Children's Home run by Oaktree Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2651794 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

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since February 2025 and intends to register with Ofsted.

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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: 2651794 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/05/2024 Full Good 29/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2651794 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home and one child has moved in. Both moves were in line with children’s plans. The inspector spoke to the child living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff have family values, which they implement at the home. Staff ensure that they spend time with the child in typical family circumstances. It is important to managers and staff to stop at lunchtime to eat lunch with the child. This is an enjoyable time that gives the child a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has formed strong attachments with the staff team. The staff strive to understand the child’s individual needs so that they can best support them. Staff are sensitive and responsive to the child’s needs. There is a culture of acceptance, and the child is developing in confidence and flourishing as their relationships develop with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consult the child regularly to gather their wishes and feelings. They are creative in ways of capturing the child’s views and there is a strong sense of the child’s personality in recording. This supports the child to feel heard and valued. The child is now able to express their feelings by talking to staff, rather than displaying negative behaviours.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff spend time having fun with the child, doing things that the child enjoys. This supports the child in developing trusting relationships with staff and enables staff to gain a good understanding of the child’s needs and behaviours. There has been a significant reduction in incidents for the child as they are now more able to manage challenging emotions. The child is making positive progress in all areas of their life and is settled at the home.

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

Incidents of self-harm are sensitively managed. The staff team understands the risks associated with the child’s self-injurious behaviours. Updated individualised risk assessments are in place, which address the child’s vulnerabilities effectively and set out the action staff should take to support the child. As a result, staff understand how to respond to the child, and incidents are starting to reduce in duration and frequency.

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

Staff use physical intervention at times to keep the child and themselves safe. They are trained in the use of physical intervention and use it as a last resort. After physical intervention, staff check on the child’s emotional well-being. Managers review each incident record and talk to the child and staff about what happened. Learning from these conversations is shared and used to inform the child’s plans. This means that the use of physical intervention has reduced. Inspection report for children’s home: 2651794 4 Staff are extremely diligent, and they understand and minimise the potential risks to the child. Behaviour support plans and care plans are detailed and thorough. They provide clear and concise information about how the child needs to be supported. As a result, the child is assured that staff will do everything to keep them safe.

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

There have been some incidents when the child has gone missing from the home. Staff have responded appropriately. They try to locate the child, working with the child’s family and other professionals. This includes effective communication with other professionals to consider how to support the child to reduce the risks they face. As a result, incidents of the child going missing from the home have recently drastically reduced.

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

Positive behaviour is rewarded to support the child’s learning and understanding. Praise is used to recognise and celebrate achievements and progress in a way that is meaningful to the child. The child demonstrates a sense of pride because of the staff’s recognition.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An inspirational manager leads this home. She is ambitious and knows the child extremely well. The manager is supported by a strong leadership team that has ambitious goals for the progress and achievements and the staff and child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff show tenacity in advocating for and supporting the child. One new staff member said, ‘I was blown away by how much the team really care about [the child] and their wellbeing.’ Staff go above and beyond to promote positive outcomes and genuinely care about the child. This is reflected in the strong and trusting relationships that they have built with the child. This has helped the child feel valued and safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supported to understand their roles and responsibilities. They benefit from regular team meetings and supervision sessions, covering a broad agenda. Supervision sessions are reflective, offer staff support and guidance, and consider the needs and progress of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have effective management systems in place to support monitoring the quality of care. The manager understands the strengths and areas for improvement at the home and has clearly worked hard to raise practice and recording standards. There is positive engagement with external agencies. The manager has a clear vision for the home and remains focused on bringing continued progress because she knows this will benefit the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak with pride about the home and enjoy their work. They express pleasure in spending time with the child and enhancing their life experiences. Staff are well supported by the management team and each other. Leaders and managers work well together, and staff morale is high. There is an open culture at the home, which improves outcomes for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2651794 5 No requirements or recommendations were made during this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2651794 6

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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: 2651794 7

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jacqueline Titterington

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Inspector

Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2651794 8 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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