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

Inspection report children’s home: SC447457 1 SC447457 Registered provider: Oakley House Children’s Home Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for three young people up to the age of 18. The home may provide care and accommodation for young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The home is privately owned.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 13 September 2017

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was inspected in September 2017 and judged to be good. Three requirements and six recommendations were made at the time.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good progress has been achieved in meeting the requirements from the last inspection. The registered manager has ensured that staff recruitment is more thorough and that all required checks are now made. This means that only adults who are deemed suitable get to care for young people. Young people’s care plans now contain all required information, including the most up-to-date plans from the local authority. As a result, staff deliver care that is consistent with the aims of the placing authority. All staff have now completed training in gang awareness, medication, the ‘Prevent’ duty and online safety.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person’s guide has been updated and is available to young people in the home. The registered manager has updated the home’s workforce plan and regularly Inspection report children’s home: SC447457 2 reviews the plan.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s education has improved since the last inspection. All young people are now in school and making progress. The staff team works closely with teachers to ensure that issues are addressed and, when necessary, that plans are put in place to improve young people’s learning outcomes. A teacher commented that: ‘Staff at the home are very supportive in helping [the young person] to engage.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of restraint are rare and only occur when other methods of intervention have not been successful. Records now contain all required details, and the registered manager reviews incidents thoroughly. Discussions take place with young people following incidents. This ensures that concerns are identified and appropriate actions taken when required. Staff ensure that the views of young people are recorded when sanctions are used. This enables the registered manager to review the impact and suitability of these measures.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Regular key-work sessions take place with young people. These discussions focus on a range of matters, including reflecting on behaviour, school and young people’s feelings and views. However, when young people display prejudicial views, staff do not always challenge these effectively. This means that there is the potential for young people to develop socially unacceptable behaviours, which can affect other young people and staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no changes in young people living at the home since the last inspection. Missing-from-care incidents rarely occur; when they do occur, they are appropriately managed. Staff are diligent in trying to find young people and in ensuring that all relevant agencies are informed when concerns arise. Records of all incidents are clear and accurate. Communication with external agencies is good. A social worker commented that: ‘The staff team really works in partnership with me. We work well together for the young person.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager continues to develop positive relationships with external agencies. Comments from schools and placing authorities are very positive. These include:

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 ‘They have time for [the young person] and they clearly care about [young person] and want the best.’  ‘Communication is excellent. Staff check things out. They are as responsive and proactive as any good parent.’  ‘The staff team really works in partnership with me. We work well together for the young person.’  ‘There are very good attachments to the staff and the staff are very nurturing.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are not always thorough. For example, when young people have gone missing from home, the risk assessment has not always been updated to reflect changes to the risk. For instance, the staff did not update a risk assessment following an incident in early December 2017 until late January 2018. This resulted in a period when the risk management plan was not clear. Despite this shortfall, there was no negative impact on Inspection report children’s home: SC447457 3 the young person. An incident occurred in January 2018 and, although appropriate action was taken by staff at the time, there was again a delay in the risk management plan being updated. These shortfalls relate to recording and are mitigated by the staff team being experienced and appropriately skilled and qualified.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people know how to raise concerns and report that they are happy, content and enjoy living at the home. Relationships between young people and staff are good. Young people’s views are positive about the home. For example, one young person told the inspector, ‘It’s good here. I know the staff and I like them’, ‘I know that the staff care about me’ and ‘Staff are good.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

When young people have specific cultural needs, staff ensure that these are met and that young people are encouraged, and supported, in maintaining their identities. A social worker told the inspector, ‘[young person’s] key worker is very passionate about the young person.’ A teacher commented that: ‘Staff are keen to know how [young person] is getting on and they show genuine care.’

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/09/2017 Full Good 21/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 12/12/2016 Full Requires improvement 22/09/2015 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC447457 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 assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) and (2) (a) (i)) 23/02/2018

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Recommendation

 Ensure that expectations of standards of behaviour are high for all staff and children in the home. These standards should be clear and unambiguous. Children should be supported to develop understanding and empathy towards each other. Positive behaviour and relationships should be reinforced, praised and encouraged; poor behaviour should be challenged and discussed. The development of safe, stable and secure relationships with staff in the home should be central to the ethos of the home and support the development of secure attachments that, when appropriate, persist over time. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.11)

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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 differences 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after. Inspection report children’s home: SC447457 5 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

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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oakley House Children’s Home Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 4 17 Plumbers Row, London E1 1EQ

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Inspectors

Pete Hylton, social care compliance inspector Annemarie Parker, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC447457 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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