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 Interim 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.  In its statement of purpose, the provider states that care is intended for children who have emotional and 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

Since the last inspection, the manager has been registered with Ofsted. Her leadership continues to bring positive change to the home. For example, following consultation, some children moved in from the sister home. Gathering and respecting children’s views during this process helped to ensure that the children experienced a smooth transition.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person moved on successfully from the home after achieving exceptional exam results. This well-planned move provided the young person with positive outcomes regarding their choice of further education, suitable accommodation and support networks. It is testament to the positive, nurturing relationships with staff that this young person returns regularly to see the staff and share a meal.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

All children attend school regularly, and some achieve 100% attendance. Children’s Inspection report children’s home: SC467847 2 wider learning outside school is encouraged, for example, using the library, fund-raising for charities, enjoying classical music and trying different hobbies. Staff support children to achieve their goals, such as applying to attend university, and encourage them to aim high.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has met four of the five recommendations made at the last inspection. She is working towards completing the fifth recommendation to create a workforce development plan. Her monitoring of what goes on in the home helps to identify strengths as well as weaker areas, to help the home’s continuous development.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of challenging behaviour are few. Children make progress in understanding their emotions and better managing their behaviour. Children are reassured by a consistent, nurturing response to their behaviour by staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

During one incident, children gained access to a flat roof where barbed wire has been applied to discourage intruders. They were not harmed, but the wire is out of keeping with the domestic appearance of the rest of the garden and is a potential danger.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/08/2018 Full Good 31/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/12/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recommendations

 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 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. Inspection report children’s home: SC467847 3

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Recommendations

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’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

Specifically, review the use of barbed wire as a protective measure in the garden.

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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: 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 Inspection report children’s home: SC467847 4 Responsible individual: Saheena Saeed

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Inspector

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