Children's Home run by Oakland Support Services Ltd in Medway

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2721681 1 Registered provider: Oakland Support Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company and was registered in June 2023. The home provides care for up to 4 children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were 2 children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to assess the provider’s progress in relation to 2 compliance notices that were issued following the full inspection in June 2026, and adherence to the notice of restriction of accommodation that was imposed, meaning no further children could move into the home. The compliance notices related to regulation 12, the protection of children, and regulation 13, leadership and management. Following this visit, the compliance notices were deemed to have been met and the notice of restriction was lifted.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the proposed manager of the home resigned from their post and withdrew their application to register with Ofsted. A new interim manager is leading the home and has supported the responsible individual in addressing the previous concerns. The provider is still seeking to employ a permanent registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

Staff said there have been several changes in the home. They have attended specific training to support them to better understand contextual safeguarding and reporting expectations. Safeguarding conversations are now included in all supervisions, team meetings and reflective sessions. Supervisions are now happening regularly, and the frequency of team meetings has increased. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2721681 2 Staff have a better understanding of risks to children and have implemented more stringent measure to keep children safe in the community. One child now has access to a smartphone, with parental restrictions, and staff support children to understand their own vulnerabilities on social media. Staff have been retrained in physical intervention, although this has not been used since the last inspection. Staff have continued to build on their positive relationships with children, which have enabled

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This monitoring visit

constructive discussions around difficult subjects.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have implemented more stringent checks on documents and there is now a weekly audit by the responsible individual. They have created a more streamlined reporting process to ensure that concerns are not overlooked or missed. This is providing leaders and managers with clearer oversight of the provision.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have updated polices to give a clear reporting process for concerns. For disciplinary processes, there are named people responsible for each step of the process. If concerns are about the registered individual, who is also the director, there is now clear guidance on where to report this.

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This monitoring visit

The remaining requirement and recommendation will be reviewed as part of the next inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/06/2026 Full Inadequate 28/05/2025 Full Good 14/01/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/09/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2721681 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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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

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 28 August 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff build a positive relationship with each child and help the child develop skills to have positive relationships with others, including family. In particular, staff should ensure they maintain the communication methods chosen with family and address family time issues with them immediately, to ensure the best interests of the children are maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.6)

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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: 2721681 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oakland Support Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 9 Grover Gardens, Romford RM5 2EA

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Inspector

Emma Blake, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2721681 5 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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