Children's Home run by Oaktree Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2808157 1 Registered provider: Oaktree Childcare 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 owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for one child, who may experience social and emotional difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in November 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2808157 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/05/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2808157 3

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Summary of findings

The manager ensures that the planning for children moving in and out of the home is robust. Staff are nurturing and caring and are developing trusting relationships with the child. The child’s health needs are well understood. However, the child’s attendance at school is not yet consistent.

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Summary of findings

The child feels safe and happy and there are clear risk assessments in place, however, these are not consistently followed by staff.

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Summary of findings

Missing from home incidents are well managed and there is clear multi-agency working. The manager is experienced and has good oversight of the day-to-day practice, he ensures that staff are supported through regular training, supervision and team meetings. Staff feel valued and confident in their roles.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager develops detailed, child-centred plans to support children moving in and out of the home. After living at the home for over 12 months, one child successfully moved to a home closer to their family. Staff continue to maintain contact with the child, showing the positive and meaningful relationships they have established.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Before the current child moved into the home, the manager thoroughly reviewed all available information to identify the child’s level of need and any complexities. He ensured that staff had the appropriate skills and knowledge to meet these needs effectively. Staff welcomed the child sensitively and their needs are being met well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are nurturing, caring and committed to making a positive difference to children’s lives. They are trained and skilled in delivering the company’s therapeutic model of care and apply this consistently in their day-to day practice. The company therapist oversees this work and provides guidance and support to staff, helping them to understand and respond to the child’s needs effectively. As a result, the child is starting to develop trusting relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although the manager has identified a suitable school placement for the child, attendance remains inconsistent due to their history of significant disruption to their education. When the child is not attending school, staff do not yet provide a sufficiently structured daily routine that promotes both formal and informal learning opportunities. In addition, staff do not consistently help the child to understand the value of education and the positive impact it can have on their future opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is in good health. Staff have a good understanding of the child’s health needs and past traumas. Through their therapeutic support, the child is developing a better understanding of their emotions and how this effects their mental health. Staff regularly Inspection report for children’s home: 2808157 4 educate the child on health issues, such as the dangers of vaping and drug misuse, alongside the benefits of healthy eating and exercise.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff appropriately support the child to safely attend activities, both in the home and in the community. The child enjoys walks, visits to animal sanctuaries, trips to the cinema, cooking, arts, crafts and bowling. This is helping the child to develop their self-esteem and confidence.

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

Due to the child’s complex needs and vulnerabilities, a deprivation of liberty order is in place that permits high levels of supervision and restriction. Staff adjust these measures in line with the child’s presenting needs, increasing or reducing restrictions as appropriate. Through regular discussions, staff help the child to understand why these restrictions are necessary and how they support their safety and wellbeing.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s risks, needs and vulnerabilities. The manager provides clear and robust risk management plans that guide staff practice and support the child’s safety. These plans are reviewed and updated, when necessary, to ensure that they remain effective and relevant. However, on one occasion, staff did not follow the agreed strategies and missed an opportunity to intervene at an early stage to prevent the child from going missing.

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

Staff do respond appropriately when the child is missing from home and they follow the clear procedures in place. They work with other professionals and actively search for the child until they return safely. One professional said, ‘This is the best staff team with which I have worked with. They actively look for the child even in the child’s hometown, which is a distance from the home when they believe the child may be there. They are child centred and support the child to return home safely.’

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

Staff are proportionate in their approach to managing the child’s behaviour. They encourage the child to make positive choices through praise, encouragement and incentives. Appropriate and relevant consequences are used in response to negative behaviour. Physical intervention is only used to protect the child from harm. Following any incidents of physical intervention, the child is spoken with, so they understand why the intervention was necessary.

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

The child’s views, wishes and feelings remain central to decision-making. Staff regularly engage the child in discussions about personal safety and encourage them to share any worries or concerns. The manager has advocated for the child by raising an issue about the practice of another professional. He ensured that this was fully investigated and kept the child informed during the process.

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

The home is a comfortable, clean, tidy and welcoming environment. Staff have supported the child to personalise their bedroom and there are photos and artwork Inspection report for children’s home: 2808157 5 created by the child displayed around the home. The manager ensures that the home continues to be a safe place for the child to live.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides effective leadership and support to the staff team and the child. He is experienced, enthusiastic, caring and child-centred in his approach. As a positive role model, he leads by example and promotes high standards of care. Through robust monitoring and management systems, he maintains good oversight of the day-to-day practice and the quality of care delivered. He has completed a comprehensive review of the quality of care, which includes feedback from others and the strengths and areas for development to improve the quality of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A stable and committed staff team provides the child with consistency and continuity of care. The staff team share the manager’s aspirations for the child. There is a strong culture of teamwork. Staff are given the opportunity to play an active role in the day-to- day running of the home by taking on extra responsibilities. This gives them shared ownership, builds on their confidence and supports their ongoing development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff continually develop their knowledge and skills by accessing a comprehensive training programme. The manager has good oversight of each staff member’s training needs and ensures that additional training is completed if gaps in their knowledge are identified. As a result, staff have the skills to continue to meet the child’s needs. However, the manager has not ensured that one staff member has completed the required qualification in the appropriate timescale.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides staff with regular supervision and appraisal sessions that support their development and wellbeing. These sessions enable staff to reflect on their practice, discuss challenges and receive guidance to enhance their knowledge and skills. One staff member said, `The manager is approachable, supportive and readily available to provide guidance whenever it is needed. In my role as a residential childcare worker and key worker, I feel well supported and valued, enabling me to carry out my responsibilities effectively.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular team meetings provide opportunities for staff and managers to share information, discuss practice issues and identify areas for improvement. These sessions are used to strengthen staff knowledge through workshops, learning activities and quizzes. Staff value these opportunities as they enhance their confidence in fulfilling their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent person visits the home each month and produces detailed reports that evaluate the quality of care provided. However, the manager has not ensured that the independent person routinely seeks the views of the child’s parents as part of this process. This is a missed opportunity to gain a fuller understanding of the quality of care being provided. Inspection report for children’s home: 2808157 6 The manager works proactively with other professionals. He understands the importance of effective communication and will challenge other professionals when he identifies shortfalls in the service and support provided to the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2808157 7

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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

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

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

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff follow the child’s risk assessments and Deprivation of Liberty Order and intervene appropriately to prevent the child from going missing from the home. 8 September 2026

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. 8 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2808157 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that staff— support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally.

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment;

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(v)(ix))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the independent person offers parents the opportunity to speak to them about the quality of care provided for their child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)  The registered person should ensure that all staff in a care role have the qualification as set out in regulation 32(4), or equivalent in the appropriate timescales. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraphs 10.12)

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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: 2808157 9

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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

Simon Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2808157 10 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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