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

Inspection report children's home: SC421531 1 SC421531 Registered provider: Oracle Care Limited 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 accommodate three children who require care, education and clinical support.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since November 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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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: 27 November 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC421531 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/11/2019 Full Outstanding 04/07/2018 Full Good 24/01/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 03/05/2017 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC421531 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff help children with their education and in overcoming barriers to their learning. Staff have supported children when education places have been unsuccessful. They have promptly encouraged children to find alternative and suitable courses. This has ensured that children do not have long gaps in their education and learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff are invested in children’s progress and care about the children. This is reflected in the nurturing relationships that the staff build with children and the positive reinforcement that they give children during key-work sessions. Staff work hard to ensure that children are listened to and respected. This helps the children to feel cared for and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage family time that reflects the children’s wishes and feelings. One child has had his family time gradually increased and this has led to successful overnight stays. The family is very happy with the positive impact that time with their child has had on their relationships. Staff encourage children to have positive friendships outside the home. Helping to maintain family time and friendships ensures that children spend time with people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are good role models and have helped children to gain impressive independent living skills. Children are managing a weekly budget for food and essential items. Children cook for themselves regularly and can make a range of meals. Staff have helped children to use public transport and one child is learning to drive. Staff have ensured that children have a good knowledge of their rights, entitlements and how to access a range of services in the community. Building these practical life skills helps to ensure that children are very well prepared for adulthood and equipped for when they leave the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that children move out of the home in a planned way whenever possible. On one occasion, this was not possible for safety reasons and the manager dealt with this move sensitively. Staff facilitated a planned move from the home for one child and it took place over several weeks. The moving-on plans included emotional and practical support for the child. This level of support makes moving a positive experience and helps children to successfully live independently.

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

Children are safeguarded and feel safe at the home. The manager has ensured that the staff have the appropriate training and that they understand the safeguarding procedures. The staff are confident and well equipped to manage safeguarding incidents, which helps to keep the children safe. Inspection report children's home: SC421531 4 The manager monitors and manages risk effectively. One child was at risk in the community. The manager ensured that this child had access to external support services. The manager was proactive and insisted on regular professionals’ meetings to assess the risks and take prompt action. Taking this action ensured that relevant professionals were involved to keep the child safe.

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

There have been two physical intervention incidents. These were appropriate, necessary and proportionate. Staff were supportive and nurturing to the child during and after the incidents. Staff encourage the children to reflect and manage emotions in a safe way. Being open to learning from incidents and supporting children in this way has meant that there have been no further physical interventions.

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

The staff have carried out room searches of a child’s bedroom. These searches have been necessary and carried out appropriately with the child’s consent. The staff are respectful and always explain to the child why this is necessary. Approaching room searches in this way puts children at ease and encourages them to engage with the process, supporting their overall safety.

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

The children’s behaviour support plans focus on positive reinforcement. The plans include children’s input in how they want to be supported. The plans, which are overseen by the home’s clinical lead, comprehensively guide staff on how to support children. Children have developed coping strategies to manage their feelings and emotions and they can manage difficult situations safely.

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

There have been a high number of incidents of children going missing from the home, particularly for one child. The staff manage these incidents very well and are welcoming and nurturing when children return to the home. The manager has closely monitored these incidents and has an effective reduction plan in place. Children feel supported when they return and there has been a notable reduction in these incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a qualified and experienced interim manager overseeing the home. She knows the home well and works for the organisation as a service manager. A new manager was appointed, but she withdrew her application to register as manager. Another new manager has since been appointed and a comprehensive handover is planned to ensure consistency for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff said that the manager is supportive and approachable. The staff have regular and effective supervision. The manager has personal development plans for staff that provide a range of learning goals. The staff feel equipped to meet children’s needs and benefit from professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have training to meet the individual needs of the children. The manager and staff benefit from support from a clinical lead, who provides monthly consultations for the staff. The consultations are reflective and give staff good training and guidance. The consultations are based on the psychological model used Inspection report children's home: SC421531 5 at the home. This training encourages staff to use a consistent and therapeutic approach with the children to meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that there is a focus on research in practice. Two members of staff led a project on institutionalised language in children’s homes. Children contributed to the research. The staff and children made a glossary of institutionalised words and replaced these with thoughtful language. Developing active research keeps themes that are important to children live and has a positive impact on how care is delivered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager generally informs Ofsted of notifiable incidents on time. On one occasion, the manager did not make a prompt notification to Ofsted. Delay in notifying incidents reduces Ofsted’s ability to monitor the home effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a welcoming feel, with pictures of the children displayed throughout. The home is clean and tidy and has various rooms to relax in. Despite this, the manager has not ensured that some of the flooring in communal areas has been maintained. Not maintaining these areas means that children do not have the full benefit of a well-cared-for environment. Inspection report children's home: SC421531 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing environment that meets the needs of the children. In particular, ensure that flooring is replaced where needed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday. In particular, ensure that serious events are notified in the manager’s absence. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)

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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’.

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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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Inspector

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC421531 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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