Children's Home run by Oracle Care Limited in Bedford

Inspection report for children’s home: SC484114 1 SC484114 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

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to three children.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2023 and is suitably qualified. She is currently on maternity leave. An interim manager stepped into the role in January 2025 but moved on in April 2025. The interim manager now in post started in April 2025 and registered with Ofsted in November 2025.

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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: 4 September 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: SC484114 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/09/2024 Full Good 16/01/2024 Full Good 09/11/2021 Full Good 13/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC484114 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are three children living at the home. No children have moved in or out of the home since the last inspection. All three children spoke with the inspector and contributed to the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming. The staff and children spend time together in the kitchen, which is the hub of the home. The conservatory has been identified by the children as a calm place for them to focus when they study. There are photographs of the children displayed around the home. Children’s personalities are reflected in their bedrooms. The children are comfortable and proud of their home. This has given them a sense of belonging and permanence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff value the importance of children’s education. All children attend suitable education provisions. Professionals said that the manager has gone above and beyond to advocate for one child’s continued education. The children have all made academic progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers ensure that children’s health needs are met. One child has significant allergies. The manager has liaised with their education provider to ensure that a healthcare plan is in place to manage the risk effectively for the child. This enables the child to access school safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff encourage the children’s hobbies and interests. One child enjoys spending time with horses. The staff support them to have regular lessons and time at the stables. One child enjoys football. Managers and staff talk to them about their sporting achievements each day after school. One child was supported to attend the school prom at short notice. Staff ensured that the child was prepared for the special occasion. The children have developed a sense of identity and have increased their self- confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff have positive relationships with children. Children are relaxed and comfortable. They speak fondly of their relationships with the staff and each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged and supported to complain. Managers provide children with the information to make a complaint to a trusted person. When children move into the home, they are provided with a complaints pack containing stamped addressed envelopes to the relevant people. One child has sent a complaint to their social worker using their pack and this was managed appropriately. Children are empowered to use their voices.

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

Children have raised complaints about staff. On each occasion, managers have responded swiftly and appropriately. Two children highlighted that they had lost trust in Inspection report for children’s home: SC484114 4 a member of staff when personal information was shared. The manager carried out an investigation and took steps to ensure that these concerns would not be repeated. The outcome was communicated to the children, which demonstrated to them that they had been listened to and their concerns had been validated.

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

Safer recruitment procedures are followed. The children have created a one-page profile for the new, incoming staff. The profile shares an introduction of the staff that helps the children to understand who will be working at their home. The leaders and managers have ensured that staff are safe and suitable. This has helped the children to feel aware of and comfortable with new staff.

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

Allegations about staff practice are handled quickly. Leaders and managers ensure that all relevant professionals are aware of allegations, including safeguarding partners, such as the local authority designated officer. Sharing information and working with outside professionals openly provide transparency and independent oversight.

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

The manager demonstrates a good understanding of thematic risks and responds appropriately. The manager identified an increase in risk to the children when being driven by staff. A new process has been introduced to ensure that all staff drive safely. Staff’s driving records are reviewed by the manager, and all staff take a driver awareness course. In addition, staff complete a shadow drive in one of the home’s cars prior to taking children out independently. The home’s vehicles have a tracking device, which includes a speed recorder.

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

One child is prescribed medication. On two occasions, the staff have made administration errors. The child was supported to access a medical assessment on both occasions. Following these, the manager has devised a new process for administering medication, which has prevented any further incidents from occurring.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably qualified and experienced manager. There have been several changes to the leadership team and staff during this year. The children have felt unsettled by this. The home now has a consistent staff team and manager in post, which has provided the children with the necessary stability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have created a new induction programme for staff. There is a comprehensive plan for all staff to follow over a five-day period at the home. New staff are able to shadow an experienced staff member each day to ensure that they are confident and competent to carry out their role. This encourages the children to be familiar with them before they commence their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that they enjoy working at the home and feel supported by their colleagues and managers. The staff appreciate the homely feel and helping the children to benefit from positive relationships. Staff provide genuine nurture, which helps the children to thrive. Inspection report for children’s home: SC484114 5 Team meetings are well attended. The staff explore children’s individual needs, progress, barriers to progress and how staff can support them to achieve positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s care plans are focused and child centred. One child has collaborated with a member of staff to review the content and identify priority areas. Although the children’s plans are individualised, they do not fully support the children’s progression to independence. One child will move on from the home within a few months and does not yet have the support in place to move to independence successfully. Inspection report for children’s home: SC484114 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff help each child to prepare for any moves from the home, whether they are returning home, moving to another placement or adult care, or to live independently. This includes supporting the child to develop emotional and mental resilience to cope without the home’s support and, where the child is moving to live independently, practical skills, such as cooking, housework, budgeting and personal self-care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, Paragraph 3.27)

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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: SC484114 7

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Chelsea Lightfoot

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Charlotte Kalla & David Poulter

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Inspectors

Sarah Cooper, Social Care Inspector Amanda Harrison, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC484114 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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