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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC455338 1 SC455338 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 home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties. The children may attend the provider’s linked school provision that is located on a different site.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 3 April 2020.

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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: 11 January 2022

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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: SC455338 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/01/2022 Full Good 27/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/03/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 24/05/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC455338 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were three children living at the home at the time of this inspection. Since the last inspection, three children have moved into the home and three children have moved on from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff care about the children and know them well. During the inspection, staff were observed to be patient, kind and nurturing to the children. One child said that staff listen to her, and she enjoys spending time with them. Children receive good, individualised care and feel valued and understood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All three children have education places. Children’s school attendance is high. During the inspection, one child was proud to tell staff that her mathematics assessment score was the highest in class. A teacher said that she is pleased with the achievements one of the children has made since she started at the school. Children are progressing well in education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff ensure that children spend time with their families. One child has visited a parent who lives abroad. The child had overnight stays to spend time with their grandparents. Another child has built up to having successful overnight stays with family members. Children spend time with people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience and enjoy different activities and hobbies. These include horse riding, day trips and a drama club. One child has been away to a pony club camp and two children have had holidays to the seaside. The children took part in a garden and flower competition. One child organised a charity coffee morning, raising nearly £400. Children have enriching experiences and are part of the local community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Whenever possible, children’s moves in and out of the home are planned. Two planned moves have not been possible due to circumstances out of the manager’s control. The manager and staff manage the situations with sensitivity. One child has recently moved into the home. The child’s social worker was impressed with how well the move was managed. The child said that they visited the home before they moved in, and is enjoying getting to know staff. One child who moved on from the home has been visited by staff. Children benefit from support from the staff that enables moves to be a positive experience.

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

Children’s behaviour support plans are detailed and thorough. Staff encourage the children to contribute to their plans. One child uses cue cards to indicate to staff when they need reassurance. Staff are creative in how they help children manage difficult emotions safely. Inspection report for children’s home: SC455338 4 There have been some missing-from-home incidents. Staff have managed these well. The manager has worked with police and social workers to agree safety plans. Children have independent return home interviews. At the time of this inspection, there had been no incidents of children going missing from home for several months.

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

Staff take bullying incidents seriously and support the children involved. Staff consider children’s previous trauma histories and take appropriate action. They help children to understand the impact of bullying and to explore their feelings and emotions. Children feel safe to talk about bullying because the staff act and listen. Bullying incidents have significantly decreased.

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

Staff have used physical intervention once since the last inspection. The intervention was appropriate and proportionate. Staff use their positive relationships with children as a basis from which to resolve incidents.

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

Children said that they feel safe at the home. Staff manage safeguarding incidents well. Social workers are confident in the ability of the manager and staff to safeguard children effectively. However, one staff member did not understand the home’s whistle-blowing policy. Children could be put at risk if all staff do not know how to raise concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and holds a relevant level 5 qualification. She is supported by a deputy manager. The manager is patient and nurturing with the children and is a good role model for staff. Staff benefit from the manager’s experience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive individualised training to enable them to meet children’s needs. The manager and staff benefit from regular consultations with a clinical psychologist. The consultations provide a safe space for staff to explore their thoughts and feelings. Children’s histories and presenting concerns are discussed and useful strategies and ideas are created to inform staff’s practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Social workers said that the staff and manager are ‘excellent’ and provide children with individualised and therapeutic care. Social workers said that communication with the manager and staff is good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff either hold a relevant level 3 diploma or are working towards gaining this qualification. Staff are enrolled on the qualification course once they pass their probation. All staff are within time frames for achieving the qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that they have regular and effective supervisions. Staff feedback and ideas are listened to. One staff member said that they are encouraged to work hard and that they feel appreciated. Staff feel valued, supported and respected by managers. Inspection report for children’s home: SC455338 5 An independent person reviews the home monthly and generates a report that is sent to Ofsted monthly. The report content is of good quality and includes feedback from parents, professionals and children. The independent person’s recommendations help the manager to make continuous improvements to the quality of care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has submitted their internal monitoring report to Ofsted, as required. The report is generally of good quality and includes feedback from professionals, parents and children. However, the report does not show how actions that the manager sets are progressed, measured or reviewed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s oversight of children’s records is generally good. However, one child’s care plan does not detail how staff will help the child to achieve their targets. Inspection report for children’s home: SC455338 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. In particular, provide staff with refresher training on whistle-blowing. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Specifically, ensure that targets in children’s care plans have clear guidance on how staff will help children achieve them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact that the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children.

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Recommendations

The report should include how targets are measured for progress and impact. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.2)

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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: SC455338 7

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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

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC455338 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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