Children's Home run by Oakley House Kent in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: 2625170 1 Registered provider: Oakley House (Kent) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home 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

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager in day-to-day charge of the home has applied to be registered with Ofsted.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2625170 2

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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: 2625170 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living at the home benefits from positive and trusting relationships with staff and predictable daily routines. This makes her feel safe and well cared for. As a result, she has made significant progress in the short time that she has lived in the home, particularly in relation to her self-confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child, her family and her social worker recognise the good progress that she is making. A family member told the inspector that she was impressed with how patient the staff are, and was complimentary of the care and support provided. When the family member raised an issue of concern, it was acknowledged and addressed promptly by the manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and her team proactively support the child’s education. The child has a dedicated tutor who visits daily, and the child is engaging positively. Her enthusiasm for learning and her confidence are growing as a result. When she is not with her tutor, the staff are creative in arranging meaningful activities in the local community. There are plenty of books and games available in the home to support learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The house is well maintained and comfortable. It has recently been redecorated and there are photos and pictures on the walls that reflect the child’s interests and identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s views are sought and valued. Staff support her to express these during weekly meetings. Progress is recorded in regular key-work sessions. Following incidents, staff help the child to reflect on how to better manage her emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with health professionals to ensure that the child’s health needs are managed effectively, and all necessary appointments are attended. Where appointments have been cancelled or there are delays for assessments or treatment, the manager proactively advocates for the child to get the support that she needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work well with the child’s family, and the relationship is supported sensitively. This is a particular strength of the home. As a result, significant relationships are maintained, and clear progress is being made towards long-term care plans.

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

The child living at the home told the inspector that she felt safe and well looked after. She knows who to speak to if she has any worries or complaints. There are sufficient staff available during the day and at night to meet her needs.

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

The manager and the staff have a clear understanding of the child’s risks, vulnerabilities and strengths. Risk management plans are in place. However, the use Inspection report for children’s home: 2625170 4 of a generic risk assessment framework means that the plans do not fully describe how to reduce risks that are specific to the child.

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

Incidents that require physical restraint are reducing. When they do occur, the registered manager carries out a thorough review with the child and staff involved to explore what happened and to look at ways to reduce the risk of further incidents occurring.

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

There is a protocol in place for managing allegations against staff. This would benefit from sign-off by external safeguarding professionals. In practice, when children make allegations about staff, managers respond robustly to ensure the safety of children.

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

Recruitment procedures lack curiosity and vigour. Specifically, a full employment history, together with clear explanations of gaps in employment, are not routinely requested. As a result, staff recruitment files do not fully evidence a high level of scrutiny. During the inspection, the manager agreed to carry out a review of all staff recruitment as a priority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is effectively supported by a newly appointed operational manager and the responsible individual. The staff speak positively about the managers and have confidence in them. This contributes to stability and a sense of purpose within the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The senior management team has a well-informed awareness of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. They have made some improvements to practice since the last inspection. For example, staffing ratios and rotas have been reviewed and changed, and there are new medication administration and recording systems in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works closely with the child’s family and with other professionals. The child’s social worker speaks positively about the quality of care and progress that the child is making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision and appraisals are not being carried out at agreed intervals. As a result, there are missed opportunities to reflect on the development needs of the staff team. The manager is addressing this with support from the operations manager and responsible individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff feel well supported, talk positively about the home, and say that the management team is available and visible. One staff member told the inspector, ‘I feel very optimistic about my future here and it is refreshing to have bosses who want to push staff to higher levels.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and staff are encouraged to share their views and discuss and review practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2625170 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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 3 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 3 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2625170 6

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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: 2625170 7

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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

Mike Simmonds, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2625170 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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