Children's Home run by Oxfordshire County Council in Oxfordshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1244426 1 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 children’s home is run by a local authority. The home’s statement of purpose has changed to reflect that it provides medium- to long-term care for up to 4 children with social, emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 17 and 18 June 2025. Following a monitoring visit on 5 August 2025, a further full inspection was carried out on 7 and 8 October 2025, when it was again judged inadequate.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out to assess progress since the last inspection and to evaluate the effectiveness of actions taken to address identified requirements.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the provider has taken steps to make improvements. The manager has developed action plans to address previous requirements. While many actions are ongoing, the provider is on the right trajectory to achieve sustained improvement.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have taken effective action in response to two serious safeguarding concerns relating to staff and worked well with external safeguarding partners.

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This monitoring visit

During this inspection, several strengths were identified, including the introduction of new care plans, positive behaviour management plans and assessments of new children. These ensure staff have the relevant information to provide appropriate and consistent support to the children. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1244426 2 Staff have received training in key areas to broaden their knowledge of safeguarding. This training includes recognising closed cultures, diversity and raising whistleblowing concerns. Staff have spoken positively about these opportunities for learning and feel confident about their practice.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are beginning to work confidently and meaningfully with children. They are regularly recording key conversations and time with children. The subjects of these are more purposeful and aligned with the children’s care plans.

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This monitoring visit

A new supervision template has been introduced to strengthen safeguarding oversight and staff development. Supervision records are now clear and address staff concerns and children’s care.

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This monitoring visit

Managers are using individual staff strengths to develop areas of the children’s care. For example, one staff member is leading a project on the development of the children’s care plans.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have introduced a new quality assurance process. This is designed to improve the manager’s oversight of children’s progress and better identify areas for improvement in staff practice.

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This monitoring visit

While progress has been made, the provider needs to continue to develop staff training and new systems need time to become fully embedded in daily practice. Therefore, some of the requirements have been restated and will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/10/2025 Full Inadequate 17/06/2025 Full Inadequate 04/12/2024 Full Good 03/07/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1244426 3

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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 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

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

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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 effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)(vii)(b)(e)) 20 March 2026

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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— 20 March 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1244426 4 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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for 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

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

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)(c)(d)(e)(f)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

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

that staff— 20 March 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1244426 5 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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— 20 March 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1244426 6 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; protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(v)(vi)(ix))

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1244426 7

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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 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1244426 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 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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