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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC378464 1 SC378464 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

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children who need education and clinical support.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in February 2021. A new manager was appointed in February 2022 and has not registered with Ofsted. She has since resigned and leaves in September 2022.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 10 November 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC378464 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/11/2021 Full Good 21/11/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/04/2019 Full Good 21/11/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC378464 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child moved out of the home four days after the last inspection. There was one child living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made good progress since moving into the home. He has built positive, trusting relationships with a staff team that understands his past traumas and the impact that trauma has had on him. The child’s parent said that they have seen a positive change since he moved into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child spoke positively about the staff and the relationships that he has with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s placement plan is individualised and regularly reviewed. He contributes to the plan by adding his comments and views. The approach to care planning puts children at the centre of their care. Staff understand the child’s needs and have clear guidance to follow to meet those needs effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Until November 2021, the child was attending full-time education. Due to other children leaving the home and him feeling that he did not fit in at the organisation’s school, attendance became sporadic. The manager worked with school staff, the social worker and virtual school, which provided tutoring three times a week. The child engaged and recently sat his GCSE examinations. He has secured a college placement in his home area, which he will be returning to soon.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to have regular visits to family and friends at the weekend. The child’s parent said that the staff are accommodating and make sure that he has home visits every other weekend. Staff take the child to play in a football team in his home area. This has helped him to maintain friendships for when he returns to his home area.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has regular key-work sessions. These sessions are recorded in detail and show the children’s involvement, along with any further actions that need to be addressed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child said that he has been involved in choosing the decor and furniture for the home. He has personalised his bedroom and helps staff keep the house clean and tidy. He does his own cooking and washing and spoke proudly of his independence skills.

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

The child said that he feels safe at the home and can speak to staff if he is worried or upset. He said that staff know when he is getting upset and give him time to calm and reflect, and that this is important to him. Inspection report for children’s home: SC378464 4 Staff challenge unwanted behaviours using the organisation’s therapeutic model. Comprehensive behaviour plans outline the risks, concerns and strategies to reduce risk. These plans are regularly reviewed and updated and guide the staff in working with the child to keep him safe.

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

There have been two restraints since the last inspection relating to the child who moved on. The record was detailed; however, there is no record of whether the child or staff were debriefed. The record has not been evaluated by the manager. This fails to ensure effective oversight of restraint.

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

On two occasions, safeguarding incidents have not been reported to Ofsted promptly. On one occasion, a notification was only sent in after the independent visitor had oversight. This affects Ofsted’s ability to monitor the home effectively.

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

Staff have a good understanding of how to keep the child safe and the importance of teaching him how to keep himself safe. Staff have attended safeguarding training, and safeguarding is discussed as part of supervision and staff meetings. Staff know how to report any concerns.

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good

There has been no registered manager in post since February 2021. The deputy became the interim manager until February 2022. She is leaving before she is registered with Ofsted. Consequently, Ofsted has not been able to assess the competency of the manager. The organisation has arranged interviews for a new manager.

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good

There are clear monitoring systems in place. These enable the manager to look at trends and patterns. The manager uses the recommendations from the independent person’s report to develop practice and improve the quality of care.

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good

Staff have undertaken the organisation’s mandatory training. Staff hold or are working towards a relevant level 3 qualification.

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good

Staff receive regular supervision, which they say is supportive and helps them to reflect on and develop their practice.

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good

Regular staff meetings support the staff to work consistently with the child. The clinical lead attends meetings periodically to guide staff to look at strategies for working with the child. Staff say that they can contact the clinical lead when they need advice or support.

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good

The manager has worked to continuously improve the quality of care. She has effective communication with social workers and other professionals. A parent said that the manager is approachable and that communication is good. Inspection report for children’s home: SC378464 5 The location risk assessment is detailed. Risks have been identified along with actions to minimise risks. Other agencies have contributed to the risk assessment and the child has been consulted.

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good

There were four requirements made at the last inspection. The provider has met one requirement and three are restated. Inspection report for children’s home: SC378464 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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 28 November 2022

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 9 August 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

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)) 9 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC378464 7 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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 for children’s home: SC378464 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 & 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 0RN

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Inspector

Trish Palmer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC378464 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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