Children's Home run by Care Acre Limited in Oxfordshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2663781 1 Registered provider: Care Acre 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 children’s home is registered to provide care for up to three children. The statement of purpose states that the function of the home is to provide 24-hour individualised care and support for children aged between 10 and 17 years with social and emotional difficulties because of early-life trauma, complex or challenging behaviour, neglect and/or family breakdown or disruption.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in the home since 30 January 2022.

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Inspection date: 9 January 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 9 January 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, 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: 2663781 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified no serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

A new manager and responsible individual have been appointed since the last full inspection in April 2023. The new manager has applied to register with Ofsted, and suitability checks are underway.

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Findings from the inspection

There are sufficient staff working in the home to support the two children currently living there. Since the last full inspection, staff have received a variety of training to help upskill and develop their understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

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Findings from the inspection

The new manager acknowledges that staff require additional training in understanding childhood trauma and there are plans for staff to receive this training within the next six months.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff respond appropriately to child welfare concerns. They work in collaboration with relevant professionals and services to inform safety plans that identify and guide staff to help manage children’s risks and vulnerabilities.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last full inspection, both the new manager and the responsible individual have brought an abundance of change, including a new electronic recording and auditing system. Its infancy means that there is little evidence of continual reviews of managerial oversight and subsequent action. However, the new leaders demonstrate a clear commitment to children and the quality of care they receive.

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Findings from the inspection

When staff make a medication mistake, leaders are quick to carry out a fact-finding investigation to help understand what went wrong and why. These reviews are then used to inform individual staff development and, where necessary, wider operational changes, for example around the creation of specific medication roles, delegated daily tasks and how staff sign medication in and out of the home. This is helping to reduce staff medication errors.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last full inspection, the director has commissioned an external consultant to support the new leadership team. The consultant has delivered directed learning for managers and carried out fact-finding and internal investigations where necessary. This is strengthening staff practice and helping improve regulated standards.

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Findings from the inspection

New staff said that they feel welcome and well supported by the manager. However, not all line managers are carrying out supervisions in accordance with the organisation’s policies. This is a missed opportunity for managers to evidence that staff are being supported to professionally develop in their roles.

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Findings from the inspection

All the requirements from the last full inspection have been met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2663781 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/09/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2663781 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, 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 ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive supervision in line with the organisation’s policies. 17 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2663781 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 36 Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1RB

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Inspector

Kelly Monniot, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2663781 6 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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