Children's Home run by Oaktree Childcare Limited in Lancashire

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

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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 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 home currently does not have a registered manager. An interim manager is in post, who has not yet started the process to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 13 November 2024

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2682141 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/11/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/04/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2682141 3

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improvement to be good

Overall, the experience and progress of children requires improvement. This is due to inconsistent staffing in the home, which has impacted on the child’s ability to form reliable relationships with the adults caring for them.

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improvement to be good

There was one child living in the home at the time of this inspection, who spoke to the inspector. One child has moved out of the home in line with their plans since the last inspection.

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improvement to be good

The atmosphere in the home is calm, inviting and welcoming. The child and staff seem relaxed and happy in each other’s company. The interactions between the child and staff are positive. The child said that they are now happy living at the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff show caring attitudes towards the child. This is seen in their interactions and shared laughter. However, written language describing the child in care plans does not always demonstrate that the child is valued and respected. This has led to occasions of negativity, which appears to have contributed to escalating behavioural incidents.

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improvement to be good

The child is regularly asked for their views on day-to-day matters such as food choices and activities. Beyond these routine discussions, there are limited opportunities for meaningful direct work or in-depth conversations that support the child’s emotional well- being or personal development. As a result, the child is not always able to explore their feelings regularly.

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improvement to be good

The manager has advocated for the child to attend an education placement relevant to their needs. However, when the child refuses to go to school, there is no plan in place for staff to follow. This means that, sometimes, children are not supported to engage in learning, and the child has a largely unstructured day. This limits the child’s educational development.

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improvement to be good

Family arrangements are discussed and arranged in partnership with the social worker. Staff are committed to providing the support required. This helps the child to keep in touch with family members who are important to them.

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improvement to be good

Staff use physical interventions as a last resort. When staff do have to hold a child to keep them safe, they record this well and talk to the child afterwards about what happened. Inspection report for children’s home: 2682141 4 When incidents occur, staff take appropriate action and put children’s safety first. The staff will take proactive steps to de-escalate situations as quickly as possible. After every incident, staff engage with children to explore their feelings about what happened. The manager reviews all incidents and identifies any learning opportunities. A recent increase in incidents is linked to changes in the staff team, and this has had a negative impact on the quality of care provided to the child.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff ensure that children’s behaviour management plans are clear and tailored to the child. Staff use the plans to support children when they are experiencing episodes of distress.

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improvement to be good

A therapist was recently employed by the home to provide support for the child’s emotional well-being. The therapist offers support and advice to staff so that they have a better understanding of the children’s emotional needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there have been changes to the management arrangements. There is an interim manager in post who has worked in the company for four weeks. He has not yet submitted his application to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager is committed to providing improved outcomes for children. He is reflective and recognises that improvements are needed. He is supported by a newly appointed but experienced, responsible individual, who shares this understanding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers work effectively in partnership with the professional network and advocate strongly on behalf of children. This helps ensure that plans for children are well informed and the support provided is aimed at helping children reach their potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staffing challenges, including changes to the team and periods of insufficient staffing, have negatively impacted on the quality of care provided to the child. These issues have hindered the child’s ability to form secure and trusting relationships with the adults who support them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Team meetings are not held regularly. This has limited opportunities for staff to collaborate effectively and agree a consistent approach to care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2682141 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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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 arriving at or 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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that language used in care plans is non-stigmatising so that they are helpful to staff and children. 23 August 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— 23 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2682141 6 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 work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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 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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1) (2)(a)(b)(d)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must always ensure that the home’s staffing levels are sufficient to meet operational needs.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, team meetings must take place to ensure that staff are clear of expectations and work consistently as a team to provide quality care to children.

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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— 23 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2682141 7 ensure that an explanation is given to each child as soon as reasonably practicable after the child’s arrival about—

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Requirement Due date

how to make a complaint or representations in relation to the home or the care the child receives and how any such complaint or representations will be dealt with; and

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Requirement Due date

what advocacy support or services are available to the child, how the child may access that support or those services and any entitlement the child may have to independent advocacy provision. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(d)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children are given the opportunity and time to have conversations with staff relevant to their life.

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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

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(v)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that when children are not in education, there is clear structure and routine in place at the home. 23 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2682141 8

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2682141 9

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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

Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2682141 10 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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