Children's Home run by Oracle Care Limited in Bedford

Inspection report children's home: SC484114 1 SC484114 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 privately owned home provides care, education and clinical support for up to three children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2019.

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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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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 3 February 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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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: 13 November 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: SC484114 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/11/2019 Full Good 14/06/2018 Full Good 13/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/09/2016 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC484114 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are two children living at the home. One child has moved out of the home since the last monitoring visit.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has a specialist education place provided by the service and is making consistently good progress. One child attended an education place; however, due to an incident the day before the inspection, the child was permanently excluded. The deputy manager, alongside external professionals, is looking for a suitable alternative provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children both spend time with their families. One child proudly said that he is going home to live with his mum soon. Another child spends regular time with her family, which is a positive experience. Consequently, the child is going to move to be nearer to her family. Children are able to rebuild relationships with their families, which helps to develop their sense of identity and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff cover a wide range of important topics during regular key-work sessions with the children. One child is sensitively supported to learn about sexual health and to understand the health risks of smoking. The staff discuss these areas in a way that helps the child to engage. The staff’s approach to helping children to understand health risks ensures that they can make informed choices and has led to a reduction in smoking.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to develop independence skills that are appropriate for their age and stage of development. During the inspection, one child was observed making home-made pizza with support from staff. Children are encouraged to spend free time out of the home with their friends. One child had a friend visit them at the home during the inspection. Children are building important independence skills and friendships, which helps to prepare them for when they move on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff organise evenings with the children that explore different themes and cultures around the world. These events are educational and give children information about how people live differently. This helps children to understand different cultures and promotes inclusivity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have opportunities to participate in different activities. One child is part of a group that offers different sport activities. He attends regularly and has made friends in the group. Both children have been on holiday on different occasions to destinations of their choice. The children’s participation in activities improves their self-esteem, gives them opportunities to have new experiences and helps them to make friends. Inspection report children's home: SC484114 4

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

The children are safeguarded. The deputy manager ensures that staff have appropriate training and that they understand safeguarding procedures. The staff are confident and well equipped to manage safeguarding incidents.

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

Behaviour support plans are individualised. The plans give staff good guidance on proactive strategies and de-escalation techniques to help children manage difficult emotions. The plans include strategies that children have developed while living at the home to help them to manage their feelings. Staff understand how to best support children, and the children are developing safe coping strategies.

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

Staff have physically managed one child on several occasions to keep the child and others safe. The deputy manager monitors and reviews physical intervention records and identifies themes and triggers to help reduce the frequency of incidents. However, on one occasion, staff used a physical intervention method that they were trained in prior to working at the home. This hold is not recognised in the current model of physical intervention used at the home. The supporting manager took prompt and appropriate action, and the staff involved received physical intervention refresher training.

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

One child occasionally goes missing from the home. The staff manage these incidents well. Staff welcome the child back to the home. The manager has ensured that the child has return home interviews. Children are well supported and listened to following missing-from-care episodes. Consequently, these incidents are infrequent.

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

Allegations are generally dealt with appropriately, promptly and effectively. However, on one occasion, the manager did not report an allegation to the designated officer or notify Ofsted within required timescales. Due to the staffing arrangements, the children were not at risk. However, the home’s safeguarding policy was not followed. This did not ensure that the designated officer or Ofsted could monitor the allegation promptly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff receive a good range of training to enable them to meet the needs of the children. The deputy manager and the staff benefit from the support of a clinical psychologist. The psychologist provides consultations to help the staff to understand children’s life experiences, past trauma and behaviour. The consultations provide the staff with a reflective space to review and develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff benefit from a thorough induction process. One staff member said that it was the best and most thorough induction that she has ever experienced. The staff receive regular and effective supervision. This means that they are well equipped to provide good care for children. Inspection report children's home: SC484114 5 The manager is currently on an agreed period of absence. There is an experienced deputy manager overseeing the home. The deputy manager has had support from different managers within the organisation, which has caused some inconsistency. Staff have not benefited from consistent management. Despite this, the children feel supported and happy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The deputy manager has additional support through quality assurance audits from peers in the senior management team. The audits are carried out by managers who have experience of working in children’s residential care. The manager uses the audits to make improvements to children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The deputy manager and staff have positive relationships with external professionals and parents. One social worker said that the home is in her ‘top three children’s homes to move children to’ because children’s needs are understood and met. One parent said that the deputy manager and staff go above and beyond expectations to meet the needs of her child. The children benefit from a good, supportive network.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The house has a homely and welcoming feel. There are photos of the children on display throughout the home. The home is spacious and has various rooms to relax in. However, the provider has not ensured that children have full benefit of an environment that is well cared for. For example, some of the paintwork in the communal hallway has not been maintained. The front door requires a small aesthetic repair and some of the bedroom doors have areas that need painting.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some records do not contain full and current information. Consequently, some children’s records are not accurate and do not consistently reflect the level of support given to children or identify how risky behaviour may present. Inspection report children's home: SC484114 6

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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 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 aspire 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)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all risk assessments are accurate, the lead up to incidents is clearly recorded and that all relevant information is included in the records. 12 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the designated officer. (Regulation 34 (1)(b) (2)(b)) 12 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 12 November Inspection report children's home: SC484114 7

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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, paintwork on bedroom doors and in communal hallways should be maintained, and the front door should be aesthetically repaired. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that arrangements are in place for the consistent management of the home during the registered manager’s absence. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 60, paragraph 12.2)

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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: SC484114 8

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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 and 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: SC484114 9 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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