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

The registered provider has demonstrated a strengthened commitment to improving the care, quality assurance and safeguarding arrangements in the home. This includes addressing a large majority of the requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection. There is strong evidence that the actions taken by the home have resulted in an improved service, which is now consistently providing a good and improving quality of care and support to young people. This is confirmed by the children who all speak very positively about living at this home and recognise the progress that they are making. One young person said, ‘This home is different to all the other homes I’ve been in… my keyworker has been really helpful and I feel listened to.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are making every effort to support young people in the nearby in-house education provision, and have been particularly successful at enabling one young person to attend the school after the child’s previous significant periods of absence while in other provision.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A great deal of effort has gone into developing a suitably inducted, qualified, stable and experienced staff team. Consistent and effective training of staff means that young people have been given the opportunity to develop positive and strong relationships with these important adults in their life.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home is well managed by a suitably qualified, experienced and aspirational manager. She is supported by senior residential workers and collectively they have a good understanding of the home’s strengths and demonstrate a commitment to further improving young people’s care experiences. One child shared, ‘The staff are great, I love my room and I feel safe here.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff recognise and appreciate the opportunities and advantages of working at this provision, and acknowledge the therapeutic ethos of the home. Staff report, ‘I am mentored and supported by a very strong team and manager who has high expectations of my practice.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two of the children living at the home currently have been admitted since the last inspection, and although it is still early days there is sufficient evidence to indicate that their range of needs are recognised and are currently being met. This is assisted by effective collaboration with partner agencies and specialist services to ensure that vulnerabilities and potential risks are known. Staff have worked closely with these professionals in their delivery of well-thought-out interventions, which are based on a nurturing and educational approach. The current transition of a young person into independence is being particularly sensitively managed, with the manager and staff going beyond usual levels of support. This is well recognised by the young person and her social worker who are both highly complimentary about practice and support given.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvements are further strengthened through better performance management and monitoring activity within the home. The manager’s oversight is evident in the quality of the internal scrutiny that is being applied to all aspects of staff performance and care practice. External scrutiny by an independent person has also improved to some degree. The increased rigour means that shortfalls are being recognised and are consistently addressed. However, there is a need for the independent visitor to make clearer and more evaluative statements in relation to their opinion about how effective the home is in safeguarding young people and promoting their welfare.

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Information about this children's home

This privately run children’s home can accommodate three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/08/2016 Full Good 18/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/09/2015 Full Good 09/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that the processes that the registered person puts into place to enable such a [location] review to take place, should allow for a report to be generated at least once every six months. The generated report should be sent to Ofsted. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 65, paragraph 15.3.) This is specifically in relation to the timely submission of the report.  Ensure that the independent person produces a report about a visit which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and that the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 55, paragraph 10.24.) This is specifically in relation to

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Recommendations

evaluating the quality of practice in the home in recognition of the impact on children and young people  Ensure that the expectations of standards of behaviour are high for all staff and children in the home. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 39, paragraph 8.11.) This specifically relates to behaviour support plans that are fully accessible to adults and children.

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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

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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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