Children's Home run by Oaktree Childcare Limited in Blackpool

Inspection report for children’s home: 2706013 1 Registered provider: Oaktree Childcare Limited. Full inspection 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 offers care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, the home was providing care for two children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home does not currently have a registered manager. A new manager, who has applied to register with Ofsted, is in post.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2706013 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/04/2024 Full Good 12/04/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2706013 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been recent changes in the home. A new manager has been appointed, providing consistency and stability for the children and staff. One child who has lived at the home for two years has moved on to a new home as part of their transition to semi- independent living. The child continues to have contact with staff. This demonstrates the positive relationships they have established.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has recently moved into the home. The manager ensured that the move was well planned, which included visiting the child before they moved in. This helped to alleviate the child’s anxieties.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Positive relationships between staff and children are fostered through genuine warmth and laughter. Children want to spend time with staff and say that they feel supported. Staff celebrate children’s achievements. Certificates are displayed around the home. Children and staff add to an appreciation wall, which is full of positive quotes and photos reflecting their time at the home and the activities they engage in together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are being met. They are registered with the necessary health services to ensure their health. Staff also have regular discussions around healthy diet, sexual health, drug and alcohol awareness, and the importance of personal hygiene. This ensures that children receive the necessary information to make positive choices regarding their lifestyle.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have high aspirations for children to attend and achieve in education. One child’s attendance has improved, and they are preparing to take their GCSEs shortly. They now have positive aspirations for their future. One child, who has recently moved into the home and has not attended school for a while, will initially attend the company’s education academy. The manager is working with the headteacher of the virtual school to identify an appropriate school in the local area that can meet the child’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children in staying connected with their family and the people who are significant to them. Staff have established a good understanding of children’s often complex family dynamics and the effects of these relationships on them. The staff work flexibly to ensure that the relationships are safe and beneficial for children. One parent said, ‘Staff are supportive of family time. Communication is excellent, the staff regularly keep me updated, and I feel part of my child’s daily life.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to participate in activities to help develop their skills and interests. One child goes swimming several times a week. The older child enjoys spending time with friends in the local community. This helps children develop their social skills and build their self-esteem and confidence. Inspection report for children’s home: 2706013 4 Children are regularly consulted regarding their day-to-day care. This is achieved through informal conversations, formal meetings, key-work discussions and questionnaires.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children’s safety is consistently at the centre of staff’s practice. Children said they feel safe and are confident that staff will listen to them if they have any concerns or worries. There have been no complaints.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff have a good understanding of the children’s vulnerabilities and risks. Risk assessments are regularly updated, and there are clear guidelines for staff on how to manage and minimise risk. Children are also regularly involved in discussions with staff around issues such as online safety, road safety, personal safety and positive relationships. This has resulted in children understanding their own vulnerabilities and making safer choices.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Safeguarding practice is good. Incidents are managed well. The manager invites other professionals into the home, such as the police and fire service, to speak to the children about their exposure to risks and how to keep themselves and others safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Missing-from-home incidents are well managed. When a child goes missing from the home, the staff actively search for them and work with other professionals to ensure that they return safely. There is clear management oversight of the incidents, and the child is given an opportunity to discuss their views with an independent person.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Physical intervention is only used to prevent harm to the child or others. Following incidents, children are supported to reflect on their feelings and understand why the hold was necessary. The manager has clear oversight of each incident and reviews potential triggers to provide additional support if needed.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager is now following the safer recruitment guidelines. This ensures the safety of the staff who are employed to work at the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff use incentives, certificates and frequent praise to encourage positive behaviour. When consequences for behaviour are used, the manager now has management oversight of the record and ensures that the child is spoken to, to help the child to understand their behaviour. However, the manager has failed to make it clear to the child when the consequence has been withdrawn.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Parts of the home have been redecorated to improve the environment. The home is welcoming and bright, and there are pictures and inspirational quotes displayed. However, some minor repairs to the kitchen worktops remain outstanding. The manager is aware of the issue and plans to address it. Inspection report for children’s home: 2706013 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager is supported in his role by an experienced responsible individual. They have developed positive relationships with the children. They are aspirational, caring and child focused and have a good understanding of children’s needs and vulnerabilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team has now developed systems to ensure that it has clear oversight of the day-to-day practice and has addressed the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection. The manager has also carried out a review of the quality of care provided. This has given him an opportunity to look at further areas he wants to develop in the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home now has a stable core team of committed and nurturing staff who work well together. They are providing consistency for the children. Staff and children speak positively about the management team and the improvements made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that supervision sessions are regular and supportive for staff. This gives the staff an opportunity to reflect on their practice and identify any learning opportunities to help develop their skills and knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular team meetings take place. This gives staff an opportunity to come together and share their experience and knowledge. The in-house therapist attends the meetings to help staff understand and support the children’s emotional needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team works effectively with outside professionals and has started to build positive relationships. However, the manager does not have clear systems in place to identify when he needs to challenge other professionals around outstanding documentation. Since the last inspection, one child continues to require a personal education plan. As a result, staff do not have the most up-to-date information on how to support the child’s learning needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive comprehensive training, with ongoing refreshers. However, the management team has not ensured that all staff have received training in relation to self-harm, drug awareness and substance misuse, which are identified as needs for the children. This fails to equip staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the children’s individual needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2706013 6

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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 leadership and management standard are 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

helps children aspire 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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications, and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that staff receive training in relation to substance misuse, self-harm and drug awareness to ensure that they have the necessary knowledge and understanding to meet children’s needs. 9 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must actively challenge teachers when they have not received an up-to-date personal education plan for a child. 9 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 9 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2706013 7 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline, or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that they review the effectiveness of any consequences given to children.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is well maintained and that any hazards identified, such as damage to kitchen worktops, are promptly addressed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This 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’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2706013 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oaktree Childcare Limited.

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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

Simon Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2706013 9 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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