Children's home run by Oracle Care Limited in Central Bedfordshire

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC469686 1 SC469686 Registered provider: Oracle Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children aged eight to 18. Children may have complex social, emotional and behavioural needs and require attachment-aware, trauma-informed care and support.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The current manager successfully registered with Ofsted in July 2018.

p.1

Judgement at last inspection: good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

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 declined in effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has failed to address three of the four requirements made at the last inspection. Ofsted has made a further four requirements at this inspection. This means that children do not receive good-quality care and support.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s school attendance remains sporadic. Staff do not work with education providers to identify barriers to learning that hinder children’s progress. For example, they do not explore antecedents to disruptive behaviours that prevent some children engaging in full school time-tables. One-to-one work with children to help them to understand the importance of education remains infrequent and of poor quality. This Interim inspection report children’s home: SC469686 2 means that children do not recognise the links between education and future employment opportunities.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff now produce suitable risk assessments. These highlight children’s challenging behaviours and vulnerabilities. However, staff do not work with children to encourage them to take responsibility for their actions, or to consider the impact these have on others. When children’s behaviours are unacceptable or discriminatory, staff do not challenge this effectively. As a result, they do not support children to develop socially aware behaviours.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to be subject to the unnecessary use of bedroom door alarms. Managers have not reviewed the use of these alarms. This restriction is custom and practice in the home and does not reflect any recorded safeguarding concerns or risks.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not prioritise children’s health needs. They do not work with children to identify why they may be reluctant to attend medical appointments, or why this prospect increases their feelings of anxiety. This means that children’s routine health checks are not up to date.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager does not work in effective partnerships with other agencies. For one child, managers and staff failed to liaise with identified youth services to ensure the completion of a statutory court order. Although this is not the sole responsibility of the service, the registered manager has not challenged the inactions of others. This failure significantly impacts on the child’s potential to address previous behaviours and to make positive progress in this area of their development.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not receive regular or practice-related formal supervision. The registered manager has failed to address this shortfall since the last inspection. Some staff have not had supervision meetings with their line managers for over six months. Consequently, managers do not sufficiently monitor staff practice or address any performance concerns. This means that children do not work with staff who are well supported in their role.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has failed to sustain the progress made by the service at the last inspection. Frequent changes to managers and staff working in the home creates instability and inconsistent practice. This leads to a fluctuation in the quality of care that children receive. This is detrimental to their progress. Failures by managers to recognise this shortfall means that this information does not influence service development or improvement plans. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC469686 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2018 Full Good 06/02/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 13/09/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/10/2016 Full Requires improvement

p.3

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.3

Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(a)(c)) 31/03/2019

p.3

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; and 31/03/2019 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC469686 4 help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(iv)) The health and well-being standard is that children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well- being. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.3

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 10(1)(b)(2)(a)(i))

p.4

Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to helping children understand the importance of attending health appointments. 31/03/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11(1)(b)(2)(a)(ii)(iii)) 31/03/2019

p.4

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 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(f)) 31/03/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children; and the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. 31/03/2019 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC469686 5 (Regulation 24(1)(a)(d)) The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) 31/03/2019

p.4

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.

p.5

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.

p.5

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’.

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oracle Care Limited

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 54 Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedford MK45 4HS

p.5

Inspector

Jo Stephenson, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC469686 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.

p.5

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6