Children's home run by Oxfordshire County Council

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC033896 1 SC033896

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Registered provider: Oxfordshire County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home provides care for up to six children who may have emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since August 2024. A new manager was appointed in March 2025. He has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 25 September 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 September 2025

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: SC033896 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 Staff report a lack of direction and support from managers and lack the confidence and skills to support children to stay safe and make progress.  Leaders and managers have not addressed concerns relating to discriminatory behaviours in the home.  Staff failed to identify or act on concerns when a child is at risk of exploitation.  Children have a poor experience of care and are not supported to establish healthy routines or to adhere to reasonable boundaries.  High levels of staff absence have resulted in children struggling to form trusting relationships from a consistent team of adults.

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Findings from the inspection

There are serious concerns for the safety and well-being of children. Staff lack direction and support from leaders and lack the confidence to support children to stay safe. Staff reported being fearful to intervene to provide children with clear boundaries. As a result, children are not supported to stay safe in situations where they are at risk, and they have a poor experience of care.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are not supported to learn to treat each other with kindness and consideration. Staff are unable to intervene effectively when behaviours between children have a significant impact on their experience and well-being. For one child, this resulted in missing education and moving out of the home in crisis in an unplanned way.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are not being challenged or supported to develop respectful and inclusive attitudes. Staff do not create an inclusive culture that celebrates diversity and promotes equality. Children and staff have been subjected to insults based on cultural and ethnic backgrounds. While some staff have attempted to engage children in constructive dialogue, these efforts have not led to meaningful change. A staff member made discriminatory comments to a child, and this was not addressed in a way that reflected the serious impact and emotional distress that this caused to the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are not routinely consulted or encouraged to participate in the development of their care plans or in decisions relating to their day-to-day care. One child said they felt uncared for, saying, ‘No one cares for me,’ reflecting a deep sense of emotional neglect and isolation.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff lack the confidence to intervene to steer children away from situations where they are vulnerable to harm. In one instance, where it was evident that a child was at risk of exploitation, staff did not intervene effectively to support them to be safe. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC033896 3 The absence of restrictions or monitoring of children’s mobile phone use has rendered existing Wi-Fi restrictions ineffective, allowing children unrestricted access to potentially harmful online platforms.

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Findings from the inspection

Children regularly go missing from the home, including overnight absences lasting several days. These incidents have not been met with a consistent or robust safeguarding response. There are no clear safety plans and no coherent strategy in place to guide staff to support children to go missing less often and make safer choices.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are unable to promote positive relationships to support children to adopt positive behaviours and adopt healthy routines. In one instance, the police were called to manage a behavioural incident. This resulted in a child being arrested. Staff failed to intervene and advocate for the child to ensure that this was a proportionate or appropriate response.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have not been challenged or supported in relation to substance misuse. Staff said they are uncertain about how to respond to children and there is no coordinated approach to managing substance misuse, nor any therapeutic or educational intervention to address the underlying issues.

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Findings from the inspection

It is of concern that leaders and managers have been unable to identify and address significant shortfalls in the care provided to children. As a result, there is a poor safeguarding culture, ineffective behaviour management and a concerning culture that has led to children and staff being subject to harmful discriminatory comments and behaviours.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff report feeling unsupported, fearful and unheard. They describe a culture in which reflective practice is lacking and leaders are perceived as unresponsive. Staff lack confidence in implementing care plans and safety plans, which are not embedded in daily practice. Staff said they are constantly firefighting rather than working proactively to support children’s development.

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Findings from the inspection

When children move into the home, leaders and managers have not ensured that their needs are compatible with those of children already living in the home or that staff are equipped to meet their needs. In one instance, a decision was made by senior leaders to move a child into the home when there was clear information before admission that indicated his needs were not compatible with those of the children living in the home. This had a significant impact on the dynamics in the home and was detrimental to the experiences and outcomes for all children.

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Findings from the inspection

A large number of staff are currently off sick, in part due to work-related stress. Managers have not responded to tackle the systemic concerns that have led to this situation. The lack of stability in the staff team has had a negative impact on the consistency of care provided to children. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC033896 4 Staff grievances are not addressed in a timely manner by senior leaders, leading to uncertainty about actions being taken, indicating a breakdown in internal communication.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager did not notify external agencies of significant safeguarding concerns in a timely manner, to ensure external scrutiny and appropriate support were in place. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC033896 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/05/2024 Full Good 10/05/2023 Full Good 11/04/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC033896 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 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;

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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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and 20 November Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC033896 7 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(c)(d)(e)) 20 November Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC033896 8 The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children; 20 November Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC033896 9 are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(xi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them 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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)) 20 November

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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. 20 November Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC033896 10 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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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

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x))

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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. 20 November Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC033896 11 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; manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

the child is, or has been, persistently absent from the home without permission; or

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Requirement Due date

the child requests a review of the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c)(e)(i)(ii)(iii)(f))

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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;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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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 20 November Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC033896 12 authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure they challenge external agencies and advocate effectively on behalf of the children.

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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, sexual exploitation;

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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 notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 20 November Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC033896 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oxfordshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Oxfordshire County Council, County Hall, New Road, Oxford OX1 1ND

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Inspector

Shaheda Dhandia, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC033896 14 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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Inspector

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