Children's home run by Oak House Children's Home Limited in Redbridge

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC467847 1 SC467847

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Registered provider: Oak House Children’s Home Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to five children who experience social and emotional difficulties. The provider has another children’s home in the area, and there are close links between the two homes.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post has been vacant since October 2021. A manager has been appointed and started working at the home in February 2023. Ofsted are yet to receive an application to register.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 19 October 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC467847 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

The inspector observed the child to be settled and happy in the home. However, the child’s plan to return to live with their family has been delayed due to the home’s therapist leaving the service. The child’s parent and social worker told the inspector that they were concerned about this delay, which may impact on how long the child is away from their family.

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The care of children

In the main, the child’s healthcare needs are being met. They have access to support in order to promote their physical and emotional well-being. This support enables staff to reflect on and understand the child’s needs. However, staff do not keep full records of all actions they take to provide medical assistance in the event of accidental injuries.

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The care of children

The child is supported to maintain positive relationships with the people who are important to them. They have been able to spend more quality time with their family and have reconnected with their grandparent. As a result, their relationships are strengthened.

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The care of children

Staff from the home and the on-site school have worked together to develop strategies and routines to encourage the child to engage in school. As a result, educational attendance has improved significantly.

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The safety of children

Staff work well together to de-escalate behaviour concerns. However, some staff, including new staff, regularly work alone at night when risks for the child and staff are high. Therefore, strategies to manage escalations in behaviour are reliant on a lone worker contacting emergency services. This potentially impacts on safeguarding practice.

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The safety of children

Allegations against staff are managed well. Staff demonstrate a knowledge of whistle-blowing procedures. This helps staff to keep children safe.

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The safety of children

Staff recruitment is safe and prevents unsuitable people from working at the home. This enhances children’s safety.

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The safety of children

Staff only use physical restraint when it is necessary to safeguard children and others. Following incidents of restraint, children receive support that enables them to reflect on their emotions. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC467847 3

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The leadership and management of the home are not stable. The home has not had a registered manager since October 2021. A fourth manager has been appointed since the full inspection in October 2022 but is yet to apply to register with Ofsted. The instability in the leadership team has impacted on all aspects of the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff have experienced much change in recent months. The manager has worked hard in a short time to begin the home’s improvement journey. One staff member said, ‘Staff say they feel supported by the current manager. Some feel like it’s a lot of changes, some feel that they don’t know how long [name of manager] will be here.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff say they have benefitted from supervision and training in recent months. However, supervision sessions are not consistently recorded. This limits management’s oversight of staff practice and undermines staff’s learning and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Management oversight since the full inspection has been inconsistent and has failed to identify and address shortfalls in the home’s records. Daily records lack sufficient information and do not offer insight into the daily experiences and progress of children. Some records have been deleted or lost. Furthermore, management oversight of serious incidents is not always evident. The limited management oversight undermines children’s safety and welfare and the development of the home. The new manager has implemented new systems for recording and oversight, but these are yet to be embedded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have satisfactorily addressed the requirements made at the last inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC467847 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/10/2021 Full Good 11/11/2019 Full Good 03/01/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC467847 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; and

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the children receive therapeutic intervention as outlined in the statement of purpose to progress their care plans. 30 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

the person is of integrity and good character;

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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; 30 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC467847 6 the person is physically and mentally fit to manage the home; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the person in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 28 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there are effective strategies and shift patterns in place to protect children and staff from known risks at all times. 30 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry.

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Requirement Due date

if the child dies before attaining the age of 18, for 15 years from the date of the child’s death;

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Requirement Due date

in cases not falling within sub-paragraph (a), for 75 years from the child’s date of birth;

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Requirement Due date

securely in the children’s home during the period when the child to whom the case records relate is accommodated there; and

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Requirement Due date

in a secure place after the child has ceased to be accommodated in the home. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the registered person: 30 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC467847 7  develops systems so that records for children are safely stored

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Requirement Due date

 maintains full records of incidents and injuries and ensures children’s records include accurate and full information

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Requirement Due date

 keep full records that demonstrate management oversight of children’s experiences.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the review of the location includes a review of the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)  The registered person should ensure that a note of the content and/or outcomes of group supervision sessions and team meetings are kept. Specifically, this relates to ensuring that good records of the content of group supervision and team development are maintained for the purposes of staff development. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC467847 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oak House Children’s Home Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: A B C Care Solutions, 249 Cranbrook Road, Ilford IG1 4TG

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Inspector

Jayshree Pillay, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC467847 9 inspects 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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