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 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

At the last inspection, in October 2016, Ofsted made three requirements. The registered manager has successfully addressed two of these requirements and has met the one remaining requirement in part.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has revised and amended risk assessment documents relating to external and off-site activities. These records now detail the roles and responsibilities of staff who support young people during activities. For example, when young people visit local leisure parks, risk assessments clearly define required levels of staff supervision. This means that when young people are away from the home, staff now consider all potential safety risks and take necessary measures to reduce these. This better promotes young people’s welfare and well- being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has reviewed the custom and practice use of bedroom door alarms in the home. These alarms were in use for all young people without any regard for, or recognition of, individual risk factors for each young person. The registered manager now works with young people, placing authorities and staff to identify the specific risks that young people may present if the service deactivates the alarms. For some young people, the review of this restrictive form of surveillance means that bedroom door alarms are no longer in use. This provides young people with increased independence and freedom in the home, and promotes their dignity and privacy.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make good progress in all aspects of their development. This is because staff provide personalised and bespoke care that reflects young people’s individual needs. For one young person, this tailored support means that there has been a notable decline in the number of physical restraints and challenging incidents. Staff help young people to develop alternative strategies and tactics for managing their own frustrations. This encourages young people’s sense of responsibility and enables them to improve their social skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager prioritises the importance of education and instils this ethos into daily routines in the home. All young people have suitable education placements and the staff liaise daily with these allocated provisions. This partnership working means that young people access the support that they need in order to re-engage with formal learning programmes and experience academic and vocational success. Because of this support, one young person, who rarely attended school at the time of the last inspection, now attends school on a daily basis. This further promotes their self-esteem and confidence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff encourage young people to gain necessary independent living skills as they move towards adulthood. They support young people to learn budgeting skills, complete weekly domestic tasks and cook meals for themselves. When young people are ready, these plans are formalised and form part of the planning process to identify young people’s future support needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working between the registered manager and the placing authorities remains a strength of the home. One professional said, ‘I am really pleased with the progress the young person is making. The manager is exceptional and the staff team follow his lead, I think that’s why the home is so good.’ Admissions to the home are well planned and are supported effectively. The registered manager liaises with allocated social workers, school placements and families, when appropriate, to provide young people with a smooth and structured introduction to the home. This positive action increases the likelihood that the placement will be a success.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager continues to introduce monitoring systems for reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided by the service. These systems link young people’s individual progress with the aims and objectives of their internal support plans and the statutory care plans provided by the placing authorities. However, the quality of care assessment document remains in its infancy. This report does not detail the actions required to develop the service further or to address any identified areas for improvement. Furthermore, the registered manager has yet to provide a copy of this report to Ofsted, as required. This shortfall does not affect young people’s progress at this time.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A private company owns and operates this home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 26/10/2016 Full Good 15/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 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

In order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided for children. After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (‘the quality of care review report’). (Regulation 45(2)(a)(3)) 28/04/2017

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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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