Children's Home run by Action for Children in Oxfordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2784684 1 Registered provider: Action for Children

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care for up to six children who have physical and learning disabilities. There were five children in the home at the time of inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the first inspection after registration.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2784684 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive relationships with staff, who nurture and care for them. Staff are skilled and knowledgeable about the individual needs of the children. Children experience warm and considerate interactions with staff. Children have fun at the home and are encouraged by staff to expand their experiences and make memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is child centred and provides space, giving children areas to stay together or separate if they wish. For example, there is a sensory room, spacious lounge, and a large garden where children can play safely. Children personalise their bedrooms and have favourite items and toys. Photos are beautifully displayed around the home; this helps children to feel positive about themselves and enhances their self- esteem. However, there are missed opportunities to fully showcase children’s achievements and progress, and some areas of the home need improvement to make it cosier.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to enjoy a range of physically and emotionally stimulating activities, such as arts and crafts, trips to the parks and shops and playing games. Children were seen enjoying the paddling pool, sensory room and washing cars. These experiences have a positive impact on children’s lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are sought regularly and are valued. Staff listen to children and support them to have a say in the way that they are cared for. This is through key-work sessions and meetings, and some children write their ‘all about me’ plans with staff who know them well. Staff have a sound understanding of children’s communication methods and their preferences, and support children to have their say. However, staff do not use these tools consistently and not all staff have received relevant training in this area. This has the potential to negatively impact on some children’s ability to share their views, wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s time with families is promoted well and is a clear focus for staff at the home. Staff show sensitivity when managing and supporting family relationships and work in partnership to support what matters most to children. One parent said, ‘I receive monthly newsletters, the home is a wonderful place and I rate it one hundred percent. My child has come on leaps and bounds.’

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

Staff understand the organisation’s safeguarding policies and procedures. They know how to raise concerns and who to contact for immediate advice or support. Safeguarding incidents are managed effectively in order to ensure that children and staff are safeguarded. There are strong links with the local authority designated officer, and children’s risk management plans are detailed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2784684 3 Children receive the help and support that they need to manage their behaviours safely. Children’s individual vulnerabilities and associated risks are known and understood by staff, who are kept informed of changes through daily handovers and regular team meetings.

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

Children’s needs are well understood by staff, who are attentive to any changes outside of children’s usual presentations. Children’s anxieties, as communicated through behaviours, are well documented through incident reports. The use of physical intervention to manage children’s behaviour is kept to a minimum and there is a strong emphasis on de-escalation. As a result, staff are skilled in keeping children safe and are committed to providing an environment in which children can thrive.

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

The process for recruiting new staff is thorough. The organisation has a good system in place to ensure that all the necessary checks are carried out prior to new staff joining. This reduces the potential for unsuitable adults to be employed at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has good knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The development plan highlights areas for change and improvement. The registered manager demonstrates a dedicated commitment and are a strong advocate for children. This ensures that children receive good quality care and that the best outcomes can be achieved for them. The independent person provides a good level of external scrutiny and makes helpful suggestions regarding practice development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has effective monitoring systems in place. Leaders and managers review case records for all children, key-worker’s and children’s meetings, as well as incidents and safeguarding concerns. As a result of this monitoring and oversight, the management team has knowledge of the children’s day-to-day experiences and a well-rounded view of the progress that the children make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported in their roles. They receive good management support through effective supervision that provides them with space to reflect on their own individual practice. Team meetings have also enhanced staff knowledge and skills. Staff respect and value leaders and managers. One staff member said, ‘It has been a difficult time with the change in provider, but the managers have been amazing.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management arrangements in place provide a supportive, collaborative and caring culture within the home for everyone. There is a real sense of teamwork and strong working relationships between staff, who acknowledge difficulties and support each other.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Positive partnership working helps to build trust and engagement. Social workers are positive about their working relationships with the registered manager and staff and say that they are kept well informed. Professionals say that communication with the home is excellent. This demonstrates a culture of openness that ensures that children benefit Inspection report for children’s home: 2784684 4 from meaningful joint work. One social worker said, ‘Staff are absolutely amazing, [and are] creative in supporting and advocating for children.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2784684 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive training in children’s communication aids. 6 September 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home provides a homely, nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children. This is in relation to redecoration and making the home cosy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff recognise and celebrate the achievements of children. This is in relation to showcasing children’s achievements around the home for everyone to see. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.7)

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: 2784684 6 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: 2784684 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Action for Children

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Action for Children, 3 The Boulevard, Ascot Road, Watford WD18 8AG

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Maria Papastratigaki

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Inspectors

Hannah Cox, Social Care Inspector Louise Webling, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2784684 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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