Children's Home run by Oasis Midlands Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2784147 1 Registered provider: Oasis Midlands 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

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties. The home was registered with Ofsted in December 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a permanent manager in post who became registered in October 2024.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2784147 2

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improvement to be good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. Since registration, three children have moved in and one child has moved out. During the inspection, the inspector spoke to both children living in the home.

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improvement to be good

Children have moved into the home quickly, despite children’s care plans allowing sufficient time to support a more gradual and child-focused approach. As a result, opportunities for children to prepare for their move and become familiar with their new environment have been limited. This has impacted on how well children have settled into the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff care about children and make efforts to build positive relationships with them. For example, children engage in boxing practice with staff, who are enthusiastic and encouraging. However, this positive experience has not been consistent for all children. One child struggled to engage with staff and rarely participated in activities. They spent significant periods of time either outside of the home or in their bedroom, which hindered their ability to develop a sense of belonging and form meaningful relationships with staff. Staff report similar patterns of behaviour for another child currently living in the home, who spent most of the inspection period in their bedroom.

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improvement to be good

Children have made mixed progress in education. One child has excellent school attendance, and staff consistently support this by taking them to and from their education setting. In contrast, another child has largely withdrawn from education and spends extended periods in their bedroom. When the child stopped attending school, staff offered education sessions within the home. Although the child initially engaged with these sessions, participation has since declined, and he no longer takes part.

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improvement to be good

Staff promote children’s health and seek specialist support when needed. For example, when children struggle with their personal hygiene, staff consult health professionals to explore strategies to meet children’s individual needs.

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improvement to be good

The home is comfortable and well maintained, offering a variety of spaces for children to relax and play. A good-sized, enclosed garden is equipped with football goals, a swing ball set and bikes, providing opportunities for outdoor activities. Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms; however, this has largely not occurred. Inspection report for children’s home: 2784147 3

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improvement to be good

Physical restraint is used only when necessary and proportionate. However, the quality of incident recording is inconsistent. In some cases, the date of the child’s debriefs following a restraint is not documented. In another instance, the debrief was conducted by the same staff member who carried out the restraint. This does not provide sufficient assurance that children are offered appropriate and impartial opportunities to reflect on the incident and have their feelings acknowledged and supported.

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improvement to be good

Children do not consistently receive effective help and support from staff to manage their behaviours and emotions safely. On occasions when staff felt unable to manage behaviour, the police have been called. This practice has resulted in children being unnecessarily criminalised.

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improvement to be good

When children go missing from home, staff respond promptly, taking coordinated action and notifying the relevant safeguarding agencies. Following missing-from- home incidents, children are offered the opportunity to engage in return home interviews. This helps build an understanding of the child’s experiences and identify potential risks and needs.

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improvement to be good

When children make complaints, the manager undertakes thorough investigations. Children are kept informed throughout the process and receive personalised letters outlining the outcomes. This demonstrates a respectful and child-centred approach.

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good

The home is led by a manager who holds appropriate qualifications and experience. She demonstrates a strong commitment to both the home and to the children in her care.

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good

Despite the manager’s commitment, oversight has not always been effective. Serious incidents have not consistently been identified or reported to the regulator in a timely manner. Not informing the appropriate agencies significantly hinders their ability to conduct an informed risk assessment of the setting.

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good

The manager does not consistently challenge ineffective responses from external services. For example, during one incident, the manager felt that action taken by the police was unnecessary and caused distress to the child. However, the manager did not challenge their response.

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good

Children do not always receive care that aligns with the ethos and objectives outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. Staff’s responses to discrimination are punitive. This approach reflects a lack of curiosity about the underlying causes of behaviour Inspection report for children’s home: 2784147 4 and does not support the development of positive, trusting relationships with children.

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good

Careful recruitment practice has ensured a safe and suitable workforce. Inspection report for children’s home: 2784147 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 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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) 30 September

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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

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 (c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person’s responsibility to challenge police actions when they are disproportionate and result in children experiencing distress or being unnecessarily criminalised. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(c)) 30 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2784147 6 This specifically relates to incidents where the use of physical intervention is used.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to,

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 30 September

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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: 2784147 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oasis Midlands Limited

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Inspector

Becky Rutter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2784147 8 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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