Children's home run by Oracle Care Limited in Central Bedfordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC066917 1 SC066917 Registered provider: Oracle Care 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 operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may have experienced childhood trauma which has led to unmet emotional needs that require specialist care and support.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2023.

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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

Date of last inspection: 2 December 2024

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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: SC066917 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/12/2024 Full Good 12/10/2023 Full Good 13/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/04/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC066917 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, there was one child living at the home. One child had moved in and one child had moved out since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a warm, nurturing and homely environment. Photographs of children are displayed around the home adding to a sense of belonging for them. The manager and children have planted fruit trees to represent children who have left. This has been a thoughtful initiative to celebrate children’s time living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from warm and trusting relationships with staff. The manager recognises the importance of supporting children to spend quality time with family when it is appropriate to do so. The organisation also provides support to families through in-house therapy. This helps to improve children’s relationships with people that matter the most to them. Children seeing this coordinated approach to their care, and that staff are working in their best interests, also helps them invest in the home where they live and the adults that care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide a wide range of opportunities for children to develop hobbies and interests. Experiences have been provided to children that they might not otherwise have had. One child has been nominated ‘Children’s Champion’ and, as such, they are responsible for advocating on behalf of children across the provider’s other homes. This has taught the child valuable life skills such as advocacy, public speaking and is supporting their confidence and self-identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in their education. For some, school attendance remains below what would typically be expected. However, given previous barriers and experiences of learning, children’s progress has still been positive. Staff are proactive in supporting children’s engagement and incentivise attendance and participation by celebrating small improvements. One education professional said, ‘It’s a great success so far.’

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

Behaviour that puts children at risk has reduced as a result of good-quality care provided to them by staff. There has been a reduction in incidents of being missing from home for one child. When this child was missing from home, staff acted promptly to locate them. This included searching the local area and contacting people the child could be with. When the child returned, staff were nurturing and inquisitive about their whereabouts, which enabled staff to gain valuable information to help prevent future occurrences.

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

Children understand the complaints procedure and are confident in raising issues and concerns. When children raise matters that they are unhappy with, the manager makes careful consideration to understand children’s points of view. Children are provided with Inspection report for children’s home: SC066917 4 a child-friendly response. This open and safe culture where children feel listened to supports a positive safeguarding culture.

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

The manager ensures that there are safe procedures for the administration of medication. This reduces the risk of medication errors and ensures that health needs are met consistently and accurately.

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

When there have been concerns that children may have items in their possession that could cause them harm, staff take proportionate action to ensure the child’s safety. On these occasions, room searches are carried out in line with the home’s safeguarding procedures. Wherever possible, children are present during the searches so that the process remains transparent and respectful. Following any such incident, staff complete key-work sessions with children to help them understand the reasons for the concern and the potential risks involved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is very experienced and takes a child-focused approach. She is supported by a well-qualified and motivated team that shares her enthusiasm and commitment to providing good-quality care to children. Staff feel supported and valued, which helps staff maintain positive morale and have a good level of commitment to their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is active involvement from an in-house therapist, who regularly meets with staff. These meetings provide valuable opportunities to reflect on children’s progress, address emerging challenges in managing children’s behaviour and deepen staff’s understanding of children’s trauma and needs. This helps staff to provide children with well-informed care that supports their development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and leaders advocate strongly for children when they feel decisions are not in the child’s best interests. This highlights the passion and commitment they have to ensuring that children are integral to and are heard as part of care planning decisions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that all staff receive regular supervision sessions and an annual appraisal of their work. These sessions are used to identify new and emerging areas of practice and knowledge. This links into the regular therapeutic input delivered to staff and managers to ensure that all staff are skilled to respond to children’s needs and safeguard children effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are effective monitoring and review systems in place that ensure children’s progress and welfare are kept under effective oversight. The manager has a clear understanding of staff’s strengths and areas for development, which is informed by regular audits and reflective practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations have been made. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066917 5

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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: SC066917 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oracle Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suites 1 & 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 0RN

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Inspector

Chrisoula Contoyianni, Social Care Inspector Gill Rudkin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC066917 7 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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