Children's home run by Oaktree Childcare Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 1253975 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 two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 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 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: 29 October 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: 1253975 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/10/2024 Full Good 30/08/2023 Full Good 18/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1253975 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. Moves in and out of the home are well planned and sensitively managed. As a result, children benefit from well-planned and positive experiences at the start and end of their time at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build caring and positive relationships with children and take the time to learn about their interests and skills. Children enjoy a variety of activities both in the home and in the community, according to their likes and interests. For example, staff have recognised one child’s enjoyment of cooking and, in response, the manager has arranged cookery lessons to develop this skill. Children are at the heart of the home, and their individual achievements are encouraged and celebrated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff place a strong emphasis on promoting children’s education. The manager acts as a strong advocate for children to ensure that their educational needs are prioritised. Staff provide children with a range of informal learning opportunities that are purposeful and engaging. These include visits to museums, planning and preparing meals, shopping and budgeting. These experiences enable children to continue learning while also developing practical life skills. As a result, children make measurable progress and develop greater independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive relationships with the manager and staff. The child currently living at the home speaks positively about staff and has built affectionate relationships with them. Staff speak fondly of the child with warmth and compassion. This approach helps children to feel valued and loved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Recordings, risk assessments and plans are detailed and effective. The information in plans is shared with children to ensure that they are fully involved and that their views are captured, heard and responded to. The child currently living at the home says that they feel happy and safe in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming. The child has personalised their bedroom and also a cosy-quiet room downstairs that has games, activities and a cuddle chair. The home is thoughtfully decorated with photos of the child enjoying days out, people in their life and personal achievements, such as a 10-mile bike ride. This encourages a sense of belonging.

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

Staff know children well and demonstrate a clear understanding of their needs and associated risks. These risks are comprehensively detailed in children’s plans, which provide staff with clear guidance to promote children’s safety. Incidents are managed Inspection report for children’s home: 1253975 4 effectively, and the frequency of incidents has reduced since the current child moved into the home.

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

Staff have established consistent routines that provide the child with structure and stability. As a result, the child understands what is expected of them, which supports their sense of security and contributes to positive behaviour.

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

The registered manager is proactive in addressing potential concerns about the child going missing from the home. Staff speak to the child in one-to-one sessions to raise awareness of the dangers. The manager also provides staff with training that explores possible scenarios and outcomes. Staff find this training useful and report that it increases their confidence in managing such situations should they occur.

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

When physical interventions are used, records reflect that they are proportionate and necessary to keep the child and others safe when all other de-escalation techniques have been exhausted. The manager reviews all interventions to explore any potential learning. Debriefs are consistently completed, and staff ensure that they gain the child’s thoughts and feelings and that their voice is heard.

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

Staff support children to understand and manage their feelings and behaviours in a safe and constructive way. Staff use praise and rewards to recognise and celebrate children’s successes and achievements, which has a clear impact on children’s self-esteem. Staff speak about children with pride, reflecting the positive culture in the home. This approach reduces the need for consequences. When consequences are required, they are applied consistently, proportionately and in direct relation to the incident.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is nurturing and demonstrates passion for achieving positive outcomes for children. The staff team feels valued and supported and shares a clear vision for the home. One member of staff commented that the manager ‘promotes child- focused practice and positive communication, which positively impacts the team to ensure that they provide high-quality care’. As a result, children benefit from being cared for by a consistent and stable staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and are used effectively to review practice in the home and to identify support for the staff and children. Children are consistently the central focus of these discussions to ensure that decisions and actions remain child- centred.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff access training that helps them to be effective in their roles. The manager is focused on upskilling the staff team through training that is specific to meeting the individual needs of the children. The team shares the manager’s ethos and vision for creating a family home where children feel happy and safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 1253975 5 The manager and staff build positive relationships with professionals and family members. Where additional support is needed, for example when supporting and arranging family time, the manager advocates well on behalf of children. Feedback from professionals and family members is positive about the support their child receives. One professional said that communication is ‘brilliant’. This helps the child maintain relationships with people who are important to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective oversight and systems to monitor the operation of the home. This includes a monthly review to identify any changes needed to make improvement. This contributes to improving outcomes for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 1253975 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: 1253975 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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Inspectors

Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Julia Edwards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1253975 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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