Children's Home run by Oaktree Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2766766 1 Registered provider: Oaktree Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties, or special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home and spoken to by the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

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 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: 2766766 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Risks for the child are known and understood by staff. Risk assessments are detailed, outlining all known risks for the child and include guidance for staff to follow. Practice is supported by detailed information from the child’s placing authority. Staff understand thresholds for sharing information with relevant professionals and attend regular meetings with external professionals to support the child’s care.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff respond quickly when the child goes missing from the home and they make persistent attempts to locate the child themselves. Staff talk to the child about their experiences of going missing from the home and they use this information to understand and reduce the risks that the child faces. There has been an anticipated increase in the child being missing from the home. Staff are working closely with external professionals to manage concerns. Staff advocate on the child’s behalf and escalate their concerns when necessary to ensure that the child’s best interests are protected.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff use positive strategies to manage behaviour, including rewards, de-escalation techniques and distraction methods. Consequences implemented by staff are proportionate and appropriate to the behaviour displayed. There are no incidents of the child being physically held by staff. Staff talk to the child about their behaviour in the home. However, for one complaint received from outside of the home, there is limited direct work with the child to help them develop their knowledge of appropriate behaviour in the community.

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Findings from the inspection

The child’s views, wishes and feelings are listened to and acted on by staff. The child enjoys a range of home-based activities that reflect their interests. Staff take the child on outings and activities in the community. Staff also support the child to join clubs so that they can pursue their chosen hobbies. This provides the child with opportunities to socialise in their wider community and to broaden their experiences.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has positive and trusting relationships with staff. When barriers to building meaningful relationships have arisen, the registered manager considers creative strategies for staff to help them and facilitates mediation sessions to improve the child’s relationships.

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Findings from the inspection

Complaints are acknowledged and addressed by the registered manager. Records show actions taken and provide clear rationale for decisions. However, one recent complaint included an allegation regarding staff practice that was retracted immediately by the child. Although prompt action was taken to respond to the concerns, the incident was not treated as an allegation. As a result, the incident was Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2766766 3 not referred to the local authority designated officer and was not notified to the regulator in line with safeguarding procedures.

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Findings from the inspection

The child’s personal spaces reflect their individuality. However, there are maintenance repairs outstanding throughout the entirety of the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2766766 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/04/2025 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2766766 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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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—

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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

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 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)(v)(vi)(vii)(d)(e) 27 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2766766 6 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff support the child to understand appropriate behaviour in the community.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that safeguarding procedures are appropriately followed following any complaints.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that action is taken to address maintenance repairs required throughout the home.

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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 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)) 27 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2766766 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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Inspector

Leanne Carr, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2766766 8 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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