Children's home run by River Valley Care Limited in South Oxfordshire

Inspection report children’s home: 1214396 1 Registered provider: River Valley Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to two children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2020. He holds a leadership and management qualification at level 5.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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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: 3 December 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1214396 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/12/2019 Full Good 23/10/2018 Full Good 22/11/2017 Full Good 05/12/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: 1214396 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home. One of the children had to move out of the home on the same day that they arrived. This was because the registered manager had not obtained all relevant information about the child’s needs before they arrived. This is not typical of the registered manager’s otherwise organised and considered approach to children’s care planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress with their education because staff promote a culture of learning and attainment. This means that children who have previously experienced considerable disruption to their education are now attending education full time and doing well. For example, children have successfully achieved qualifications and are now engaging in post-16 vocational courses which help them to prepare for employment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have good relationships with staff and enjoy spending time with them. In part, this is because children get to participate in lots of enjoyable activities with staff, such as kayaking, canoeing and camping. One child told the inspector that the staff care about him and keep him safe. He said he likes the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children are anxious or worried, staff are available to give them the support and guidance that they need. Staff have successfully supported children to develop their coping strategies. This has led to an improvement in children’s emotional well- being and mental health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Partnership work is strong. The registered manager and staff are effective in their communication and ensure that all professionals are kept up to date. For example, the registered manager sends social workers monthly progress reports which show the areas of improvements made by the children. Professionals, including a child’s social worker, say that the care children receive is excellent.

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

Detailed risk assessments provide staff with guidance on how to manage known and potential risks. This means that staff are proactive in implementing effective safeguards to keep children safe.

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

Staff can confidently explain to the inspector the risks posed to children and how they keep them safe. This is because the registered manager uses staff supervision sessions and team meetings to test and reinforce staff’s knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures. As a result, staff are effective in keeping children safe.

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

Due to staff’s success at promoting children’s positive behaviour, there has only been one incident where physical intervention has been used in the past year. Staff have Inspection report children’s home: 1214396 4 supported children to recognise their own emotions and to manage these feelings. This has led to a reduction in behaviours that may have previously ended in a physical intervention.

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

Staff have completed a range of training to develop their skills in being able to protect children. This means that staff are highly skilled in safeguarding children. Despite this, staff have not had specific training in sexually harmful behaviour. A recent assessment of one child indicates that this training would be relevant and would enhance staff’s ability to manage any associated behaviours and risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has high aspirations for the children. He is supported by a passionate staff team that shares his vision for helping children to achieve positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A child’s independent reviewing officer told the inspector that their child has improved emotionally, physically and educationally since living at the home. All children have made significant progress while living in the home. This progress has been made possible because of the dedication of the registered manager and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the support they receive from the manager. Most staff receive regular supervision. However, this is not consistent, and some staff do not receive supervision in accordance with the home’s internal supervision policy. Furthermore, supervision records do not always accurately reflect the discussions that take place during supervision. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that there is an effective review of staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, the registered manager has good oversight of the home and understands the home’s strengths and areas of development. However, in some instances, case records are not as clear as they could be. This includes the registered manager’s evaluations of incidents in the home. This recording shortfall has not detracted from the care that children receive. Inspection report children’s home: 1214396 5

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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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that all admissions to the home are carried out in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose. 31 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that all staff receive supervision that is carried out in accordance with the internal supervision policy for the home. 31 December Inspection report children’s home: 1214396 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff receive training in sexually harmful behaviour. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should ensure that the records relating to incidents, management oversight and staff supervision provide a clear description of the action taken. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 1214396 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: River Valley Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Stables, Chestnut Farm, Cuxham, Watlington, Oxfordshire OX49 5ND

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Inspector

Sam Dulay-Kainth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1214396 8 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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