Children's Home run by Care Acre Limited in Oxfordshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2663781 1 Registered provider: Care Acre 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 is registered to provide care for up to three children. The statement of purpose states that the function of the home is to provide 24-hour individualised care and support for children aged between 10 and 17 years with social and emotional difficulties because of early-life trauma, complex or challenging behaviour, neglect and/or family breakdown or disruption. Two children were living in the home at the time of this monitoring visit.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in the home since 31 December 2024.

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This monitoring visit

At the last full inspection, on 16 January 2025, inspectors found significant concerns regarding how children were kept safe and a lack of effective and transparent oversight by leaders. As a result of these shortfalls, a restriction of accommodation notice was issued. This means that no new children can be admitted to the home while this order is in place.

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This monitoring visit

This inspection was to monitor leaders’ compliance with the restriction of accommodation and to review two requirements made at the last full inspection following the inadequate judgement on 16 January 2025.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last full inspection, the previously appointed manager has returned to their deputy manager’s role, and on 17 February 2025 a new manager was appointed. The new manager understands their regulatory responsibilities in applying to register with Ofsted. The newly appointed responsible individual has remained consistent and supportive in leadership development and oversight. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2663781 2 Leaders have implemented a structured and well-planned action plan to help drive standards forward, and in meeting the shortfalls identified at the last full inspection. This has been kept regularly under review and demonstrates clear action management and professional development, such as additional training and upskilling of staff, managers’ monitoring tools and a review of care planning documents for children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have started to record children’s views. This has been central to decisions made in children’s everyday lives and future arrangements. The new manager is working collaboratively with the children’s allocated social workers to ensure that plans for children are safe and agreed. This is supporting one child to leave the home without staff supervision and working towards having a mobile phone. New plans demonstrate a gradual approach, with regular reviews and, importantly, capturing the child’s voice. This is significant progress since the last full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The new manager has implemented structured and planned conversations with children. Topics are individually assigned to staff and focus on children’s personal development, independence and feelings. There has been a notable shift from managers in supporting staff to understand the underlying reasons for children’s behaviour and to address these with support and kindness. This is starting to improve staff relationships with children and is helping children to open up and share their worries with staff. Staff are now exploring ways of supporting children to develop relationships with people who are important to them outside of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have reviewed risk assessments. There is now a clear risk-rating description and risk categorisation that reflects children’s experiences and vulnerabilities. Staff risk reduction strategies, match children’s preferred methods of support, clinical assessments and staff training approaches. This signifies a child- focused approach, with staff advocating for children to express their views.

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This monitoring visit

Managers are holding regular team meetings and staff workshops. These are addressing and supporting any uncertainties in staff practice and approach, and in revisiting policies and procedures. A great deal of work has gone into mentoring individual staff and supporting staff to understand contextualised safeguarding risks for individual children. Furthermore, the responsible individual is completing a reflective review with the previous manager of one child’s experiences living in the home. These approaches amplify managers’ commitment and determination in learning from the shortfalls identified at the last full inspection, and in making continuous improvements in the quality of care provided to all children.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last full inspection, there has been one allegation against staff from one child. Leaders referred this to relevant professionals in good time, working collaboratively with police, the host authority and the regulator. The responsible individual completed a good investigation with clear identified outcomes and learning opportunities. This transparent approach demonstrates leaders’ new and improved approach to safeguarding children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2663781 3 At the last inspection, concerns were raised regarding the safety arrangements of staff using their own vehicles to transport children. The previous manager completed a full investigation that determined a child was not put at risk. Since then, the vehicle policy has been reviewed, with clear expectations of staff using company vehicles only. These vehicles are regularly checked, by staff, for vehicle compliance.

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This monitoring visit

Managers are compliant with the restriction of accommodation and have met regulation 12 and 13 as part of this visit. The rest of the requirements made at the last full inspection will be reviewed at the next full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2663781 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/01/2025 Full Inadequate 26/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/09/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2663781 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iv)(vi)) 1 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 1 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2663781 6 ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child and

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)) 1 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to— 1 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2663781 7 achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans and

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) 1 April 2025

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2663781 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 36 Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1RB

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Inspector

Kelly Monniot, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2663781 9 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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