Children's Home run by Oracle Care Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC368982 1 SC368982

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Oracle Care Limited

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 operated by a private provider. It provides care and accommodation for up to three children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager was registered with Ofsted in January 2021 and is suitably qualified and experienced.

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Information about this children’s home

There are two children currently living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out in response to a complaint that Ofsted had received about the conditions of the home environment. In addition, there were concerns about the quality of the reporting by the independent person. The home was last inspected in November 2019.

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This monitoring visit

The visit was undertaken during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and was carried out on site. Inspectors viewed documents, spoke with staff and spent time talking to the children. Feedback was also obtained from one child’s social worker.

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This monitoring visit

Some areas of the home are poorly maintained. For example, doors have not been repainted following changes to the locks. Some walls are damaged, including in children’s bedrooms. In addition, some of the windows in the children’s bedrooms are scratched. The poor standard of the home environment does not help children to feel valued or to invest in their home.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has not ensured that the home’s outdoor areas are safe. The garden contains a range of hazards. For example, paving slabs are broken and uneven. Stone tops are missing from the garden wall, which has created rough and jagged edges. This prevents children having a space where they can play safely and enjoy being outdoors. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC368982 2 The registered manager is taking action to address the concerns about the internal and external aspects of the home. There is a plan in place to ensure that the work is carried out.

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This monitoring visit

Staff told inspectors that they feel valued and supported by the registered manager. Team meetings provide staff with the opportunity to receive further guidance and support. This makes staff feel supported in their role to care for children.

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This monitoring visit

Children enjoy positive relationships with staff and the registered manager. During the visit inspectors observed a relaxed atmosphere in the home, with staff and children engaging in friendly banter. One child informed the inspectors that they felt happy in the home and would not change anything. As a result, children feel supported and settled in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager helps children to understand the complaints procedure and encourages them to voice their concerns. When children do make a complaint, the registered manager takes their complaints seriously and acts to address any issues raised. This helps children to feel confident that their voices are heard.

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This monitoring visit

The independent person has not provided sufficient scrutiny of the quality of care provided to children. However, prior to the inspection, a new independent person had been recruited and they have completed their first visit to the home.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements and recommendations issued at the last inspection in November 2019 were not reviewed as part of this inspection and will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 19/11/2019 Full Good 10/01/2019 Full Good 23/01/2018 Full Good 15/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC368982 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the condition of the home environment. 30 April 2021

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children apire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(h)) 30 April 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all children’s records must be kept up to date and stored securely while they remain in the home. Case records must be signed and dated by the author of each entry. This specifically relates to ensuring that risk assessments reflect the needs of individual children. (‘Guide to the Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC368982 4 children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: Oracle Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Elisabeth Brownlees

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Inspectors

Lisa O’Donovan, Social Care Inspector Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC368982 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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