Children's home run by Oak House Children's Home Limited in Redbridge

Inspection report children’s home: SC467847 1 SC467847 Registered provider: Oak House Children’s Homes Ltd

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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 for up to five children. The provider states in their statement of purpose that they provide care for children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The interim manager has applied to register with Ofsted and the process is almost complete.

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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

Date of last inspection: 31 January 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC467847 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/12/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 02/06/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC467847 3

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the ethos of the home supports each child to learn, emphasising the value of independent study and reading for enjoyment. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 5.18, page 29)  Ensure that staff keep records of restraint which should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 9.59, page 49)  Ensure that the registered person has a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20) The plan should: detail the necessary management and staffing structure, (including any staff commissioned to provide health and education), the experience and qualifications of staff currently working within the staffing

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Recommendations

structure and any further training required for those staff, to enable the delivery of the home’s Statement of Purpose; detail the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction, probation and any core training (such as safeguarding, health and safety and mandatory qualifications); detail the process for managing and improving poor performance; detail the process and timescales for supervision of practice (see regulation 33 (4) (b)) and keep appropriate records for staff in the home. The registered person should update the plan to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home, and it should be used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 10.8, page 53)  Ensure that all staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, have

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Recommendations

the qualification in regulation 32(4) within the relevant timescale listed in regulation 32(5). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 10.12, page 53)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

An improved admission process helps to ensure that children can coexist peacefully and that staff can meet children’s needs. As a result, children now experience a calm environment where they can learn to better manage their behaviour, meet their targets and make progress. A social worker said that their child is ‘doing so well’ since being placed in the home. The child is settled and happy after experiencing the disruption of many placement moves. Inspection report children’s home: SC467847 4 Children experience nurturing, supportive relationships with staff. Staff work effectively with other services, such as the youth offending team, to find purposeful activities for children, which develop their skills and confidence. Staff are proud of children’s achievements and want them to do well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use restorative justice effectively to help children learn about the impact that antisocial behaviour may have on others. As a result, no children are currently involved in the criminal justice system, which is an excellent outcome. A youth offending service worker said that staff ‘have a different way of working with children’ and ‘really care about and value them’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children have been, or are in, full-time education, in some cases with excellent attendance and achievement records. Some children have received external awards for their efforts and achievements. Children have ambitions to succeed in further and higher education. During school holidays, some children may benefit from further support to encourage a love of reading as well as developing their skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop good independence skills. Effective pathway planning, such as living on a budget and cooking healthy meals, helps to prepare children for the realities of living semi-independently. Staff support children well by ensuring that wraparound support services are in place before they move on. Children benefit from staff outreach support and invitations to return for Sunday dinner so they remain connected to the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a wide range of activities, fun days and an annual holiday. They have active lifestyles, for example going cycling and swimming with staff. Children have opportunities to help others. For example, they raise funds for charities and support homeless people, so they can make a valuable contribution and develop empathy for others.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like the appearance of their home and have input into the decoration of their bedrooms. They have been involved in planting vegetables and plants in the garden to make it more attractive. The first-floor bathrooms are not so homely but there are plans to improve these areas soon.

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

Children feel safe in the home and do not experience bullying. Children going missing is no longer a regular occurrence in this home. Children are aware of risks in the local area and are helped to think about how to keep themselves safe.

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

Staff are well trained in child protection and safeguarding. They are aware of children’s vulnerability to abuse. Staff help children understand the risks of using social media, for example by using internet safety programs.

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

Behaviour management is positive and effective. Children respond to staff praise. They learn to reflect on how best to manage their own behaviour. Staff rarely use restraint. A Inspection report children’s home: SC467847 5 social worker thought that this was an ‘amazing achievement’ for a child who had experienced multiple restraints in previous placements. Records of restraint were not available, as staff may have archived these prematurely.

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

Staff are sensitive to how living apart from their family may make children feel. They advocate for children to see family where possible to support their emotional well-being. Children are encouraged to make friends in the local area to help them feel settled.

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

Staff recruitment includes thorough checks to ensure that staff are suitable to work with vulnerable children. New staff receive a good induction to prepare them for working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been significant progress in the leadership and management of the home. The manager and her staff team have worked hard to improve the home’s recording systems, the premises and children’s outcomes. Staff say that they are working more effectively as a team now and ‘have a structure to work around and are clear about what they are working towards’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff show passion and commitment to improving outcomes for children and helping them have positive experiences. They are aspirational for children and want them to have happy memories of living in their home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager has met the two requirements and four recommendations made at the last inspection, helping the home’s progress. Good use is made of both the independent visitor’s and the manager’s monitoring to improve the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision is now more regular and appraisals are taking place, which helps staff feel supported and valued. Staff describe their training as extensive and useful in their work with children’s individual needs. However, a workforce development plan is not yet in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager has achieved a level 5 qualification and some staff are working towards achieving this as part of their development. However, a few staff have not achieved level 3 within the recommended timescale.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC467847 6 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: SC467847 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oak House Children’s Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: c/o ABC Care Solutions, 249 Cranbrook Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 4TG

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Inspector

Jacqueline Graves, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC467847 8 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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