Children's Home run by Oak Childcare Plus Limited in Telford and Wrekin

Inspection report for children’s home: 2674059 1 Registered provider: Oak Childcare Plus Limited

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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 registered with Ofsted in February 2023. It provides care for up to three children who have been affected by adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and complex behaviours. The home is privately owned and forms part of a small social care organisation that offers care and support.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2023. She has submitted her application to de-register and is due to leave her role in September 2024. A new manager has been recruited but has not yet started.

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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: 5 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: 2674059 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/09/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2674059 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were three children living in the home at the time of the inspection. Two were present and spoken to. A third child was on holiday with staff and not present. However, the child was spoken to and provided feedback about their experiences of living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home and no children have left. The move for the child was well planned, and the child was provided with information about the home. The registered manager and staff met with the child to reassure them and answer their questions before they moved in. This reassurance meant that the child felt supported and was prepared for their move into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in the home have made good progress. This is because staff develop and maintain strong and supportive relationships with children. Children said that they are ‘happy’ living in the home, and they feel ‘safe’ and ‘supported’ by staff. These relationships ensure that children’s experiences are positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have high expectations for children and support them to achieve positive outcomes. Children have good school attendance. When children have difficulties at school, staff work collaboratively with education professionals to identify additional support. As a result, children remain in school and make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to contribute and play an active role in their own care planning. Staff have regular meetings with children and use individual discussions to help children reflect on areas of their lives. All children contribute to the decoration of their bedrooms. They also have an input into the meals provided and the activities and holidays that they do.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide an environment that promotes the importance of equality and diversity effectively. One child has been supported to develop and explore their identity positively and safely. Furthermore, staff complete direct work to ensure children are educated on equality and diversity. Children respond well to this approach and are able to express themselves without fear.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff ensure that children stay in touch with their family and friends. Children’s friends are welcomed into the home, and one child’s friends recently attended their birthday party in the home. Furthermore, staff work with children to overcome problems encountered when accessing family time. As a result, children stay in touch with people who are important in their lives. Inspection report for children’s home: 2674059 4

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

Children say they feel safe and well cared for. They know who to talk to if they have worries and feel confident that staff will listen to them. Staff and leaders put in place appropriate boundaries, assess children’s risks well and complete direct work with children to keep them safe.

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

Staff and leaders work effectively to safeguard children at risk of going missing from the home. They work hard to return children to the home when they have gone missing. Return home interviews are conducted, and the registered manager is proactive in working with external agencies, including the police, to keep children safe from exploitation.

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

Staff manage children’s behaviours well. Consequently, there have been no incidents with children that required the use of physical intervention. When staff have had to issue a consequence to children, it was proportionate, appropriate and in line with the restorative approach used by staff.

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

Overall, staff keep children safe online. There are monitoring systems in place to ensure that children are safe when using the internet. Staff work to educate children about online safety. This supports children to develop skills to understand the risks posed by others. However, the surveillance system used to monitor one child’s phone was very intrusive. Consequently, the child remained under surveillance when it was not necessary. While the home’s responsible individual did take action to address the issue, this has the potential to restrict children’s privacy.

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

Staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding and understand how to raise concerns. They pass on important information if they feel a child may be at risk of harm. Overall, allegations are managed well, with comprehensive investigations and appropriate follow- up action. However, there have been some allegations made by children, and staff and the registered manager have not shared the information with the appropriate professionals in the required timeframes. These delays and shortfalls have the potential to compromise children’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced and qualified registered manager leads the home. At the time of the inspection, she was absent, and the inspection was led by the home’s responsible individual. The responsible individual is supportive and has a good oversight of the home. Together, they form a good management team that leads the home well and ensures that children receive good care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are happy working at the home. The home is fully staffed, and they work well together to provide consistent care to children. Most staff are qualified or are working towards the required qualification within the required timescales. Inspection report for children’s home: 2674059 5 The registered manager has good oversight of the home. She makes good use of the audit tools and support systems in place. She knows the home’s strengths and weaknesses and takes action to make improvements. She has a clear vision about how to improve the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training that prepares them for their roles. In addition to mandatory training, they do courses linked to the needs of the children. Furthermore, the registered manager uses supervision and appraisal to support their development. However, the registered manager does not fully use these support systems to empower and develop staff in their roles. Consequently, some staff lack the confidence to use their initiative in their work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and leaders have effective working relationships with a range of agencies. The registered manager is a strong advocate for children and ensures that their best interests are at the heart of staff practice. One professional said that the registered manager ‘was one of the best’ they had worked with. Another said, ‘They are a really good home, which is a credit to the staff for the work they put in and to [the registered manager] as she is really on it.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2674059 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 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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff understand and consistently follow the home’s safeguarding procedures efficiently and effectively when children have made allegations against staff. 11 September 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that surveillance and monitoring systems used to safeguard children when using devices to access the internet do not intrude on children’s privacy. In addition, children’s placing authorities should be aware of the measures in place and provide full written consent. 11 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2674059 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they fully understand the key role they play in the development of staff in the home. The registered person should ensure that staff are encouraged to develop and improve their practice in a supportive manner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11).

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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: 2674059 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oak Childcare Plus Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 3, Oak House, Kingswood Business Park, Holyhead Road, Albrighton WV7 3AU

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Inspector

Dean Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2674059 9 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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