Children's Home run by Oaktree Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2682141 1 Registered provider: Oaktree Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 13 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. The inspector has 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: 2682141 2

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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

Both children were observed engaging positively with staff. One child spoke about being happy in the home and viewing some team members as their family.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, children have enjoyed a variety of activities such as volunteering at a pet sanctuary, days out and enjoying hobbies such as cadets and playing for a football team.

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Findings from the inspection

Both children continue to attend education and have varied experiences. One child attends school full time and is meeting their educational targets; the other is continuing to make progress with the support of the staff, and there are plans to extend their part-time timetable in the coming weeks.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been occasions since the last inspection when it has been necessary to hold children to keep them safe. Records detail the action taken by staff to support children prior to holding them and demonstrate that holds have been necessary and proportionate. Both children and staff have had the opportunity to engage in debriefs and reflect on their experiences.

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Findings from the inspection

Significant incidents and allegations are responded to, and children are supported. However, there has been a delay in sharing information with Ofsted and the local authority designated officer. This delay has not impacted on the safety of children, and leaders and managers have taken action to ensure the sharing of information is improved.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s individual risk and support plans have been updated to reflect new behaviours displayed by the children. However, there is a lack of guidance for staff to follow to keep children safe, and not all effective strategies used by staff are recorded within the plans. This does not help new team members who are unfamiliar with the children to support them and keep them safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, four room searches have taken place. The recording of the searches has improved, and the manager has ensured that the room searches have been necessary and proportionate. However, when items have been found in children’s bedrooms, the manager has not taken action to explore this further or address shortfalls in staff practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Management oversight is not robust. The matrix used to evidence staff training has not been regularly reviewed and the manager has not ensured that all staff have completed refresher training within timescales. Training that would be helpful for staff, such as loss and bereavement, has not been completed despite the organisation recording this as a mandatory course. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2682141 3 Staff and the registered manager are not yet receiving regular one-to-one supervision. Records lack detail and do not consistently evidence reflective practice opportunities or in-depth discussions about the support for children. This is a missed opportunity for the staff to discuss the quality of care they provide to the children.

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Findings from the inspection

Records of the hours worked in the home by the manager and staff are inaccurate and do not contain staff members’ full names. This limits management oversight and compromises children’s safety, as there is a lack of transparency about who is working in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager is a good advocate for children, and he communicates well with partner agencies. Feedback from professionals was positive. Despite the recent challenges, professionals voiced that this was the longest children had remained looked after in a home, they were happy and had positive relationships with some staff members. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2682141 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/11/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/04/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2682141 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

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that children’s risk plans provide staff with the information they need to undertake their roles and responsibilities in protecting children. 17 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each 17 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2682141 6 child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation (13) (1) (b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(h)

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that all staff complete the necessary training required to support children within the organisation’s timeframes.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that the monitoring and review systems are effective and support the improvement in the quality of care for children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that the manager receives meaningful and reflective practice-related supervision. 17 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that the rota contains full names and the hours worked for all staff working in the home. 17 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2682141 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oaktree Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ground Floor, Seneca House, Links Point, Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool, Lancashire FY4 2FF

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Inspector

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2682141 8 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 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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