Children's Home run by Oakley House Kent in Kent

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2625170 1 Registered provider: Oakley House (Kent) Limited

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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 is registered to provide care for up to four children who may have social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has a suitably qualified registered manager. The registered manager continues to be away from the home and is not currently at work.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was inspected on 17 November 2022, and serious concerns were identified. This monitoring visit was to look at the progress made by the registered provider since the last inspection regarding the care and protection of children and leadership and management arrangements.

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This monitoring visit

There continues to be suitable management oversight in the absence of the registered manager by a temporary acting home manager and the responsible individual.

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This monitoring visit

Two children have moved on from the home since the last inspection. Both children were supported with sensitivity and given memory books of their time living in the home. The responsible individual has temporarily stopped admitting any new children to the home to allow a period of stability.

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This monitoring visit

Following an incident between two children, risk plans were put in place to keep children safe when spending time together. Staff are able to demonstrate that they understand these plans and that they have been effective, as no further incidents have occurred.

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This monitoring visit

Internal processes have been changed to ensure that staffing rosters capture accurate information. Additionally, new staff have been recruited, which has led to a reduction in agency staff being used in the home. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2625170 2 Care planning for one child includes all known risks from his local authority care plans. There are linked documents to support this child’s difficult behaviours that give staff guidance. Where further support is needed, leaders have communicated with the child’s network to seek additional involvement. Subsequently, specialist services have provided additional support.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are proactive in trying to locate the child when absent from the home or missing. This includes working with the child’s family to locate them and carrying out regular welfare checks. This approach has led to a reduction in incidents.

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This monitoring visit

Children are provided with a homely environment. There are plans to replace furniture in readiness for the arrival of new children when this occurs. However, actions from the recent fire risk assessment of the property have not been fully implemented.

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This monitoring visit

There continue to be shortfalls in the recording and implementation of consequences for children. For example, a child was rude to staff and other children, which resulted in a seven-day loss of access to the home’s vehicle for that child. Additionally, records do not include all of the required information, and some consequences lack management oversight. Therefore, this requirement is repeated, and an additional requirement is raised regarding the recording of sanctions. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2625170 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/07/2022 Full Good 05/04/2022 Full Inadequate 19/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2625170 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

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child. (Regulation 19 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is repeated. 19 February 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 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

the date, time and location of 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 name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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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 per- son to do so (“the authorised person”)— 19 February 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2625170 5 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; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered per- son or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(viii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children’s homes comply with relevant health and safety legislations. They must ensure that actions made from the recent fire risk assessment are carried out and ensure all areas of the home meet the required standards of safety. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, paragraph 3.9, page 15)

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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: 2625170 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oakley House (Kent) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3rd Floor, 86-90 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NE

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Inspector

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2625170 7 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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