Children's Home run by Oaktree Childcare Limited in Blackpool

Inspection report children’s home: 1277158 1 Registered provider: Oaktree Childcare 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 private company has two children’s homes. This home provides care for up to two children and young people who need short, medium or long-term care. The current manager was registered with Ofsted on 28 June 2018 and holds the relevant qualification.

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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: This is the home’s first inspection

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable

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Inspection type Inspection judgement

Inspection report children’s home: 1277158 2

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Recommendations

 Children should have access to a computer and the internet to support their education and learning, unless there are specific safeguarding reasons why this would be inappropriate. In such cases, the home should consider whether and how it can support the child to access a computer and the internet safely. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.19)  Ensure that any sanction used to address poor behaviour is restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and that the training available meets the needs of the children in their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes

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Recommendations

regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  Effective care planning and strong working relationships between the staff of the home and the placing authority are essential to the success of placements. The registered person should work with the placing authority to ensure that care plans are clear and understood by the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.2)  Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make excellent progress living here. Staff are sensitive to children’s needs and the challenges of moving placement. When children move in, they settle well and quickly establish trusting relationships with staff. This enables children to make good progress from the day that they arrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work very well together. They are consistent in their approach. Furthermore, they empower children to take responsibility for their behaviours and choices. Children are at Inspection report children’s home: 1277158 3 the centre of practice in the home and they respond well to this caring, nurturing and inclusive environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to access and explore new experiences. Children spoke fondly about the activities that they do. These experiences enrich their outcomes and provide children with good childhood memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive support to establish and maintain positive relationships with family and friends. When there are safeguarding concerns about contact, staff recognise this. They explore other ways to ensure that children can see their friends and family in a safe way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s records are of a very good standard. They are child focused and the reader has a good insight into the child’s journey. However, they are not always individual to the child. In particular, assessments and plans do not always include the child’s voice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children arrive, they are not engaged in education. For some children they have not been in education for over a year. Staff work with the relevant professionals to ensure that children can access education. Consequently, children access and engage in meaningful education without delay.

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

Staff provide children with a safe place to live. Staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities. They go above and beyond to keep children happy and safe. Children have access to good levels of support, which is in line with their individual care plans.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the children’s needs and risks. However, not all safeguarding risks are clearly understood. In these instances, the assessments and plans do not provide the insight that is required to keep children and staff safe.

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

Staff record incidents to a good standard. Staff explore incidents thoroughly, and they identify clear actions. Staff support children in understanding the incident and how to manage their emotions in a safe way. As a result, children and staff learn from the incidents and experiences, and safeguarding practice is further enhanced.

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

Children know how to complain. Managers deal with complaints in a timely way. Furthermore, managers and staff ensure that they follow the policies and procedures. Managers and staff ensure that they involve all relevant professionals. Outcomes of thorough investigations have clear action plans that are implemented without delay.

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

Children receive support and incentives to take responsibility for their own behaviour and choices. Sanctions are rarely used. However, when they are used, they are not restorative in nature and do not always achieve the desired outcome.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and the deputy manager have the relevant qualifications and Inspection report children’s home: 1277158 4 experience for their roles. They lead by example and show good leadership and management knowledge and skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff have high aspirations for children and advocate on their behalf. They are passionate about and committed to the work that they do. They ensure that children have access to services that can help them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The quality of practice is good. Managers and staff strive to promote positive outcomes for children. They recognise that each child is different and they support them to achieve their goals, however small.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff work in partnership with children’s families and professionals, both of which are very complimentary about the home. One parent said, ‘The home has really supported [name of child] in every aspect of his life. They’ve communicated fantastically along the journey so far… Family values are upheld in his placement. The staff are welcoming and helpful and have all built the trust and respect of [name of child] quickly.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to mandatory training and complete this in a timely way. However, staff have not undertaken training that is specific and focused in meeting all the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff are committed to developing the home and enhancing their practice. They take the time to reflect and learn from their experiences. This provides them with the opportunity to further enhance their knowledge, skills and abilities.

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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: 1277158 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oaktree Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ground Floor, Seneca House, Links Point, Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool, Lancashire FY4 2FF

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Inspector

Lisa Gregoire-Parker, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1277158 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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