Children's Home run by Acorns to Oaks Children’s Care & Support Limited in Wirral

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2690420 1 SC2690420

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Registered provider: Acorns to Oaks Children’s Care & Support 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 owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager has recently been appointed and has submitted her application to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 31 January 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 31 January 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors 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: 2690420 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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Findings from the inspection

Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. One child spoke to inspectors about their experience in the home and how they liked living there. The child said that they have positive relationships with the staff and other children living in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is modern and well maintained. Children are supported to develop a sense of belonging and to take pride in where they live. Children’s bedrooms have been redecorated and personalised. This provides children with a secure base.

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Findings from the inspection

Not all children are in full-time education. The staff are proactive in identifying schools suitable to meet the needs of children, and they support children with individual tuition as an interim measure. This ensures that children are supported with their learning.

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Findings from the inspection

Behaviour management in the home is effective. Staff take the time to support children to manage their feelings and emotions and reflect on incidents. As a result, there has not been a need to hold children to keep them safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Allegations are managed well. The manager has ensured that allegations made by children have been investigated and shared with professionals. Children have been made aware of outcomes and have been supported throughout the process. This reassures children that they are listened to and that their safety is a priority.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities well and know how to keep them safe. Individualised risk plans provide staff with useful information and guidance. However, clear guidance is limited regarding the specific actions for staff to take when children display self-injurious behaviour. This was a requirement from the last inspection and has been restated.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a change in management since the previous inspection. The registered manager resigned, and a new acting manager is now in post. She is experienced in supporting children in residential childcare.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has ensured that all staff have completed training specific to the individual needs of children. This ensures that staff have the knowledge of how to support children effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive regular supervision. The manager has developed a system that allows her to discuss training attended by the team and how staff will incorporate this into their day-to-day practice. This is a further opportunity to assess the knowledge of staff and the effectiveness of the training. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2690420 3 Team meetings take place regularly and provide staff with the opportunity to reflect on children’s progress. The manager has begun to incorporate research and development to further develop staff practice in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Monitoring systems are not robust. Leaders and managers were not aware that children did not have the required statutory documentation until it was identified by inspectors. The manager took immediate action to address this during the inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2690420 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2690420 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 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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)(a)(i)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children’s risk plans contain clear steps for staff to follow to keep children safe.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 22 March 2024

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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 kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all children have up-to-date statutory plans in place. 22 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2690420 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorns to Oaks Children’s Care & Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 3, 125-129 Witton Street, Northwich CW9 5DY

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Inspectors

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Zillah Brooks, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2690420 7 regulates and 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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