Children's Home run by Oak Childcare Plus Limited in Wolverhampton

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1273769 1 Registered provider: Oak Childcare Plus Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to three children who may have experienced childhood instability leading to trauma and associated complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since June 2021

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted visited the home to complete a full inspection on 20 and 21 April 2022. At the inspection, serious and widespread failures were found that meant children were not protected or their welfare promoted. The home was judged inadequate.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the significant concerns found during the inspection, Ofsted issued 13 requirements and two compliance notices, under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted also suspended the home’s registration. This means that no children can live in the home while the suspension notice is in place.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit took place on 7 June 2022. At that visit, the inspector found that some improvement had been made and the requirements under regulations 11, 12, 23, 26 and 40 were found to be met. One compliance notice, under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) had also been met. However, shortfalls remained in some aspects of leadership and management. As a result, the compliance notice was issued again under regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). The home’s registration remained suspended. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1273769 2 On 4 July 2022, a further monitoring visit took place to review the notice of suspension, compliance notice and requirements.

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This monitoring visit

During that visit the inspector found that further improvements had been made and the compliance notice under regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard) was considered to be met. A requirement under regulation 33 was also considered to be met.

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This monitoring visit

The home was not safe or suitably furnished for children to live there. At the time of the visit, there was no furniture in the lounge and dining areas. Planned redecoration of the children’s bathroom had not yet finished and there were large piles of broken furniture in the rear garden. Because of these concerns, the home’s registration remained suspended.

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This monitoring visit

A further monitoring visit took place on 19 July 2022 due to Ofsted being informed by the provider that action had been taken and the home was now a safe environment for children to live in. Ofsted visited the home to review the environment and the notice of suspension.

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This monitoring visit

The home continues to have no permanent manager. Leaders are active in their efforts to recruit a suitable manager. An interim manager stays in day-to-day charge of the home until a permanent manager is recruited.

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This monitoring visit

Maintenance work is now complete. Improvements to all areas of the home have been carried out. For example, a new bathroom suite has been fitted to the first floor of the home. New furniture has been purchased and is situated within the lounge and dining areas. Staff have tidied the gardens and removed all the rubbish and broken furniture that was present during the last visit. The home now can provide a safe and inviting environment for children to call home.

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This monitoring visit

Following this monitoring visit, Ofsted believe that the provider has shown that they can safely admit children, therefore, the notice of suspension has been lifted. The requirement under regulation 6 is considered to have been met. Requirements under regulations 8, 10, 14, 28 and 35 have not been reviewed during this monitoring visit. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1273769 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/04/2022 Full Inadequate 16/09/2021 Interim Declined in effectiveness 28/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/02/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1273769 4

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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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(x))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that there are effective arrangements in place to meet the educational needs of children. 3 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that there are effective arrangements in place to meet the health needs of children. 3 July 2022

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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 3 July 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1273769 5 have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager carrying out a placement matching risk assessment before a child moves into the home.

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children. (Regulation 28 (1)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that there is a registered manager in post who has the necessary training and skills to manage the home. 14 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(ii)(iv)(v)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that all physical intervention incidents are recorded clearly, including stating the holds used and that the manager has oversight. 3 July 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1273769 6

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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: 1273769 7

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Inspector

Kev Brammer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1273769 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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