2017

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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 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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