Children's home run by Onextra Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2616383 1 Registered provider: Onextra Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, two children were living in the home. They spoke to the inspector about their experiences of living there.

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Information about this children’s home

An interim manager is in post. He has not submitted his application to register 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

Date of last inspection: 27 September 2023

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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: 2616383 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/09/2023 Full Good 20/07/2022 Full Good 01/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2616383 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living in the home. They feel safe, loved and well cared for. One child said, ‘The house is nice and staff are good carers.’ The other child, who has lived in the home for nearly three years, said, ‘It’s good living here.’ Staff provide a high standard of care and are committed to improving outcomes for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are dedicated to meeting the needs of children. Relationships between staff and children are positive. Children enjoy spending time with staff inside and outside of the home. Children are provided with different ways to express their views, wishes and feelings. They feel able to talk to staff about any worries or concerns. Consequently, children feel listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and encourage children to make progress in education and are ambitious for them to do well. Staff have advocated for children to receive alternative education to meet their needs. Children have been helped to secure positive outcomes for their next stage in education. Children are aspirational about their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them. They are helped to have overnight stays with their family and friends. Staff are committed, in the best interests of children, to building and maintaining close links with family members.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s interests are nurtured, and they are involved in a variety of fulfilling activities, including go-karting, boxing, football and cricket. One child, who is interested in construction, has proudly assisted the maintenance manager around the home and in the garden. Staff take children on day trips and holidays abroad, which children help to plan.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a home that is modern and welcoming. Communal areas are comfortable and homely. Children’s bedrooms are furnished to meet their needs and decorated based on their choices. However, it was identified during inspection that there are loose blind cords on window fittings, which may pose a hazard to some children.

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

Children are safe and protected. Their risks and vulnerabilities are well understood. Children’s risk plans are thorough, individualised and clear. Direct work is regularly carried out with children. It is of a high quality and helps them to understand issues relevant to them. Children are supported to manage their behaviour and emotions safely.

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

Children are encouraged to develop their skills in preparation for becoming more independent. Thoughtful planning is in place to help children learn how to budget, shop Inspection report for children’s home: 2616383 4 and cook their own meals. One child who enjoys attending a gym regularly is now able to make their own travel arrangements. This supports their social development and helps to improve their self-confidence.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home, and staff have not needed to physically hold children to keep them safe. This indicates that children feel settled and secure at the home.

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

Staff are fully focused on the children. They are trained in a therapeutic model that is used in their day-to-day practice for the benefit of the children. The children and staff are supported by an in-house therapist.

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

Appropriate and consistent boundaries are in place, providing a stable and safe environment. Rules and boundaries are regularly reviewed to meet the changing needs of the children. Positive behaviour is routinely promoted and rewarded in the home, which the children respond well to.

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

Routine recruitment practices are in place; however, references from a previous employer were not obtained for a recent appointment. This means that the management team is not clear about the suitability of all staff working with children and does not ensure that only staff who are suitable to work with children are employed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is new to the role. He is passionate about the welfare of the children and is committed to providing a stable, loving and well-run home. The manager is fully involved in the children’s lives and is an effective and reliable advocate for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is held in high regard by staff, the children, their families and other professionals. Staff feel supported and valued by him. One staff member described the manager as ‘amazing’ because he is ‘patient and encouraging’. Morale is high and staff love working at the home. Staff work well together as a team. Communication is excellent and handover arrangements are thorough.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from monthly supervision sessions and regular team meetings that provide them with opportunities for reflection and learning. There is a strong culture of openness and a willingness to improve practice. Research is regularly used to develop knowledge, skills and practice. The manager has high expectations for himself, the children and the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are provided with a good range of relevant training that equips them with the right skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the children in their care. New staff benefit from a thorough induction programme. Inspection report for children’s home: 2616383 5 The manager has completed a quality of care report to review children’s experiences. However, this has not been sent to Ofsted within the given timescale, which limits the opportunity of the regulator to understand the service. Inspection report for children’s home: 2616383 6

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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 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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when efforts to obtain employment references are unsuccessful, there is a clear rationale and risk assessment for employment. 16 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review 16 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2616383 7 and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (3) (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and the registered provider—

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the manager submits their application to register with Ofsted within the specified time frame. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b)) 31 May 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that window fittings do not present any hazards. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: 2616383 8

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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: 2616383 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Onextra Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 443 Houldsworth Business & Arts Centre, Houldsworth Street, Stockport SK5 6DA

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Inspector

Zillah Brooks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2616383 10 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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