Children's Home run by Barnardo’s in Oxfordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC013144 1 SC013144 Registered provider: Barnardo’s Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This short-break children’s home cares for up to six children. The service is provided by a national charity in partnership with the local authority. The home’s statement of purpose states that most of the children using the service have complex needs and/or have an autism spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has not had a registered manager since 28 February 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: 20 September 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: SC013144 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/09/2021 Full Good 21/05/2019 Full Good 13/06/2018 Full Good 19/06/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC013144 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive care that reflects their individual needs. Staff ensure that children with health needs and/or a disability are provided with the appropriate support and care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When new children are being introduced to the service, staff complete child-centred assessments with the help of children’s parents, carers, health professionals and teachers. Pre-visits and introductions sessions are arranged, and children only commence their stays when they are ready. One parent said, ‘Even though my son struggled to settle at first, he quickly grew to like staff and has fun during his visits.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers, staff and families share positive and professionally balanced relationships. Staff work closely with parents and other professionals and share information which guides the care provided to children and promotes consistency. A social worker said, ‘This service offers families a sense of security and gives children a valuable break and a form of independence.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from their stays as they build confidence and become more independent.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to express themselves using a variety of communication aids. For example, children use verbal communication, PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) and the ‘Proloquo2Go’ app. As a result, children are able to share their thoughts, feelings and wishes in a variety of ways and feel listened to and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to visit local shops where they can purchase items of interest with their pocket money. This empowers children and helps them gain life skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is clean and well maintained. However, not enough consideration has been given to some areas. For example, the laundry room storage space is not effectively used to store cleaning detergents. The sensory room, parts of the garden and some bedrooms are cluttered, and this limits the available space for children to be able to unwind and play.

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

Staff, nurses and managers work closely with families to identify risks and ensure that assessments are in place to help to keep children safe. However, these assessments are not always reviewed within the required timescales and result in information on how to safeguard children becoming out of date.

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

Children do not go missing at this home. Clear protocols are in place to guide staff on actions to take in the event a child was to go missing. Inspection report for children’s home: SC013144 4 Staff are trained and skilled in identifying potential risks and triggers that can result in children becoming distressed and their behaviour escalating. By using calm tones and verbal de-escalation, staff are able to provide children with the necessary assurance. As a result, staff do not use any form of physical intervention.

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

Managers and leaders adhere to safer recruitment processes. Thorough checks are carried out before individuals are recruited. This ensures that children are cared for safely.

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good

There is a new manager in the home who commenced their post on 21 June 2022. However, Ofsted was not informed of this new appointment. At the time of this inspection, the new manager is in the process of applying to register with Ofsted.

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good

The new manager has implemented new systems to help to track children’s progress. However, established systems have not been regularly reviewed to ensure that records relating to children’s care and progress stay up to date.

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good

Staff, nurses and managers receive regular and effective supervisions and clinical support. Staff continue to be supported to develop their knowledge and understanding of required practice.

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good

Staff receive a wide range of training which includes bespoke health-related training to enable them to meet children’s additional health needs.

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good

The independent monitoring visitor’s reports are not always shared with the regulator soon after a visit has occurred.

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good

Staff carefully consider the religious, racial, cultural and linguistic backgrounds of children and their families. For example, staff ensure that a child from an Asian background is able to maintain their halal diet during their stays. Inspection report for children’s home: SC013144 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 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) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, to ensure that managers monitor and review children’s individual risk assessments and progress reports. 31 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (2)(a)(b)) 31 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

the placing authorities of children; 31 October 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC013144 6 the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and

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Requirement Due date

the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44 (7)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a homely and domestic environment. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations; however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than institutional impression (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: SC013144 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Barnardo’s, 1 Lumley Court, Drum Industrial Estate, Chester Le Street, County Durham DH2 1AN

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Kukielka

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Inspector

Alphie Khumalo, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC013144 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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