Children's home run by Oasis Young People’s Care Services (UK) Ltd in Southend-on-Sea

Inspection report children’s home: SC015499 1 SC015499 Registered provider: Oasis Young People’s Care Services (UK) Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private company and is registered to provide care and accommodation for six children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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

Leaders and managers have a good understanding of the priorities and challenges for developing the service provided. The two requirements and six recommendations made at the last inspection have been met. This demonstrates the work and commitment that the entire team has done to make vast improvements to the service. The refurbishment and decoration of the home has been a priority and the home now feels warm and welcoming. Staff and professionals alike have made positive comments about the environment. One child was excited to show the inspector her bedroom, which she had decorated with the support of staff. An excellent admissions process introduces children to the home. For example, all referrals are carefully considered by the manager and the staff team prior to acceptance of the placement. Thereafter, the children are invited to meet all of the residents and the staff for an evening meal of their choice. The children already in residence are informed

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

of a new admission in the residents’ meeting prior to the child coming to live at the Inspection report children’s home: SC015499 2 home. This gives the children the chance to discuss this and to be fully aware that somebody new is coming to live in their home. This ensures that the staff team fully understands the children’s complex needs and that the staff have the necessary experience to offer safe care. When a child leaves the home, a circle is formed by the staff and the children, and a dreamcatcher is passed around where warm wishes and memories are reflected on. The dreamcatcher is then handed to the child to take with them on their next journey through life. This gives the children a sense of belonging and good memories to take with them. Improvements have taken place in the transition work with those children who are preparing to leave the home and are moving to independence. This gives children a

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

better chance of sustaining themselves in the community. For example, one child has embraced the support offered by the staff to learn new independent skills which will support her living independently. The children recently received a compliment from a neighbour, with boxes of chocolates, for helping her catch her beloved pet who had got free and ran into the road. The children’s swift action resulted in the pet being recovered and returned safe and well. This was a moment to be celebrated and the staff were very proud of the children. Children continue to enjoy a good standard of care. Their outcomes, in terms of safeguarding and emotional well-being, continue to improve significantly during their time at the home. A child said about her behaviour prior to coming to the home, ‘I was running away all the time, so I suppose they have helped me here because I have only run away once.’ A social worker echoed this and said, ‘She [child] was always missing,

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

since being here she has tried once. I would say she is really safeguarded and her risk- taking behaviours have stopped.’ Well-structured and clear files contain individualised risk assessments and plans that are informative and give a clear picture of each child. The home is currently in the process of converting all files to an environmentally friendly electronic system. Episodes of the children missing from care have significantly decreased. There are, on occasions, sanctions made of a financial nature that are unreasonable, and others where the sanctions impact on other children. For example, the loss of internet use for a period of time imposed on one child impacts on other children. One child spoken to during the inspection felt that this was ‘unfair’. Children participate in a wide range of activities. Living close to the beach enables them to have access to various attractions within the local community. They are able to spend

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

free time to socialise with their peers in a safe environment, which promotes their social skills and increases confidence. Staff receive a good induction into the home. This helps to ensure that the staff are fully trained and competent to work with all of the children. The staff receive ongoing training in all key aspects of caring for and safeguarding children. This keeps them up to date and fully experienced to meet the complex needs of the children. Professional development is seen as important by the managers, and the staff receive good-quality, regular and reflective supervision. Meaningful quality assurance is conducted through monthly visits by the external visitor, Inspection report children’s home: SC015499 3 along with oversight from the manager. When shortfalls in service provision are identified, prompt action is taken to address these and to improve the service. However, action has not been taken to address concerns raised with regards to visitors signing out

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

when leaving the home. Therefore, the records do not accurately reflect who may or may not be visiting the home at any given time. Notifications of concerns to external agencies and Ofsted are appropriate. When notifications are made, information is concise and clear. This provides sufficient information to describe events and the actions taken by the home in response to these events.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/08/2017 Full Good 16/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 13/10/2016 Full Requires improvement 29/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child. The following measures may not be used to discipline any child. Imposing a financial penalty, other than a requirement for the payment of a reasonable sum (which may be in instalments) by way of reparation; any measure involving a child imposing any measure against another child. (Regulation 19(1)(2)(f)(i)) In particular, excessive and unrealistic sums of money which can never be paid in full and withholding the internet from one child which impacts on other children. 18/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home. The registered person must maintain in the home the records in schedule 4; and ensure that the records are kept up to date. 18/03/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC015499 4 (Regulation 37(1)(2)(a)(b)) This is in particular reference to the signing out of the visitors’ book.

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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.

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Information about this inspection

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: Oasis Young People’s Care Services (UK) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 457 Southchurch Road, Southend On Sea SS1 2PH

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Inspector

Cathy Russell, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC015499 5 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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