Children's home run by Oxfordshire County Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2791102 1 Registered provider: Oxfordshire County Council

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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 children’s home is operated by a local authority. It is registered to care for up to four children with a wide variety of emotional and learning needs.

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Information about this children’s home

At this inspection there were four children present.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2791102 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children were seen and spoken with as part of this inspection. Two other children were at their schools.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have started to build positive relationships with the children in a short period of time and provide a good standard of care. Staff work hard to develop trusting relationships with children who value their support. Staff are nurturing and patient in their approach. As a result, children feel able to approach staff and ask for their help.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children access a wide variety of activities. These have included a holiday, and activities within the community. Should staff identify barriers that would hamper a child’s ability to access their community, they work hard to reduce these so children remain included in society. These varied opportunities help children to improve their confidence and support them to develop their social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s emotional well-being is always prioritised. This helps the children to better understand the emotions and feelings they experience when they are upset, angry, or sad. This leads to children regulating their feelings better and managing their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use a therapeutic approach in the work that they do with children. Staff spend time with children, and this helps to build trust and confidence in the staff caring for them. Consequently, children can talk to staff about concerns or worries they may have.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have missed significant time in education. The manager and staff have addressed this by identifying and securing the best education package for them. For some children this is a school, for another this is work at a local garage. The manager is realistic about the challenge of all children returning to school. However, in preparation for a return to education, the staff actively engage the children in learning through activities in the community and at home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When it is assessed and appropriate to do so, children are supported to see people who matter to them. When plans impact on children’s stability, managers work closely with agencies to ensure that children only see those people who matter to them when not putting themselves at increased risk.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have begun to create memory books for the children when they leave. These show and celebrate their achievements and children move on with photos of their time at their home. This means that they will have memories of their childhood to reflect on. Inspection report for children’s home: 2791102 3

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

Staff continually build on their knowledge of the children and the most appropriate way to support them and keep them safe. All the children have detailed risk assessments and care plans. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed to accurately reflect levels of risk. These documents provide staff with the necessary guidance on how to meet the children’s needs daily and ensure that they remain safe.

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

There is a clear medication process in place. Staff receive detailed training before they can take the lead in this process. There have been a number of medication errors since registration. When these have been identified, there has been action taken by the managers to make this process safer, for instance medication has now been located elsewhere in the home.

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

Children have formed strong relationships with staff. The bonds between children and staff reinforce the children’s sense of feeling safe. Staff do not shy away from difficult conversations with children if their safety is jeopardised. Rather, staff take a proactive approach and explore any issues in an open and honest manner. This also allows children to feel safe and approach staff when they have their own worries.

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

Incidents have taken place, however, there has been a steady reduction over a short period of time. When they do happen, children seek support earlier or they respond quicker to staff intervention. The overall impact is that the home environment is increasingly a place where the children feel safe. However, the recording of incidents is not always clear.

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

Children have a significant history of going missing from home, although this is reducing. Children have been at risk of exploitation when missing from home and there are concerns about their safety. However, staff take appropriate action if a child is missing from home. They ensure that every effort is made to locate the child and return them home safely. Children are welcomed home. Follow-up work is completed with children around the risks associated with going missing from home. Agencies are appropriately notified.

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

The manager and staff support children to reduce their drug and alcohol use. Staff have constructive discussions with children that are well recorded. They are supporting the child to access services to help them address this.

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

When incidents occur in the home, staff are proactive in their response. Staff can usually de-escalate situations without the need to physically intervene. After every incident, staff engage with the children to explore their feelings about what happened. The manager oversees all incidents, setting actions or identifying learning opportunities. However, staff have not always been consistent in their approach to children’s care, resulting in staff having to resort to one low level physical intervention. Inspection report for children’s home: 2791102 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A committed registered manager leads the home. They are supported by a dedicated deputy manager. As this is a newly registered children’s home, the staff team is new and lacks experience. The manager and deputy manager know the strengths and weaknesses of the team and what they need to do to further develop the staff. Firm plans are in place to drive continual improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The team is new but effective. They are aspirational for all children. The team has an excellent morale and a sense of shared ownership. This ensures a continued and dynamic feeling of improvement for the benefit of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is keen to continually promote staff development. Staff receive regular professional supervision. Knowledge of the children is verified. Development is identified and staff welfare is monitored. Children, therefore, receive individualised care by a team of staff who have a good level of guidance and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff skills are enhanced through individual and group training opportunities that equip them to meet the needs of the children. Staff are qualified or working towards the required qualification. In addition, staff complete training and an array of additional online training. However, not all staff have yet to receive specific training in all aspects of the children’s care needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team are clear about their vision for the home. This is clearly and continually conveyed to staff. Team meetings are held on a regular basis and staff find these beneficial. Staff can share their views openly and feel their views are supported and respected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff work in partnership with external agencies to ensure that the children receive the support they need. Professionals are of the view that the children are making progress and communication from the staff at the home is described as good. Inspection report for children’s home: 2791102 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand factors that affect children’s motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies in line with the children’s relevant plans. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13).  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the homes policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that is helpful to the child. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4).  The registered person should ensure that staff gain skills and experience that enable them to actively support each child to achieve their potential. (‘Guide to

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Recommendations

Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.5).

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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: 2791102 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oxfordshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, New Road, Oxford OX1 1ND

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Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2791102 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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