Children's home run by Oasis Adolescent Services Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2645901 1 Registered provider: Oasis Adolescent Services Ltd

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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 run by a private organisation and is registered to care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home. Both children spoke to the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 21 June 2024. She is also the registered manager of another home owned by the organisation.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2645901 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/08/2024 Full Outstanding 27/02/2024 Full Good 21/02/2023 Full Good 23/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2645901 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The quality of care provided to children is exceptional, which is recognised and acknowledged by a range of professionals involved in children’s lives. More significantly, children themselves recognise the impact of the care they receive One child told the inspector, ‘I have made the most amount of progress since I have lived here. In the past, I have gone downhill, and every day now I am progressing in every way.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Recently, the home has been redecorated to reflect the children’s personalities, likes and hobbies. One child gave the inspector a tour of the home. Canvases of the children taking part in various activities with staff are placed in various rooms, and there is a distinct sense that this is the children’s home. Children’s bedrooms were seen, which were personalised and well furnished. One child told the inspector that they were happy with their room and how it looked.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s health needs are well met. One child has diabetes, and a clear diabetes management plan is in place. Staff understand this plan and implement it effectively in daily practice. They have worked proactively with the child to increase their understanding of the condition and to support them in reducing its impact through healthier diet choices and regular exercise. As a result, the child has achieved a significant and sustained weight loss. Staff have taken time to educate the child about diabetes, helping them to feel empowered and confident in making informed decisions about their own health needs now and in the future. The child told the inspector about healthy meal choices and increased water intake throughout the day.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children who have previously had a negative experience of education are now making and sustaining progress. One child attends college and has recently taken part in a college drama production, which was attended by family members and staff. The parent of this child told the inspector, ‘He wouldn’t have done this before. I’m noticing a big difference. It makes me happy to know that he is happy .’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Another child is awaiting a college place in line with recommendations set out in their education, health and care plan. This child has been completing online education, assisted by staff. This support has contributed to the child having a positive attitude about his future career aspirations. The child wrote a thought-provoking, imaginary story, which was observed by the inspector during the visit.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide the children with ample opportunities to express their views, wishes and feelings through children’s meetings and direct-work sessions. Following consultation with children, the manager has recently devised a ‘podcast’ system, which children actively take part in with staff. This provides children with creative, appealing Inspection report for children's home: 2645901 4 opportunities to provide feedback, which impacts on the quality of care they receive and how they would like their house to look and be decorated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

One young person who has recently left the home and now lives semi-independently visited the home to speak to the inspector. The young person was engaging and positive about their experiences when they lived at the home. The young person told the inspector how confident they are completing DIY as well as laundry and budgeting. Additionally, warm, respectful interactions were observed between the young person and the staff, which demonstrates the young person has a support system in place they can rely on when they are in a crisis.

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

Children have become increasingly safe, and their risks have reduced since living in the home. Comprehensive risk assessments and behaviour management plans are clear and concise, and they are reviewed regularly to ensure that staff have the most appropriate plans in place to guide practice.

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

When serious incidents have occurred, the manager and the staff team work collaboratively with a range of professionals to report concerns, share knowledge and identify themes to prevent repeated patterns of behaviour. This promotes effective safeguarding as part of a multi-disciplinary approach to care and support.

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

When children have used derogatory language and made insulting comments about marginalised groups in society, staff have carried out detailed, effective direct work with children to address their behaviour. One child who previously had ‘Prevent’ intervention no longer requires this support. Staff continue to provide advice and guidance to ensure that children are aware of the legal implications behind making such comments.

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

Positive behaviour is effectively promoted. Staff provide consistent support that helps children to recognise and understand their feelings and emotions, enabling them to manage their behaviour safely. This supports children to develop a clear understanding of expectations and reinforces their experience of being cared for by adults who prioritise their welfare. Direct work is undertaken with children, helping them to reflect on the impact of their emotions, behaviours and actions on others. This approach promotes accountability and supports the development of healthy and respectful peer relationships.

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

The manager has developed and embedded highly effective strategies that enable children to reflect on their thoughts with emotional insight. These approaches, which have been devised in consultation with the in-house therapist, promote meaningful co-regulation and help children to gain a strong sense of perspective. As a result, children experience significantly reduced anxiety and feel more emotionally secure. On one occasion when a child was frustrated, a member of staff demonstrated exceptional Inspection report for children's home: 2645901 5 empathy and understanding of the child’s lived experiences, which meant the situation was diffused effectively and quickly, and the relationship was quickly repaired.

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

Staff spoken to were confident with the whistleblowing procedure, maintaining professional boundaries, and what to do if they felt a closed culture was emerging. Staff felt confident that leaders and managers would take direct action to address safeguarding concerns of this kind.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Since the last inspection, the manager has been registered at another home run by the organisation. Despite this additional responsibility, the manager has continued to consistently demonstrate highly effective leadership and management across this home. She is supported by an enthusiastic, committed deputy manager. Together, they provide consistent leadership to the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Management oversight of staff practice is firmly embedded. Robust monitoring systems ensure that leaders and managers maintain clear and comprehensive oversight of all aspects of the service. Quality assurance processes are highly effective, providing an additional layer of scrutiny that supports continuous development in practice. The manager demonstrates a clear commitment to driving ongoing improvements to the quality of the home and the impact this has on children’s outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager advocates assertively for children, escalating concerns when delays in care planning emerge. She appropriately challenges senior leaders and external professionals to prevent drift and to maintain focus on positive outcomes for children. Her proactive and consistent approach when collaboratively working with partner agencies ensures that children receive well-coordinated, needs-led support, with children at the heart of all decision-making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from external professionals regarding the leadership and management of the home is extremely positive. One professional who has been working with one child and with a previous child who has since left the home said, ‘This is a fantastic home for young people who are known to youth justice. The staff team provide open and transparent communication, and when there are complexities, they are really proactive.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that staff learning is closely associated with the needs of the children. Before one child came to live at the home, the manager coordinated training for the whole staff team to help staff become more familiar and adept at managing the child’s medical needs. This has contributed to the child achieving and maintaining positive health outcomes, resulting in increased confidence and consistent engagement in physical activities from which they can see their personal growth.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff report that supervision is exceptionally valuable. Records are of a consistently high quality; they are clear, focused and demonstrate purposeful professional reflection. They Inspection report for children's home: 2645901 6 clearly identify individual professional development goals, which promotes a healthy work-life balance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff said that they find it useful when the manager incorporates supervision discussion tools and methodology such as the ‘window of tolerance’ into individual sessions, as this encourages critical thinking and promotes emotional resilience, which contributes to positive staff morale and low sickness levels.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations have been raised.

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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: 2645901 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oasis Adolescent Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hobart House, Oakwater Avenue, Cheadle Royal Business Park, Cheadle SK8 3SR

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Inspector

Michelle Greenhalgh, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2645901 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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