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

Assurance visit report: SC455338 1 SC455338

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private provider. Children may attend the linked school provision.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The new manager of the home was registered with Ofsted on 3 April 2020.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

p.1

Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

p.1

Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

p.1

Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

p.1

Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

p.1

Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC455338 2

p.1

The care of children

This children’s home reopened in April 2020 after a period of closure. Two children have been admitted and discharged from the home in this period. The lockdown measures imposed due to COVID-19 were easing at the point of admission of these children.

p.2

The care of children

A social worker said that the staff had started to build positive relationships with one of the children, which supported him to successfully move home.

p.2

The care of children

Although at times the children caused damage to the home, and there were some assaults on staff, no criminal charges were brought against the children. A social worker said that this helped the children to build trusting relationships.

p.2

The care of children

The staff worked with social workers to ensure that the children remained in contact with their families and had supervised face-to-face contact. This resulted in one child building positive relationships and returning to their family home.

p.2

The care of children

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the children did not attend full-time education. However, the staff supported the children to undertake work sent by the school and to work on life-skills tasks.

p.2

The care of children

Although the children were registered with local health professionals, due to COVID- 19 restrictions they were unable to attend general health appointments. However, one child attended a smoking cessation clinic and successfully gave up smoking.

p.2

The care of children

As the lockdown restrictions lifted, the staff supported the children to attend activities such as fishing, go-karting and visiting a theme park.

p.2

The safety of children

Due to the matching process not being rigorous enough, the children were not suitably matched to each other. One child had only lived at the home for two weeks before the social worker was given notice that the home would be ending the placement. The manager gave notice on the placement because the staff were not able to keep the child safe due to the level of incidents. Both children were displaying behaviours of criminal damage, threats and assaults on staff.

p.2

The safety of children

The frequency of incidents began to increase. However, the staff managed situations well. Risk assessments were updated after every incident and daily risk management meetings were held between the manager and senior managers. The meetings helped the staff to understand the triggers of children’s behaviours and to put safeguarding strategies in place.

p.2

The safety of children

A child made an allegation against a member of staff. The manager was aware and reported the allegation to the relevant professionals. However, the manager did not follow the organisation’s policy on recording the action taken. This shortfall was identified during a quality assurance visit that was undertaken by the organisation. Assurance visit report: SC455338 3 Failure to follow the correct procedure regarding allegations means that children are not afforded the full range of safeguarding intended by the reporting process.

p.2

Leaders and managers

A stable staff team is in place. Partnership working between the manager and external professionals has been effective and information shared promptly.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The managerial monitoring of the quality of care has improved. The staff receive regular good-quality supervision that supports them to develop their practice.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The social worker for one child said that the manager went above and beyond to support the placement, which led to the child successfully returning home.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Several complaints from neighbours were received by the home, Ofsted and the local council. These complaints were dealt with quickly and appropriately by the manager. This has supported the home to remain part of the local community, and relationships with neighbours have been repaired.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The independent visitor continues to monitor the home. Reports are shared with the staff and the content contributes to the development of the home.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The children, during their placements, knew how to make a complaint. The manager dealt with the complaints effectively and the children had the opportunity to express their views on the outcomes.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The requirements and recommendations from the last inspection have been met. One further requirement and a recommendation have been made.

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

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

that staff— 08/10/2020 Assurance visit report: SC455338 4 are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

p.3

Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children if they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and when they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oracle Care Limited

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suites 1 & 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 0RN

p.4

Inspector

Trish Palmer, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC455338 5 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.

p.4

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 .

p.5

Inspector

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 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.5

Inspector

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

p.5

Inspector

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

p.5