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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 1 Registered provider: Oak House Childrens Home Limited

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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 home provides care for up to 12 children with social and emotional difficulties and who may have learning disabilities.

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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.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the home in October 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 20 November 2024

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 2

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Findings from the inspection

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

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. One of the children contributed to the inspection. One child was missing from the home during the inspection, and another child did not share their views with the inspector.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff know the children well and understand their individual needs. Children have established trusting relationships with staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff provide children with frequent opportunities to reflect on their experiences and behaviour. Planned one-to-one discussions help children to express their feelings and reflect on their personal safety.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff organise a range of experiences that meet children’s interests and hobbies. These include outings to escape rooms and the cinema. One child has recently started to attend a ranger’s club and has joined the gym.

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Findings from the inspection

Two children are helped by staff to attend school or home tutoring. One child does not have a suitable education arrangement. Leaders and managers are working with the child’s placing authority and educational professionals to identify educational opportunities for this child. However, at present there is a lack of consistent routine and support for the child to engage in meaningful activities that will support their reintroduction to learning.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has worked with social workers and requested the use of independent advocacy for children. However, this has not resulted in any action from social workers to explore this resource. The manager has not yet challenged this lack of action.

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Findings from the inspection

Safeguarding procedures have recently been emphasised in team and staff supervision meetings. Staff are now more aware of their responsibilities in relation to effective safeguarding practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s risk management plans are detailed and regularly updated. These cover a range of risks that are responsive to incidents and include individual strategies that staff use to support the children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff respond appropriately to incidents of children going missing from the home. While incidents have recently increased, staff remain proactive. Staff actively search for children and liaise with police and other professionals to ensure children’s safe Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 3 return. Leaders and managers now challenge placing authorities to offer return interviews to children in line with statutory guidance.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been one occasion when staff have used a physical intervention. This was necessary to prevent the risk of harm to the child. However, staff used restraint techniques that fall outside of the scope of approved holds. Leaders and managers promptly reviewed this incident and took appropriate action. This included staff attending physical intervention refresher training.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have improved the monitoring for staff to identify fire hazards. All fire safety equipment is now suitably maintained.

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Findings from the inspection

The home has not had a registered manager since October 2024. A new manager is appointed and have applied to register with Ofsted. An experienced responsible individual is in post. Leaders and managers have taken action to address the previously identified shortfalls.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have reviewed the staff handover systems. This now provides improved scope for leaders and managers to monitor staff practice and maintain effective oversight.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have appropriately responded to safeguarding concerns. Referrals to the local authority designated officer have been made as necessary. Internal investigations are completed, and disciplinary procedures are followed. This has suitably addressed poor staff practice.

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Findings from the inspection

External monitoring from the independent person has improved. The independent person now spends time with children and explores their views during these visits.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have identified a provider to deliver safeguarding children with disabilities training to staff. However, a course has not yet been scheduled. This was identified as an area for improvement at the last inspection and has not taken place. Therefore, this has been restated.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, two staff have completed their level 3 qualification. However, one staff member remains outside the required timeframe for completion.

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Findings from the inspection

Generally, there are appropriate processes to ensure that notifications are made to Ofsted. However, the information contained in one notification overlooked important details. This prevented Ofsted from having a reliable view of how well children were safeguarded on this occasion.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have met three of the five requirements from the last inspection. Two requirements have not been met and have been restated. Two recommendations have been restated and one recommendation has been raised at this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/11/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/09/2023 Full Good 31/10/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 5

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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

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter. (Regulation 40 (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)) 28 March 2025

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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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)) 10 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff support children to engage in structured activities in the absence of formal education. (‘Guide to The Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  The registered person should challenge external professionals to secure 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 all staff attend training around ‘safeguarding children with disabilities’. (‘Guide to The Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oak House Childrens Home Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: A B C Care Solutions, 249 Cranbrook Road, Ilford IG1 4TG

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Inspector

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2661987 8 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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