Children's home run by Oxfordshire County Council in Oxford

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC036383 1 SC036383 Registered provider: Oxfordshire County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to six girls who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is managed by a local authority.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since November 2015.

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Judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

Date of last inspection: 4 December 2017

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Judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Interim inspection report children’s home: SC036383 2

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be 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

At the inspection in December 2017, eight requirements and two recommendations were made. Over the past year, the registered manager has made significant progress in addressing the identified shortfalls. All of the eight requirements and one of the two recommendations have been met. This recommendation relates to ensuring that staff receive a copy of their supervision records in a timely manner.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following this inspection, one new requirement is made in relation to using monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has successfully completed the level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Significant improvements in multi-agency working have enhanced the staff’s approach to keeping the young people safe. Concerns are now routinely shared and discussed with key professionals. Agreed strategies are recorded in detail in documents such as dynamic risk assessments and safety plans. Positive feedback from external colleagues provides evidence that these are being used effectively by the staff to guide their practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The introduction of a chronology to summarise actions taken by the registered manager following allegations against staff shows that the young people are at the centre of decisions. Suspension risk assessments, signed off by senior managers, are based on advice and consultation with the designated officer and human resource personnel.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager now has autonomy for placement decisions. The compatibility risk assessment tool and emails sent to placement officers show that referrals are given thoughtful consideration in terms of the staff’s ability to meet the young person’s needs balanced with the needs of the current group. They also demonstrate a clear rationale for the decision, which is made in line with the statement of purpose.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Led by the registered manager, the staff have embraced a parental approach to education and encourage and support the young people to do well. Informal learning opportunities are provided for those on reduced timetables, and achievements are celebrated with tangible rewards. The staff also work closely with schools to sustain placements, and as a result all of the young people are accessing and engaging in education. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC036383 3 A zero-tolerance policy has been introduced to stop the staff smoking in front of the young people. The registered manager has made it explicitly clear to them that disciplinary action will be taken if they are found to be in breach of the policy. This has been accepted and understood by the staff and there have been no further incidents of this nature.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvements in how complaints are recorded clearly show that young people’s concerns are taken seriously. The registered manager is able to demonstrate through feedback to the young people that they have been listened to and that action has been taken to resolve their complaints. A chronology also enables the registered manager to retain oversight and avoid drift.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has improved the overall monitoring arrangements and has clear action plans in place. Consultation has been carried out with a range of people whose feedback has contributed to the overall review of the home. However, further improvements are required to monitoring systems to ensure that they link together to enable continuous improvements.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The frequency of supervision has improved over the past year. However, the overall quality can vary depending on which member of the management team carries out the supervision.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/12/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 02/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/12/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 14/04/2016 Full Requires improvement Interim inspection report children’s home: SC036383 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) 28/12/2018

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Recommendations

 A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b) (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3).

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that records are received in a timely manner and include the duration and the exact date of the supervision, and that they are signed as a true record by supervisor and supervisee. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC036383 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

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: Oxfordshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, New Road, Oxford OX1 1ND

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Inspector

Amanda Harvey, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC036383 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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