Children's Home run by Oak Childcare Plus Limited in Wolverhampton

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1273769 1

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Oak Childcare Plus

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is run by a private organisation and offers care and accommodation for three children who have experienced childhood instability leading to trauma and associated complex behaviours. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since November 2018.

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This monitoring visit

This home has not been inspected since 17 February 2020 when it was judged to have declined in effectiveness following a good judgement in May 2019. Ofsted has suspended assurance visits due to the third national lockdown in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and is undertaking monitoring inspections when needed. This monitoring inspection has been undertaken to monitor children’s welfare at the home. The inspector completed this inspection remotely.

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This monitoring visit

Evidence gathered to inform the remote inspection included records provided electronically by the registered manager, feedback from professionals and discussions held with staff and children over the telephone.

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This monitoring visit

Three children live at the home and enjoy trusting relationships with staff. They benefit from spending individual time with their keyworkers, who display a nurturing approach to their complex needs. As a result, children feel understood and cared for.

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This monitoring visit

Children share their views and staff and the managers respond appropriately. Children’s meetings happen regularly and children lead the conversations and plan activities, menu plans and ideas for the home. Children confirmed that they are listened to and feel that their views are valued. This provides them with a degree of control in their lives. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1273769 2 New children are welcomed to the home. Managers consider their needs, alongside the needs of children already living in the home. Comprehensive impact assessments inform managers and staff about children’s needs and allow for additional training to be identified for and completed by staff. This enables children to have positive experiences when moving into the home and to settle well.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk assessments are mostly well written and contain up-to-date information. However, there is conflicting information in children’s behaviour management plans. For example, one child’s risk assessment states that his assessed risk for aggression is low; however, the same child’s behaviour management plan identified this risk as high. This inconsistency may lead to ineffective safeguarding measures being implemented.

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This monitoring visit

Restraint is used rarely by staff. When incidents do occur, records are detailed and children are given the opportunity to express their feelings about their experience of the restraint. Managers review incidents; however, they have failed to identify that one incident of restraint was not used as a last resort. A child had taken car keys from a member of staff. The child was inside the home and staff restrained him but there was no immediate risk of harm or damage. It was not clear what other measures had been used to try to de-escalate the situation. Such actions have an impact on children’s understanding about why restraint is used and whether this is appropriate and reasonable.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have addressed shortfalls with the home environment identified at the last inspection. Staff ensure that children live in a homely and well-maintained home. The children have been involved in planning the colour schemes and the development of the home. This enables them to take pride in their home and invest in it.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/02/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 07/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1273769 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

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)) 19 March 2021

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Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. In particular, ensure that the information in risk assessments and behaviour management plans correlates to avoid confusion. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1273769 4

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oak Childcare Plus Limited

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Inspector

Kev Brammer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1273769 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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