Children's home run by Purple Oak Support

Inspection report children’s home: 2504775 1 Registered provider: Purple Oak Support Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This six-bed home provides overnight short breaks and day care for children and young people from three to 19 years with additional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since the home opened on 12 February 2019.

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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: 1 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 children’s home: 2504775 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/11/2021 Full Good 04/03/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 24/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2504775 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have the skills and knowledge to provide children with positive, enjoyable experiences and individualised care. Staff carry out thorough assessments of children’s needs prior to new children commencing their short breaks. This helps to ensure that the skills of the staff align with children’s presenting needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from an environment that is homely and nurturing. Prompt action has been taken to address the ceiling in the lounge that had collapsed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress and develop new skills. For example, some children have developed their social skills and are now able to engage positively with other children. Through tailored support, some children have learned essential life skills, such as being able to eat independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children have improved their communication skills and can now express their feelings and views more openly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from continuity in their education. Some children continue to attend their school during their stays and others are supported by staff to complete their schoolwork.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are very skilled in communicating with children. As a result, children feel valued and listened to. Staff use several communication methods, including Picture Exchange Communication System, body/facial expressions, signs, objects and verbal communication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in varied activities during their stays. These include using public transport to travel to town, attending local community functions, such as charity events, and participating in indoor activities. A parent said, ‘She (child) takes part in a lot of activities when she is there, she loves playing in the garden.’

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

The manager and staff understand children’s individual risks well. They ensure that all risk assessments are carried out and reviewed regularly. However, one child’s risk assessment does not accurately reflect the required responses to manage the risks, including taking into account the child’s abilities.

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

Children do not go missing from the home. Staff understand children’s vulnerabilities and ensure that they are highly vigilant when supporting children in the home and when accessing the community.

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

Staff do not use physical intervention. Staff take into consideration children’s health and individual needs when supporting them to express their feelings and emotions. Inspection report children’s home: 2504775 4 When incidents occur, staff use calming approaches and the sensory environment to help children become calmer. Some children have developed self-soothing skills and reach out for support from the staff. However, some incident reports lack clarity on the action taken by the staff to manage the presenting behaviour. Furthermore, there is not enough managerial oversight of the quality of these records.

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

Leaders and managers adhere to safer recruitment processes. They ensure that all required checks are completed before a member of staff can work with children.

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

When the inspector arrived at the home, staff failed to confirm her identity and did not explain the fire evacuation procedures. This shortfall has the potential to compromise the safety of children and visitors.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is enthusiastic and caring. She applies a child-centred approach that promotes a caring culture.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff complete progress reports which are shared with children’s social workers and parents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff receive regular supervision sessions and annual appraisals. This secured time enables staff to reflect on their practice, professional development and their own well-being. As a result, staff feel listened to and valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective multi-agency working ensures that prompt decisions are made when children are struggling. This has resulted in some children’s stays being discontinued and more suitable arrangements put in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff promote equality, diversity and inclusion well. There is a culture of openness and respect towards all individuals’ differences and backgrounds. Value is given to every child’s opinion, which makes them feel respected and confident that their views truly matter. Inspection report children’s home: 2504775 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, inspire s 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 the manager has oversight of children’s risk assessment records. 31 January 2023

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; 31 January 2023 Inspection report children’s home: 2504775 6 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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, managers must ensure that staff have clear plans for how to support children when their behaviours escalate.

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 F1 applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to ensuring that fire evacuation procedures are explained to visitors on arrival at the home. It also refers to visitors signing in and out of the building. 31 January 2023

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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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; 31 January 2023 Inspection report children’s home: 2504775 7 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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to ensuring that individuals visiting the home confirm their identification before access is permitted.

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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: 2504775 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Andover and District Mencap, The Wellington Centre, Winchester Road, Andover, Hampshire SP10 2EG

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Inspector

Alphie Khumalo, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2504775 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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