Children's Home run by Linden Oak Homes Ltd in Surrey

Inspection report for children's home: 2737081 1 Registered provider: Linden Oak Homes Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties. There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 10 May 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: 25 January 2024

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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: 2737081 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2737081 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff provide good-quality care that is specific to the children’s diverse needs. Because of this, the children make clear progress. Staff have a strong knowledge of each child’s needs and work together to ensure good outcomes for the children. Staff have built positive, trusting relationships with the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The parent of one child who no longer lives at the home has continued to feel well supported. Staff have kept in touch with the child. This helps them to see that staff think of and care about them. Social workers speak positively about their relationships with the home. They are positive about the progress that children make.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work with the children to ensure that they make progress in all areas of their lives. One child who previously refused to go to school now attends college full time. The staff are helping them think about their future. Staff provide good-quality education support to one child while they find them a suitable education provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Improved boundaries and daily routines have led to significant improvement in children’s sleep patterns. This has enabled better involvement in daytime activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The therapeutic ethos of the home means that children receive care from staff committed to their emotional and social well-being. Regular direct-work sessions with staff help children to understand their experiences, while also learning coping mechanisms at a basic level. Additionally, children receive therapeutic input from qualified therapists.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of children expressing their views. Children have many opportunities to express their views and wishes. This helps them to feel respected and valued. For example, staff consult children about the decor in the house, including personalising their rooms. Children have a say in the activities that they do. Staff are particularly creative in the way that they gather the views of one child who has additional communication needs. This enables their engagement in the process.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have good experiences. They have opportunities to interact positively with staff. There is laughter in the house and a relaxed atmosphere. Children have a wide range of activities available to them and they have choices. This contributes to happy confident children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff manage moves into and out of the home well. They are managed sensitively and happen at the child’s pace. As a result, children’s experiences of moving in are positive. Inspection report for children's home: 2737081 4

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

Good safeguarding arrangements are in place. There has been only one safeguarding incident since the last inspection. This was appropriately managed. The manager kept Ofsted updated on any developments. Staff know how to keep children safe. They know how to manage incidents that include any allegations against their colleagues.

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

The staff have a good understanding of risk and work with the children around this. The detailed risk assessments are clear. Staff know how identified risks are mitigated. The support provided by staff helps children to become safer. The children feel safe and develop strong relationships with the staff.

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

Staff know what to do should a child go missing from home. There has been only one such incident since the last inspection and staff dealt with this appropriately.

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

Staff adhere to risk assessments about children’s online safety. This helps keep the children safe online. Children know there are protective apps on their electronic devices. They understand the need to be safe online.

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

The staff manage difficult behaviour and tricky situations effectively. The children have comprehensive individual behaviour management plans which staff follow. The regular direct-work sessions that staff hold with the children are a positive way of reflecting on behaviours, with a view to making changes. Staff provide clear and consistent boundaries. This contributes to a feeling of well-being and security for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team is ambitious for the children in their care. They are creative and have high expectations for what the children can achieve. They expect staff to encourage the children and ensure that they have space to grow and develop. Managers know and understand the progress that children make. They ensure that children have consistent opportunities to develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported. Supervisions are of a good standard. However, not all staff have received an appraisal in the past year. A good induction programme is in place for new staff. Staff undertake suitable training that is relevant to the needs of the children. Staff are positive about the quality of this training. They value the fact that senior leaders provide good career development opportunities that include training to prepare them for senior positions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers know the home’s strengths and areas for development. The management team has developed good relationships with partner professionals. They regularly meet with people in the children’s network to ensure that they are up to date and understand any emerging support needs the children may have. Inspection report for children's home: 2737081 5 Leaders and managers work to ensure inclusion in the home. They provide activities for children that help them to feel accepted and included. The staff team is diverse, and this further promotes inclusion in the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2737081 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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c)) 31 March 2025

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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: 2737081 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Linden Oak Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 112 Morden Road, London SW19 3BP

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Inspector

Vevene Muhammad, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2737081 8 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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