Children's home run by Oxfordshire County Council

Inspection report children’s home: 1229977 1 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 home is run by a local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children. It provides a residential experience for children needing accommodation during a period of assessment and for those requiring shared care. Children and families may also receive community support from the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2018.

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Inspection date: 10 March 2020

Date of last inspection: 28 October 2019

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None. Inspection report children’s home: 1229977 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/10/2019 Full Good 20/03/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/01/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: 1229977 3

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children 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 sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A particular strength of this home is that young people’s transitions both in and out of the home are very well managed. For example, all the young people who have left the home since the last inspection have had planned endings with positive outcomes. Young people who have been admitted to the home have had equally positive and individualised experiences. For example, managers ensured that a staff member who the young person knew from the past and liked was on shift at key times.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This careful planning based on young people’s individual needs, supports young people to feel valued and to place their trust in staff. As one young person said, ‘ Staff are really helpful, they are there to talk to and they listen to you.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people are benefiting from being involved in education at varying levels. This was not the case for some young people when they arrived at the home. Strong links with educational professionals and thorough planning and follow-up mean that all young people now have valuable opportunities to develop existing skills and learn new ones.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour management in this home is relationship based, and staff and young people clearly enjoy spending relaxed time together. An external colleague described staff and managers as being ‘child-centred and nurturing while maintaining clear and consistent boundaries’. Consequently, formal behaviour strategies, such as physical restraint and sanctions, are rarely needed. Instead, relationship-based incentives and restorative justice are used as necessary.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people are involved to varying degrees with measuring their own progress through using a straightforward template. Progress is underpinned by attractive incentives and young people think this system is both ‘fair’ and ‘better than nagging’. Young people do make good progress, especially in their emotional stability and with their health needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is strong safeguarding knowledge and experience among most staff and managers. As a result, safeguarding practice is sound and confidently delivered, for example through the actions taken following a rare missing-from-home episode. External colleagues recognised this and positively referred to the home’s effective use of contextual safeguarding in keeping young people safer.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff feel well supported both by their highly effective management team and by each other. Morale is good, and staff work together in a child-centred and consistent Inspection report children’s home: 1229977 4 fashion. Staff know young people well and take pride in their achievements and progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection there was one requirement relating to ensuring that young people were subject to regular risk assessments. A detailed format for risk assessments is now in place that is supported by a clear visual and numerical scale. This requirement has been met well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were also two recommendations at the last inspection. The first related to establishing a protocol with the police regarding their involvement with the home. The second recommendation related to ensuring that there was a consistent independent visitor to the home. Both these recommendations have been thoroughly implemented. Inspection report children’s home: 1229977 5

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: 1229977 6

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Bridget Goddard, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1229977 7 to 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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