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

Inspection report children‟s home: SC408513 1 SC408513 Registered provider: Oracle Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home‟s registered manager was approved by Ofsted in June 2019.

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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: 19 December 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‟s home: SC408513 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/12/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/08/2017 Full Outstanding 28/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 16/08/2016 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC408513 3

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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 independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person‟s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person‟s opinion as to whether— children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children‟s well-being. The independent person‟s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44(4)(a)(b) and (5)) 30/09/2019

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Recommendations

 The registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 64, paragraph 15.1) In particular, that the registered person must consider how any identified risks within the immediate area may impact on young people.  Ensure that records kept in the children‟s home are signed and dated by the author. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 62, paragraph 14.3) With particular reference to senior management oversight and signing of case recordings including signatures from young people to show that they have read and understood their key-work sessions.  Children‟s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislation. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 15,

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Recommendations

paragraph 3.9) With reference to animals that are kept at the home and pets that visit the home. That the registered person has relevant documentation from the local area‟s environmental health agency and has carried out detailed health and safety risk assessments. Inspection report children‟s home: SC408513 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people live in a homely and nurturing environment. Young people have been encouraged to decorate their own rooms and have chosen individual themes for their bedrooms. The opportunity for young people to personalise their rooms has given young people a real sense of belonging and ownership. Young people have been actively encouraged to be part of the improvement plans for the home. The home has recently been redecorated and plans to improve the home are continuing. The entrance hallway has a large blackboard on the wall. This is appropriately decorated with colourful hand-drawn chalk images which adds to a fun, child-friendly environment. The manager states that the notice board helps young people to know what they are doing day to day. It also records activity rewards for the week for each young person. It is important that young people have a choice as to whether they would want this information on public display, and the manager agreed

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

to discuss this with the young people. Young people are encouraged to be actively involved in clubs and activities in school and in the local community. One young person said, „I‟m much happier. We do lots of activities and it is much more fun.‟ One young person was able to attend her school trip abroad. School commented that the staff member who attended with the young person stayed in the background to ensure that the young person was not singled out amongst her peers. This was a successful arrangement for the young person who was able to enjoy a trip with her classmates, but also have a staff member to support her if required. All young people attend education and staff understand the importance of secondary education and further education. Due to the changes in management, and the sense of security within the home environment that young people now experience, young people are more able to manage expectations and are better able to cope with

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

challenges. For example, towards the end of last year one young person was struggling with her education. Her behaviour was challenging, and she was facing a possible exclusion from college. She has graduated this summer with a merit and has been invited back to complete the next level of her course. Another young person has progressed well and her results are within the top national statistics. She said, „I am now in top sets for everything at school.‟ All young people have access to community health resources including dentists, doctors, and opticians. Young people have regular therapeutic support provided by trained therapists who also work with the young person‟s family if required. There is good communication between the therapist and staff to ensure that there is continuity of care for young people. Young people have therapeutic support tailored to their individual needs such as equine therapy or play therapy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are helped and supported with transition plans. One young person will be moving on from the home in the new year. The manager has arranged planning Inspection report children‟s home: SC408513 5 meetings with the placing authority to ensure that the transition progresses smoothly. The young person has had the opportunity to visit, and select, a suitable supported- living provider. Another young person is transitioning back to her family home. Staff have supported, and facilitated, an increased contact arrangement plan for this young person which has allowed the young person to spend increased quality time with her family.

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

The redesign of safeguarding policies and procedures has formed part of the improvement plans for the home and are followed by staff in practice. These changes are significant, and they help young people feel safe and protected. Staff know the young people well and young people say that they feel safe. Young people have structured key-work sessions to address challenging issues. The sessions are proactive rather than reactive. Staff recognise aspects of risk-taking behaviour and safeguarding concerns with young people and plan individual sessions accordingly. Staff complete a range of key-work sessions that give young people the opportunity to reflect on their behaviours. Staff use a range of skills, including role play, to help young people to understand complex situations. Safeguarding procedures are clearly recorded and correct procedures are followed by staff. The team utilises the skills of key professionals who complete additional work

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

with young people if this is necessary. Staff will also involve the therapeutic team to offer additional support if this is required. The manager is keen to improve the therapeutic skills within her staff team and embed a culture of empathy, reflection, and structured boundaries. Some young people benefit from animal therapy and the home has two guinea pigs that young people take care of. Staff, on occasion, bring in their own dogs and young people enjoy having dogs in the home. However, due to the complex nature and background of some young people, it is important that the manager has completed detailed risk assessments and health and safety checks. This is to ensure that young people, and animals, are fully protected. A recommendation has been made to address this matter.

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

Each young person has an individual risk assessment and behaviour management plan. This helps staff to identify the risks and relevant actions to help young people manage challenging behaviour. The manager has explained that these documents are under review and part of the ongoing improvements and revision of documents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The previous manager resigned in October 2018 and the company acted swiftly to recruit a new manager to the home. The new manager registered in June 2019. The manager is supported by a new assistant manager, two team leaders and two shift leaders. There has been an active recruitment drive to address the previous staffing issues and the home is now nearly up to full staffing capacity. The manager is a highly experienced individual who leads by example. Inspection report children‟s home: SC408513 6 These changes in the home‟s management structure, and improved staffing levels, have had a significant and positive impact on the outcomes for young people. One young person said, „There have been lots of staff changes, but I think the staff that are here now are good and do care.‟ Young people say that they are listened to and one young person said, „Staff listen, and I can talk to staff.‟ The manager has worked effectively to address all of the recommendations and

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

requirements from the previous inspection. The manager has recognised the importance of, and is focused on, building positive relationships with young people. She is aspiring to continue to build confidence within her staff team and her staff feel fully supported by her. Previously, the staff induction programme was not detailed or clear for staff on induction. Since coming into post, the registered manager has implemented a clear induction pathway for new staff that clearly sets out expectations from the first day in post through to the end of the probation period. Within the training programme, there is a comprehensive list of training, both online training and face to face. The manager is increasing the knowledge of childhood attachment theories with her staff by completing in-house therapeutic training sessions. She hopes to extend this further to a four-day training workshop for all staff. The manager is continuing to develop her staff team and she has introduced a

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

competency framework for staff who want to take on management and senior roles. This is an effective tool that helps to identify a management task, for example attending a child‟s professional meeting. This is discussed in supervision and individual appraisals. This structure has helped staff to build on staff skills and confidence to take on positions of seniority in the home. The manager has introduced several new policies and procedures within the home. The manager is aware that the home is on an improvement journey, and she continues to formulate new thinking and ideas on how to improve the home for better outcomes for young people. Staff need to ensure that there is a consistent approach to the signing of documents about young people. Some information is still handwritten, for example on team meeting notes. It is important that all relevant recordings are accessible. A recommendation has been made to address this matter.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager utilises the home‟s internal and external quality monitoring activities well to ensure that good standards are in place and to improve practice. The manager is aware that these systems can be improved, and this is currently being addressed strategically. The independent quality monitoring programme lacks detailed evaluation by the visitor. The registered manager attends the local area safeguarding meetings with the police and key professionals. At the start of her new role, the registered manager collated information on local area risks by contacting the police safeguarding unit. The leadership team is also redesigning and improving the local area risk management plan. The document will be more relevant to young people in the home rather than a generic document. Staff maintain good working relationships with professionals, and professional feedback Inspection report children‟s home: SC408513 7

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

regarding the care provided within the home is positive. Professionals have stated that they have seen a noticeable improvement in the behaviour of young people since the new manager came into post.

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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: SC408513 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oracle Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Dawn Tattershall

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Inspector

Kamal Bhamra, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC408513 9 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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