Children's home run by Oracle Care Limited in Central Bedfordshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC392408 1 SC392408 Registered provider: Oracle Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care and accommodation for up to three children aged between 10 and 18 years. The home looks after children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good Inspection report children’s home: SC392408 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 The children make good progress in their educational achievement and attendance. This is because the staff understand the importance of education and actively support the children to attend.  Staff understand the importance of contact for the children with their families and help this to happen.  Staff support the children to learn, understand and manage risks appropriately.  The children say that they feel safe living in the home and know how to complain.  The staff consult children in a variety of ways. They listen to and act on the wishes and feelings of the children.  The children comment on and sign their placement plans to show they understand and agree with them.  The staff understand the importance of children building memories of their time in the home.  Staff support the children to explore their identity in a non-judgmental, supportive environment.  The children have built positive relationships with a staff team that knows and

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Not all staff understand their roles and responsibilities when working with the children.  Some of the staff have not had regular supervision to support them in working with the children. Not all appraisals have been completed.  The managers did not make two notifications to Ofsted.  Not all of the staff have completed their required qualifications within the required timescale.  The staff attend regular meetings with the organisation’s clinician. However, the notes are not sent to the manager in a timely way, to ensure that staff are working consistently. Inspection report children’s home: SC392408 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/07/2016 Full Good 23/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/05/2015 Full Good 10/12/2014 Full Adequate Inspection report children’s home: SC392408 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(v)) 15/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14(2)(c)) 07/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification, the level 3 diploma for residential childcare (England) (‘the level 3 diploma’), or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the level 3 diploma, by the relevant date. (Regulation 32(4)(5)) 07/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) 07/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(4)(c)) 26/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(e)) 15/09/2017 Inspection report children’s home: SC392408 5

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Recommendations

 Ensure that all case records are kept up to date. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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Recommendations

This in relation to the organisation’s clinician ensuring that the notes are sent to the manager in a timely way to ensure that staff are working consistently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children make good progress in all areas of their lives. The staff understand the importance of children being able to make progress and they work proactively with the children to achieve this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff understand the importance of setting realistic and achievable targets. The children have daily targets and tasks to complete, with a visual sticker sheet for them to monitor their progress. The children can save their rewards to put towards something they want. This approach enables the children to gain a positive self-identity and promotes further progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff understand the importance of promoting and maintaining children’s contact with their families and past carers. A child commented, ‘I have just had contact with my brother who I haven’t seen for 10 years, and it went well.’ A parent commented, ‘I see my son regularly and recently I have been able to have half an hour unsupervised during the contact.’ This understanding enables the children to maintain positive relationships with their families and those who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children develop good, trusting relationships with staff. The staff listen to the children and support them to explore their identity in a safe non-judgmental environment. A child commented, ‘Staff took me to Gay Pride in Brighton, it was the best day of my life. I can talk to them about anything, and they listen.’ A parent commented, ‘Her key worker really understood her, and they had a brilliant relationship.’ These experiences enable the children to learn to build and maintain positive relationships with adults.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff understand the importance of education and it is incorporated into the children’s daily lives. The staff support and encourage children to attend their education provisions. This support leads to high levels of attendance. A child commented, ‘I’m doing ok at school and was in the school play.’ A social worker commented, ‘He is doing well at school, and is expected to take some GCSEs early.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff promote and support the children’s health needs. All of the children are registered with the local doctor, dentist and opticians. The staff encourage them to attend regular health appointments by teaching them the importance of being healthy. Inspection report children’s home: SC392408 6 The staff record any appointments along with any outcomes and actions. This practice ensures that follow-up appointments are made to support the children’s health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff support children in developing their independence around the home. The children keep their bedrooms tidy and do chores such as gardening. On the day of the inspection, a child was cutting the grass and commented that the money he was getting he was saving towards a tablet computer. These incentives support and enhance the children’s awareness of learning independence and looking after their environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have begun to have some free time, when they can walk to the local shop or spend time in town while the staff remain in the vicinity. The manager has actively advocated for one child to be allowed this free time. The children learn to manage risks safely while they still have the support of the staff. This understanding shows that the staff are not risk averse and want the children to be able to have new experiences while living in a safe environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A child has recently moved into an annex of the main house. He commented, ‘Because I’m the only one living here I can start to do my independence properly. I am going to college in September and staff are going to teach me to use the bus. The manager has also said when I have built some trust I can work towards having a front door key and spending some time here on my own. So when I leave, I will be fully independent.’ This opportunity allows children to spend some time on their own before leaving the security of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff manage transitions into and out of the home well. A social worker commented, ‘[Name] was only told 24 hours before that she was leaving because she would have become unsettled and may have tried to abscond. However, the manager of this home and her new placement worked together for 10 days prior, to ensure that the transition was smooth and the staff came with her to visit the home and settle in.’ This support demonstrates that staff have a good understanding of the potential risk for the child, and of multi-agency working to keep her safe. A parent commented, ‘Staff helped her with the transition, she went out for a meal with her key worker on the last day.’ This practice shows that staff understand the importance of children having positive endings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff understand the importance of the children building memories of their time in the home. The staff work with the children to make photo albums of activities and the celebrations of special occasions. This practice ensures that the children take positive memories of their time in the home with them when they leave.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have individualised placement plans which the staff review regularly and keep up to date. The plans support the staff to work with the children consistently and cover all aspects of their lives. The children have the opportunity to sign and comment on each section of their plan. The staff also complete key-work sessions to ensure the children are aware of their plans and are fully included in them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is set in a rural location just outside the main town. It is decorated to a good standard. It has benefited from having new lighting downstairs which has given it a Inspection report children’s home: SC392408 7 brighter feel. The children were involved in choosing the paint for the lounge and they have recently had their bedrooms redecorated. The child that has moved into the annex commented that he had picked the colour for the lounge and his bedroom. This involvement of the children in deciding on the decor of their house shows that staff see the home as the children’s.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children say that they feel safe living in the home, and that they can speak to staff if they are worried or upset. A child commented, ‘I feel safe with the staff, they listen to you, and my keyworker is lovely.’ Another child commented, ‘I haven’t been here long, but I feel safe.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff challenge any unwanted behaviours, for example children using inappropriate language or being disrespectful to each other or staff. They reinforce boundaries, taking into account the children’s ages and levels of understanding. The staff have reflective conversations with the children after an incident. The children are able to comment upon these conversations, and can sign their comments. This opportunity enables the children to discuss and look at how they can change their behaviours.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Sanctions are fair, proportionate and given appropriately. The staff discuss both positive and negative behaviours and the children have the opportunity to comment on these, and can sign their comments. The manager also comments on the records of sanctions and evaluates their effectiveness. This reflection helps the children understand that staff recognise when they have done something well. It also provides an opportunity to understand negative behaviours and develop the skills required to reduce them.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Comprehensive risk assessments are in place. They outline the risks and the strategies that enable the staff to manage and challenge behaviours safely. The children have the opportunity to comment on each risk, so that they understand their individual risks and how these can be reduced. This practice further safeguards them.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Health and safety checks are completed and up to date. An area risk assessment has been completed; this outlines potential risks in the area and the actions that need to be taken in order to reduce the risks and to support children in being safe. The staff have a good understanding of safeguarding. Any concerns are reported to the designated officer or the manager and the staff follow any advice given. The designated officer commented, ‘I have no concerns regarding this home. The manager will phone if she has a concern and will follow any advice or actions given.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have been nine incidents of children leaving the home without permission since the last inspection. The staff actively search for the children while following their individual protocols. The staff have reflective conversations or key-work sessions with children following their return. They use these to try and establish why the children went missing and help them understand about keeping themselves safe. The children have return home interviews with an independent person to try to establish the reasons for Inspection report children’s home: SC392408 8 them leaving the home and further safeguard them.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff have undertaken missing-from-home training which incorporated child sexual exploitation. Consequently, they are aware of signs of possible exploitation and how to protect and safeguard the children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have been no complaints since the last inspection. A child commented, ‘If I had a complaint I would just speak to or write a letter to the manager.’ The staff also ask the children as part of their house meetings if they have any worries, concerns or grumbles. This practice shows that staff give children a variety of opportunities to have their voices heard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager has been in post since February 2016 and has over 15 years’ experience of working within the childcare sector. She holds the national vocational qualification level 4 and the registered manager’s award. She has a clear vision for the home and recognises the strengths and the areas she would like to develop. The staff spoken to commented that they find her to be supportive and approachable. She also values their ideas on progressing the home. This support ensures that the staff feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home is working in line with the aims and objectives as set out in the statement of purpose. There is a comprehensive children’s guide in place that gives children information about the home. This guide supports the children to feel secure and settled when they are first admitted to the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has met the requirements made at the last inspection. The children sign placement plans and the records of key-work sessions and sanctions. This contribution means the children have input into the plans that are put in place for them. The main house has been redecorated and new lighting has been fitted. A new carpet in the lounge of the annex gives the home a warmer and more nurturing feel.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager monitors the care practice and uses the monthly reports from the independent person to support and drive improvement. The manager discusses the reports in staff meetings to ensure that staff are involved and understand the recommendations that are made to improve the quality of care they provide.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Not all staff have received regular supervision to support them working with the children. Some recordings are very sparse and do not give a reflection of what was discussed. The manager has also not received regular supervision to support her in the running of the home. Not all of the staff have up-to-date appraisals to ensure that they are provided with a formal meeting to enhance their professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff have completed their mandatory training. However, not all staff have completed their level 3 diploma in residential childcare in the required timescale to Inspection report children’s home: SC392408 9 ensure that children receive care from staff who are appropriately qualified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There are regular clinical meetings to support the staff who are working with the children. However, the clinical notes are not sent to the manager in a timely way, which means that the staff may not be working in line with the clinician’s recommendations. If there is a lack of clear information, it could lead to staff not working consistently with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff have good insight into the children’s needs and behaviours. However, on some occasions the staff have failed to follow the plan put in place by the social worker. This failure potentially places children at risk and fails to ensure that children receive consistent care. The management has undertaken appropriate action to reduce the risk of a reoccurrence through investigating the incident. Also, the management failed to inform Ofsted of the incident. This shortfall does not enable Ofsted to monitor the action the organisation has taken to safeguard children.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC392408 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oracle Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 54 Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedford MK45 4HS

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Inspector

Trish Palmer: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC392408 11 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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