Children's Home, Residential special school run by Overley Hall Limited in Telford and Wrekin

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC020558 1 SC020558

p.1

Registered provider: Overley Hall Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to 22 children with severe learning disabilities, sensory impairment and autism. The home is situated on the same site as a special school. A separate residential home for young adults, registered with the Care Quality Commission, also operates in the school grounds. The inspectors only inspected the children’s social care provision at this site.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is a new manager at the home, who is experienced and qualified. They have applied to become registered with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 19 children were living at the home. Inspectors met with some, but not all of the children.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 30 September 2024

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

p.1

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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC020558 2 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: SC020558 3

p.1

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.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The provider has taken the feedback from the previous inspection very seriously. A strategic action plan has been implemented to address the areas of concern. As a result, there are improvements in the quality and consistency of children’s care at the home.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

There are well-established routines at the home, and all children attend the school on the same site. The addition of an activities coordinator at the home has resulted in an increase in activities for children. Local links with the wider community are being strengthened. Children now go out to football training, dance class and youth club. Children now have greater opportunities to develop their cultural awareness, and their individual needs are considered. For example, St. Patrick’s Day was recently celebrated at the home.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

There has been a notable change in the approach to behaviour management. Management oversight of incidents has improved and there is a greater focus on reflection and learning. Staff are more confident in helping children by using de- escalation strategies and techniques. Consequently, there has been a reduction in physical interventions and overall incidents at the home. Staff use children’s communication tools to help them to reduce unwanted behaviours.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

There is a new management structure in place. The home comprises five areas known as ‘family rooms’, each accommodating a small group of children. Each family room now has a dedicated manager, who oversees the care of the group of children. In addition, they are responsible for the management of the staff assigned to each room. Managers and staff now have a greater understanding of their roles and responsibilities. This has also increased consistency of staffing for children. This has helped children build trusted relationships with staff and feel secure.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

There is a relatively static staff team, and action is being taken to address vacancies. For example, several agency staff are moving from temporary to permanent roles. There is also a drive to increase the number of qualified staff, and several staff have been enrolled on a fast-track qualification route.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The introduction of a new experienced manager has led to a significant increase in staff morale. Staff are highly motivated by the new manager’s confidence to lead and journey with them to make improvements at the home.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Two requirements from the previous inspection have been restated, and although progress has been made towards meeting these requirements, shortfalls do remain. All other requirements and a recommendation have been met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC020558 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/10/2023 Full Good 01/11/2022 Full Good 24/08/2022 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC020558 5

p.4

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.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

p.5

Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(b)(d))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s plans clearly set out the arrangements for any surveillance deemed necessary, that these arrangements are reviewed and that they are the least intrusive in approach. 28 June 2025

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

p.5

Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff follow protocols in place for the safe administration of children’s medication. 28 June 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC020558 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Overley Hall Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Overley Hall School, Overley, Telford, Shropshire TF6 5HE

p.6

Inspectors

Alison Snell, Social Care Inspector Nurul Kabir, Social Care Inspector John Tomlinson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC020558 7 regulates 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 children looked-after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

Inspectors

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 .

p.7

Inspectors

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.7

Inspectors

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

p.7

Inspectors

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

p.7