Children's Home run by Oakley House Kent in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625170 1

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Oakley House (Kent) Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home registered with Ofsted in May 2021 to provide care for up to four children aged between eight and 18. The aim from the home’s statement of purpose is to provide a safe and homely environment where children can be supported and challenged to develop the skills they need to live a full and happy life while making a positive contribution to society.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2021.

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This monitoring visit

This visit took place in response to concerning notifications received by Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have failed to adhere to strategies within one child’s plans. While leaders expressed that this breach only occurred on one occasion, the inspector witnessed the same shortfall while at the home. Leaders have not ensured that staff have understood safeguarding plans for children. The impact of this shortfall has put this child at significant risk of harm. As a result, the provider failed to protect this child.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders are unable to demonstrate that all staff have been recruited subject to safer recruitment practices. The inspector reviewed two staff recruitment files. In one file sampled, the staff member had originally failed to disclose several previous offences. While risk assessments were undertaken by leaders, they lacked detail, analysis and professional challenge. There was no triangulation to corroborate the narrative that the member of staff had provided. Weak recruitment processes put children at risk of harm from potentially unsafe adults.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of the shortfalls identified, Ofsted has issued compliance notices under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 32 (fitness of workers). Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625170 2 Since the previous inspection, Ofsted has received the home’s statement of purpose. This document includes the necessary information listed in Schedule 1. Therefore, this requirement is met. As this was a focused visit, the previous requirements and recommendation were not explored in detail and remain outstanding.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 19/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625170 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(b)) 3 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 3 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625170 4 *The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 3 April 2022

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or 3 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625170 5 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that any sanctions used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases, it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour, and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625170 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oakley House (Kent) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3rd Floor, 86 to 90 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NE

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Inspector

Skye Frain, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625170 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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