Children's Home run by Oakley House Children’s Home Limited in Thurrock

Inspection report for children’s home: 2771696 1 Registered provider: Oakley House Childrens Home Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private organisation and provides care for up three children with social and emotional difficulties. There was one child living at the home at the time of this inspection. The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2024.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is the first inspection after registration.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2771696 2

p.1

improvement to be good

This is the home’s first inspection since registration. Since registration, the home has only looked after children for a relatively short period of time. One child lived at the home for two weeks and left in an unplanned way because the staff could not meet their needs. There was one child living at the home at the time of the inspection. This child moved to the home one week before the inspection and did not wish to be spoken to. There has been little evidence of children making progress.

p.2

improvement to be good

Feedback from social workers was mixed. The social worker of the child whose placement ended quickly said that the child did not have a positive experience or make progress. The social worker of the child who is living in the home said that the home has been welcoming. Staff have begun to support the child to access an educational provision.

p.2

improvement to be good

The home is nicely furnished and tastefully decorated throughout. It is homely and inviting for children.

p.2

improvement to be good

Staff have taken children to places of historical interest. Children have enjoyed bowling and board games. The child enjoys playing on the games console with staff.

p.2

improvement to be good

Staff have enabled a child to sustain important relationships in the local area and continue with their membership of local clubs. This has the potential to help the child to maintain a feeling of belonging in the local community.

p.2

improvement to be good

Staff have provided some support to children with their health. Staff have made sure that children are registered with local health agencies and encouraged children to attend appointments.

p.2

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

The staff are clear on how to keep children safe and know how to support children with raising concerns.

p.2

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

Staff are responsive when children go missing from the home. Staff check the local areas and inform the relevant people when children are at risk of harm. One social worker said that they were always informed about incidents involving the child who was living there. However, the strategies to reduce risks were not sufficiently shared with the social worker.

p.2

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

One child, who no longer lives at the home, had a high number of incidents. The risk assessments and safety planning clearly outlined the child’s vulnerability. These provided Inspection report for children’s home: 2771696 3 actions for staff to take to keep the child safe. The plans were updated to reflect changes in the risks to the child.

p.2

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

There has been one occasion where it was necessary for staff to physically intervene to keep everyone safe. The manager ensured that staff received debriefs and consulted with the child after the incident.

p.3

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

Staff use effective behaviour management strategies to support children when they have made mistakes. The staff use restorative methods to help children understand natural consequences when they have made poor decisions.

p.3

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

The staff have effective communication with the local police liaison officer who visits the home.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2024 and has suitable skills and extensive experience. The manager holds the level 5 diploma.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not always notified Ofsted when serious incidents have occurred. This has resulted in Ofsted not having important information that is required to oversee the management of incidents. This has compromised the level of external scrutiny and oversight that could have been in place to ensure that children are safe.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Some important information about who is working with the children in the home is missing from the statement of purpose. This means that professionals have not been provided with all the information they require. Consequently, external professionals may not be alert to potential conflicts of interest if concerns about specific members of staff are raised with them.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager is in the process of building a skilled staff team. Appropriate numbers of staff are now working in the home. However, there are occasions when some cover is needed. The manager covers these shortfalls, taking children to social events and spending time talking to them about their life experiences.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff feel supported by the manager. They receive regular supervision sessions. Staff who require additional support receive this.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have regular training. The manager ensures that staff have the necessary training to meet the specific needs of the children, based on emerging and known risks. Inspection report for children’s home: 2771696 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.4

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)) 30 September

p.4

Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 16 (3)(a))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the statement of purpose clearly sets out details of who to contact if a person has a complaint about the home, taking into account potential conflicts of interest. 30 September

p.4

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: 2771696 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oakley House Childrens Home Limited

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 413 High Street, Stratford, London E15 4QZ

p.5

Inspector

Dan Williams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2771696 6 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.

p.5

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6