Children's home run by Oak House Children's Home Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 1 Registered provider: Oak House Children’s Home Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It provides care for up to 12 children who experience social and emotional difficulties and who may have learning disabilities and experienced trauma that has left them vulnerable. At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is a separately registered independent school on the same site as the home. The inspector only inspected the social care provision.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the home in October 2024.

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

Date of last inspection: 19 September 2023

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/09/2023 Full Good 31/10/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 3

p.2

improvement to be good

This inspection was brought forward to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

p.3

improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, three children have moved into the home and three children have moved on from the home. All three children living in the home were spoken to and contributed to the inspection.

p.3

improvement to be good

Poor staff practice has meant that a child has not received appropriate help and protection. This is combined with several weaknesses in the leadership and management of the home. Collectively, these have undermined children’s experiences. Despite these shortfalls, the children are settled and making some progress.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff have positive relationships with children. Children take part in frequent one-to-one discussions with staff, and their views are explored and responded to. However, not all children have access to independent advocacy. The absence of independent advocacy for children who have difficulties expressing themselves potentially limits the extent to which children influence decisions about their care.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are unable to access designated staff toilets in the communal areas of the home. These restrictions do not reflect a homely, accessible environment. Leaders and managers made the necessary changes during the inspection.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are helped to attend school or engage in home tutoring. When children are on a reduced timetable, staff ensure that additional support is in place to support their learning. This includes one child exploring apprenticeships and work experience.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are supported to improve their emotional well-being. All children have regular meetings with the in-house therapist. Support is adapted to each child at a pace that is right for them so that they can begin to reflect on their past trauma.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff provide a positive range of activities which reflect children’s interests. This has included trips to theme parks and short breaks away to beach resorts. Children have access to an on-site gym and a one-to-one personal trainer. This helps children to stay active and live healthier lifestyles.

p.3

improvement to be good

The home is well maintained and in good decorative condition. Individual self-contained apartments are spacious and decorated in line with children’s preferences. Inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 4

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff have not always followed the home’s safeguarding procedures. On one occasion, highly concerning staff practice was not reported for two days. This is despite two members of staff being present. This meant that the necessary protective measures were not considered for the child when they should have been. Consequently, the risk of harm increased for the child during this time. When leaders and managers were alerted to this concern, they took prompt action to safeguard the child.

p.4

improvement to be good

Safe recruitment processes for permanent staff are suitable. Agency staff are used at times. However, leaders and managers have not ensured that recruitment records for agency staff contain all the required information. This does not reduce the potential for unsuitable people to gain employment at the home.

p.4

improvement to be good

There have been incidents of children seeking to go missing from the home. On these occasions, staff have responded appropriately. They try to locate children and proactively work with social care professionals and the police. Missing-from-home records are detailed. However, when children return, they do not always receive an independent return home interview. There is no evidence that leaders and managers have challenged placing authorities to carry out these important interviews.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff have received fire safety training. Individual evacuation plans are devised with children, and regular fire drills take place. However, at the time of the inspection, five fire doors did not self-close. These shortfalls were not identified by staff, despite regular fire safety checks taking place. This can increase the risk to children and staff in the event of a fire.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children’s behaviour support plans contain clear strategies that guide staff to manage risks for children. Staff follow these strategies to reduce risks. One child has recently made positive progress in managing their emotions due to staff’s support. This has led to a significant decrease in risks for this child.

p.4

improvement to be good

Several restraints have been necessary. These have been used as a last resort to keep children and staff safe. Staff are appropriately trained. Leaders and managers ensure that children are given the opportunity to share their views following an incident.

p.4

improvement to be good

Leaders and managers respond to allegations of harm appropriately. This includes referrals to the local authority designated officer and thorough investigations into staff practice. Since the last inspection, three concerns have been substantiated. Suitable action has been taken on these occasions to address the identified poor staff practice.

p.4

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

The home has not had a registered manager since October 2024. The previous deputy manager has been appointed to manage the home and is in the process of registering with Ofsted. Staff and professionals have highlighted that this change has been managed Inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 5 smoothly. The new manager is child focused and recognises that there are improvements needed in relation to the quality of care currently provided.

p.4

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

Leaders and managers have failed to fully implement the organisation’s conflict of interest policy in relation to personal relationships between staff. When this was reviewed by leaders and managers, identified actions were not monitored or shared with senior staff. As a result, actions to reduce the identified risks were not followed and the risks increased during an incident with a child.

p.5

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

Leaders and managers have failed to promptly notify Ofsted about two allegations against a staff member at the home. This means that Ofsted’s capacity to monitor leaders and managers’ responses to safeguarding concerns has been reduced on these occasions.

p.5

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

Leaders and managers have established managerial monitoring systems, which are generally effective. However, one child’s risk assessment has not been updated to reflect the current strategies in managing the child’s risks around the use of their mobile phone. This could potentially lead to inconsistencies in staff practice.

p.5

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

External monitoring by an independent person provides an appropriate level of scrutiny. However, the independent person does not always spend time with children or explore their views during these visits. Additionally, a high number of these visits are announced. Therefore, the additional safeguards intended by this form of monitoring are not always realised.

p.5

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

Staff are trained in a range of areas that enhance their skills. These include responding to risks of substance misuse and exploitation. However, not all staff have received training in relation to safeguarding children with disabilities. This does not ensure that all staff have the necessary skills to understand and safely respond to all the children’s needs. In addition, three staff members have not completed their level 3 qualification within the required time frame.

p.5

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

Staff say that they feel well supported by leaders and managers. Regular supervision sessions take place which provide suitable reflection and development opportunities for staff. Staff meetings are child centred and well attended. Leaders and managers ensure that staff inductions are monitored and carried out effectively.

p.5

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

The new manager advocates well for children. This has included challenge to education professionals when they recognised that a child’s school was not suitable. This meant that the child moved to a more appropriate school in accordance with their wishes. Inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 6

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff understand and follow the arrangements for reporting safeguarding concerns without delay. 31 December 2024

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 31 December 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 7 (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must: review and monitor senior staff handovers to enable important information to be shared and followed; ensure that children’s risk assessments reflect the current agreed strategies to reduce risks to children.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 31 December 2024

p.7

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.7

Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

p.7

Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced. (Regulation 44 (2)(a) (3)) 31 December 2024

p.7

Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

p.7

Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

p.7

Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

p.7

Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b)) 28 February 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 8

p.7

Recommendations

 The registered person should explore the use of non-instructed advocacy for children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.16)  The registered person should ensure that systems for monitoring and addressing shortfalls in fire protection measures are effective. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that they challenge placing authorities when independent return home interviews are not offered following a child going missing from the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. In particular, they should ensure that all staff attend training around safeguarding children with disabilities. (‘Guide to the

p.8

Recommendations

Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should ensure that they maintain good employment practice that safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. In particular, confirmation of all Schedule 2 checks for agency staff should be obtained before their deployment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

p.8

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: 2661987 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oak House Children’s Home Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: ABC Care Solutions, 249 Cranbrook Road, Ilford IG1 4TG

p.9

Inspector

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 10 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.9

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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10