Children's Home run by Oakley House Children’s Home Limited in Thurrock

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2771696 1 Registered provider: Oakley House Children’s 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 home is owned by a private organisation and provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties. There was one child living at the home at the time of this inspection. The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 3 September 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: 2771696 2

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Findings from the inspection

This assurance inspection was carried out as a statutory response following the outcome of the last full inspection, completed on 4 September 2024, with a judgement of requires improvement to be good. 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

One child was living at the home at the time of this inspection. There have been no children who have moved in or out since the last inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staffing levels are appropriate. Staff are positive about supporting the child, and emphasis is placed on building relationships. Staff use de-escalation techniques when responding to children’s emotions, and restraint has not been used. A psychotherapist attends weekly meetings to help staff develop therapeutic responses to the child. Negative consequences are avoided where possible, and rewards are used to incentivise the child to help them make positive choices.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers devise detailed risk assessments and behaviour support plans for children. Plans and assessments are updated regularly to respond to children’s changing needs. This helps staff to support the child’s specific vulnerabilities. The staff are responsive, for example, when the child obtained alcohol with peers, staff talked to the child and visited the establishments alcohol was obtained from. One establishment was reported to the police to try to highlight selling alcohol to a child.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has gone missing from the home frequently. Staff act in line with protocols to help the child return safely. Managers ensure that the child’s missing-from-care assessment is up to date, and individual incidents are reviewed. The staff are proactive. They have mapped the child’s friendships, so they know who they could be with. Regular strategy meetings include social workers and police officers to ensure a coordinated response. This helps staff to understand the risk and make meaningful enquiries quickly. Although this remains a high risk for the child, effective measures are in place to reduce this risk.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is currently not in full-time education. However, staff and managers have continued to pursue alternative education provisions and tuition with assistance from the local authority and virtual school. Staff support the child with home learning. They provide reasonable incentives to encourage them to learn.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff help children to spend time with people who are important to them. This includes supporting families and friends to visit the home and taking children to spend time with their families. Where there has been breakdown between family members, staff have supported the child and mediated with family to help re- establish the relationship. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2771696 3 The registered manager has notified Ofsted that they are leaving. Effective management cover has been organised. A new manager has been identified, and a new operations manager has increased their support and oversight. The director and deputy have provided an increased presence to cover as interim managers. This has minimised any disruption from the change of manager effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is a good size, in a good state of repair and well decorated. The house is clean and tidy throughout. Shared spaces are well furnished, although needs more child-friendly decor.

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Findings from the inspection

Previous requirements have been met. Leaders and managers have notified Ofsted of serious incidents when they have occurred. The statement of purpose has also been updated with the home’s conflict of interest policy.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff and managers attempt to seek children’s views; however, their methods need further creativity and are not always well received. No alternative attempts have been made to improve the child’s engagement or record their views. The complaint process is not as stated in the children’s guide. Therefore, children’s views are not sought and captured, and they do not know how to make a complaint easily. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2771696 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2771696 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child’s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted on. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2771696 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oakley House Children’s Home Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 413 High Street, Stratford, London E15 4QZ

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Inspector

Daniel Rankin, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2771696 7 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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Inspector

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