Children's Home run by Oak Childcare Plus Limited in Telford and Wrekin

Inspection report for children's home: 2674059 1 Registered provider: Oak Childcare Plus Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in February 2023. It provides care for up to three children who have been affected by adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and complex behaviours. The home is privately owned and forms part of a small social care organisation which offers care and support.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first inspection since it registered.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2674059 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home was registered, two children, who are siblings, have moved into the home. These moves were carefully planned and well managed. The registered manager carried out a thorough assessment of the children’s needs before they moved into the home. This well-planned approach helped the children to settle quickly into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team is experienced, stable and supportive in its approach. Staff know the children well and provide care that is specific and individualised to meet children’s needs. Children are valued and their voices are heard. They are listened to and their wishes are acted on. This helps children to develop positive relationships with staff who they trust.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children are fully engaged in full-time education at mainstream schools. Good communication between staff and education professionals contributes to the progress that children make. In addition, the registered manager attends regular meetings with school staff to help the children to overcome their barriers to learning. This is significant for both children and their attendance has improved since moving into the home. One education professional said, ‘We are happy with the support we receive from carers and the support and care that both children are getting from [name of home].’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the importance of equality and diversity very well. They complete meaningful and specific key-work sessions with children. Furthermore, staff use external resources in their work and are creative in their approach to engaging children. One child has developed the confidence to discuss and explore their own identity with staff. The quality of this work allows children to learn about and respect other people’s cultures and identities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to stay connected to those people who are important in their lives. Staff ensure that children spend quality time regularly with their friends and family. Also, staff and the registered manager work effectively with professionals to make sure children’s time with loved ones is positive. One parent said, ‘The home is amazing. Communication is good, they help me to see [the children]. For me, I give it top marks.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work effectively with health professionals to support the needs of children. Both children are registered with and receive appropriate support from the relevant health professionals. However, systems for administering children’s medication require improvement. For example, staff have not consistently administered medication at the correct time and, on one occasion, they failed to administer a controlled drug to a child. In addition, staff have failed to follow the home’s policy to seek advice from a medical practitioner when a child has refused to take controlled medication. While the registered manager has carried out learning reviews and put Inspection report for children's home: 2674059 3 in place additional measures to make improvements, these shortfalls have the potential to leave children vulnerable.

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

Children told the inspector that they feel safe in the home. Staff know them well and understand their needs. Also, staff and the registered manager ensure that known risks are regularly reviewed and that children’s plans provide up-to-date and clear strategies to keep children safe. As a result, significant incidents are rare, and children are settled.

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

Since the home was registered, there have been no incidents when children have gone missing from the home. However, children’s plans are regularly updated, and staff know what action to take should a child go missing. In addition, protocols have been reviewed with the relevant external professionals. This approach helps to demonstrate to children that staff care about their welfare.

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

Internet safety systems in the home are good. Staff and the registered manager respond quickly to any potential concerns. Staff carry out checks of children’s devices if they have any concerns for children’s welfare and take appropriate action to safeguard them. Safety work completed with children is creative, informative and proactive. Consequently, children can access the internet and networks to communicate with their friends safely.

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

Staff work restoratively with children to help them learn from their experiences and behaviour. Children are encouraged to be polite and respectful to one another. Staff manage incidents between children well and direct work around promoting positive relationships is good. This restorative approach means that the number of negative consequences used and incidents requiring physical restraint with children are low.

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

Staff take immediate action when children disclose sensitive information relating to their previous experiences. The registered manager ensures that action is taken to protect children in line with the home’s safeguarding policies. She also ensures that advice from external professionals is acted on and children are kept up to date. These actions reassure children and promote their safety and well-being.

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

Children are protected by the registered manager’s effective recruitment practices. Staff are vetted and assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. This helps to prevent unsuitable adults working with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is a suitably experienced, organised and confident practitioner. She advocates well for children and holds professionals to account to meet children’s needs. For example, she raised a complaint against health professionals due to errors made in misdiagnosing one child’s wrist injury following an accident. In addition, the registered manager has worked effectively with the children’s independent reviewing officer to ensure that the children take part in their Inspection report for children's home: 2674059 4 own reviews separately. As a result, children feel valued and share very good relationships with the registered manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about working in the home and feel supported. The supervision and learning development systems used are reflective and give staff feedback on their performance. Staff are encouraged to share their views and contribute their views to the running of the home. As a result, staff feel appreciated and happy, which contributes to the good care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff complete training and learning which is specific to the children’s needs. Leaders are imaginative and provide additional training and upskilling opportunities to develop staff. For example, they have created and acted out scenarios in team meetings to test staff’s understanding and responses to children’s behaviour. Six out of nine staff are suitably qualified, and the other staff are working towards the qualification within the regulatory timescale.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders use monitoring systems which are detailed and effective. They understand the home’s strengths and areas for development and generate actions to develop the quality of care for children. The home’s formal quality of care review assesses the home well and captures the views, wishes and feelings of children to inform practice. In addition, an independent person visits the home every month and has good oversight of children’s care. This effective oversight helps to develop and improve the care children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from external professionals is very positive about the home and the manager. One professional said, ‘Both children have done amazing since being in the home. [Name of manager] is brilliant. We have a great working relationship. We discuss and resolve issues together and communication is excellent.’ Inspection report for children's home: 2674059 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, The 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 make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that controlled medication is administered to children as prescribed. In addition, the registered person should ensure that staff follow the home’s policies and seek medical advice when a child refuses to take controlled medication as prescribed. 11 October 2023

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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: 2674059 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oak Childcare Plus Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 3, Oak House, Kingswood Business Park, Holyhead Road, Albrighton WV7 3AU

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Inspector

Dean Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2674059 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 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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