Children's home run by Oaktree Childcare Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2550082 1 Registered provider: Oaktree Childcare 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 run by a private organisation and is registered to care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Inspection date: 25 March 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 March 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. The inspector has 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: 2550082 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

On the day of the inspection there were no children living at the home. There have not been any children living at the home since October 2023.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is decorated to a good standard. Repairs to the home have been completed to ensure that the home is well presented for when children move in. However, some improvement is needed to the rear garden. Specifically, the fencing needs to be repaired.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff recognise the value of familial relationships being maintained and support children to remain in contact with their family. This helps children retain a sense of belonging.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders, managers and staff understand the benefits of children accessing education. They have created detailed education courses for children to complete if they are not in school, to support their learning and development.

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Findings from the inspection

The approach to behaviour management is ineffective. Leaders, managers and staff do not demonstrate that they teach children about acceptable social behaviour by putting consequences in place when children act in a manner that is inappropriate.

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Findings from the inspection

The recruitment process promotes children’s welfare and safety. Leaders and managers ensure that safer recruitment is followed to reduce the risk of children being cared for by harmful adults.

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Findings from the inspection

Incident records are thoroughly reviewed by the manager. Furthermore, leaders and managers ensure that there is a reflective discussion with staff involved to understand if there are any additional support needs to improve staff practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers ensure that incidents of restraint are recorded in accordance with legislation. Records contain a detailed account of the incident, consultation with the child and management oversight. This gives leaders and managers the opportunity to identify and address unsafe practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, a new manager has been appointed who has submitted her application to be registered. The manager is qualified and has vast experience of working in residential care.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is well resourced. Leaders and managers have recruited six new staff. This is a team with varied and relevant experience. Furthermore, a comprehensive induction training programme has been delivered to ensure that staff understand the home’s policies and procedures and the expectations of leaders and managers around the care provided to children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2550082 3 Care planning arrangements for children moving into the home are not satisfactory. Leaders and managers have been unable to demonstrate that before accepting one child into the home, the capacity of staff to meet their needs was considered. Failure to do so resulted in the child experiencing unstable care due to them leaving the home prematurely. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2550082 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/04/2022 Full Good 18/11/2021 Interim Improved effectiveness 02/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2550082 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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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

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(b) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(xi)) 20 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 20 May 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2550082 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, children should have planned arrangements in place when they move into and out of the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2550082 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oaktree Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ground Floor, Seneca House, Links Point, Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool FY4 2FF

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Inspector

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2550082 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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