Children's Home run by Oracle Care Limited in Bedford

Inspection report children’s home: SC484114 1 SC484114 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

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered for three children who require care, education and clinical support.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered for this home since January 2017.

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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 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

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC484114 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/5/2017 13/03/2017 Full Interim Good Sustained effectiveness 12/09/2016 Full Good 10/03/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 23/07/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC484114 3

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Recommendations

 Case records must be kept up-to-date. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3) This is in relation to placement plans having the most recent information regarding health appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children continue to make good progress. One child, who keeps in regular contact with the staff, has successfully moved on to independent living. There has been one admission into the home since the last inspection. A social worker said that staff went above and beyond to help the child to settle.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have strong, trusting relationships with a stable, motivated and dedicated staff team that knows and understands the children’s individual behaviours. These relationships were observed throughout the inspection. The children spoke positively about their relationships with the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff understand the importance of education. The children have 100% attendance. The headteacher commented that the staff support the children to do their homework, which has helped the children to make progress in their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Regularly reviewed, individual placement plans support the staff in working with the children. However, not all health appointments and outcomes are recorded. Consequently, some important information is missing from children’s plans. The children, alongside staff, write an ‘all about plan’. This contains information about them that they would like staff to know, and helps the staff to understand the children’s wishes and preferences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Key-work sessions have improved since the last inspection. They are informative, and the records show the child’s involvement, along with any further actions needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff actively encourage the children to learn independence skills. The children help with chores around the house, tidy their rooms and do their washing with support from staff. These skills help to prepare them for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated to a high standard. Several professionals spoken to commented that the home has a calm and nurturing feel. The children are clearly proud of their environment. Inspection report children’s home: SC484114 4

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

The children said that they feel safe at the home because they can talk to the staff if they are worried or upset. Children are confident that the staff will listen to and help them.

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

Sanctions are fair and proportionate. The children have the opportunity to comment and sign the records of any sanctions. The manager evaluates the records to determine the effectiveness and to ensure that sanctions are justified and appropriate.

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

Comprehensive risk assessments outline the risks and concerns, and the strategies to reduce risk and keep children safe. The manager undertakes an effective impact risk assessment as part of the referral process.

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

The manager has good links with the local police. Two officers visit the home on a monthly basis to build relationships with the children and to run workshops with them. A police officer said that she is very committed to working with the children and staff.

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

The staff have undertaken training in safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty. The staff have a good knowledge of gang culture and county lines, which further safeguards the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a clear vision of how she wants the home to continue to develop. The staff spoken to say that she is very supportive and has an open-door policy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met the requirement and recommendation from the last inspection. A new filing system is in place and files are regularly audited.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff understand the importance of children feeling valued. Children’s views are gained through house meetings, conversations over dinner and during key-work sessions. The staff consider the children’s feelings and act on their wishes when possible. The manager responds to the children’s requests in writing, so that they can see that they have been listened to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides regular supervision. The staff spoken to during the inspection said that they found these sessions supportive of their work with the children. Regular staff meetings take place that support the development of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is clear evidence that the manager confidently raises issues with professionals if she feels that actions or proposed actions are not in the best interest of the child. This was observed during the inspection. Inspection report children’s home: SC484114 5

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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

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: SC484114 6

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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: SC484114 7 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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