Children's Home, Residential special school run by Cambian Autism Services Limited in Dorset

SC065261 Unique reference number 3 March 2010 Inspection date Clare Davies Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children's Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Cripins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcome for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and relevant National Minimum Standards for the establishment.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is strong Good: this aspect of the provision is sound Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is not good enough Inadequate: 3 of 6 Inspection Report: SC065261

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Brief description of the service

The school provides care and accommodation for up to 57 students with Autistic Spectrum Disorder between the ages of nine and 19 years. It operates as a residential special school which also provides accommodation for a number of students requiring 52 weeks boarding and is therefore registered as a Children's Home.

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Brief description of the service

Students are accommodated in eight on-site living units and one off-site in a neighbouring village. Four living units providing 38 week care are located within the main building and the remaining four living units providing 52 week care are located in the school grounds.

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Brief description of the service

The school is set in sufficient grounds to support outside activities and close proximity to the town ensuring that the school is integrated into the community. The provider has additional registered services for children and young adults with autism.

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection, which was undertaken to assess how well the home is working to keep the students safe and to consider the single recommendation made at the last inspection. All key standards in staying safe were assessed and the overall judgement remains unchanged.

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Summary

The service continues to have an outstanding commitment to safeguarding. Students' behaviour is managed very well and staff receive clear guidance and training on how to best meet the their needs and preferences. Students are fully protected by robust recruitment procedures and comprehensive health and safety policies.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is outstanding. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There was one recommendation made at the last inspection to improve practice in the outcome area of organisation. The school demonstrates a commitment to continuing to achieve a qualified workforce, although they have still not reached the recommended target. The recommendation has been carried forward and will be assessed at next key inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. High staffing ratios ensure that students are supervised in a safe environment. There are opportunities for students to have some privacy in their own rooms and during personal care routines. Staff training covers areas of dignity and respect in relation to caring for students with special needs and autism. There are systems in place to make a complaint, either from a student, a parent or someone external such as a neighbour. The head teacher maintains comprehensive records of any such complaint, any investigation and subsequent outcomes. Students are supported in expressing their dissatisfaction through varied methods of 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC065261 communication, staff are skilled in recognising any behavioural changes and a multi-disciplinary approach is taken to consider what the problem may be.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The Registered Manager and senior staff act as designated people for child protection ensuring that there is always someone trained in this role providing 24 hour senior cover. They are all suitably skilled in this area and maintain regular liaison with the local authority safeguarding teams for children and younger adults. The school embraces multi-agency working, recognising the importance of working together for the benefit and safety of the students and the staff. All new staff receive a briefing on child protection procedures as part of their induction followed by updates and training events ensuring all staff receive training annually. To counter any bullying, there are good staffing levels and such incidents are addressed through behaviour management and individual placement plans.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Students with autism often have little or no awareness of the impact of their own behaviour on others. Resident psychologists collate information relating to types of behaviour displayed and recommend strategies for all staff to use to modify some behaviours exhibited. Staff are suitably trained in de-escalation techniques and physical intervention, they work with students on an individual approach to promote positive behaviour. Comprehensive records are made daily and the record books accompany students from the residential unit to the classroom and return. With verbal handovers from education and care staff teams, these transitions and daily records ensure consistency for students and a staff awareness as to what sort of day each student has had. Methods of communication are linked to behaviour management as many students become frustrated by not being able to express themselves enough to be understood

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

by their carers. A fantastic range of symbols, pictures, sign language and computer programmes support staff in communicating with students. For example a traffic light system of coloured cards can be taken off a chart or pointed at to say, 'I am OK', 'I need help' or 'I am now upset'. Staff across the school work together to identify suitable strategies to support students, identifying risks and how to minimise them. There are regular multi-disciplinary team meetings to review progress and consider any amendments to behaviour plans.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Excellent attention is given to health and safety across the site with dedicated staff to undertake routine checks on fire safety, maintenance and any reported hazards. Regular fire drills take place and the time taken to evacuate is monitored ensuring staff and students can get out of buildings safely. Risk assessments are in place in relation to fire, the environment, activities on and off site. To improve site safety for students, a separate path has been created to avoid walking on the drive used by vehicles. There is a robust procedure adopting good practice for safer recruitment. Recruitment is managed centrally by key people ensuring checks have been completed before permitting new staff to care for students.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is not judged. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC065261

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. One standard relating to staff qualifications was assessed under this outcome area to consider the

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Organisation

recommendation made at the last inspection. The provider is committed to meeting the target of having 80% of care staff qualified at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People, National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) and at the end of March 2010, an increase of care staff will hold this award of 58.8%. There is a large number of staff in post who receive many training opportunities in addition to NVQ awards. Senior staff are training to become NVQ assessors and verifiers to support care staff in achieving these awards. With such an extensive training programme for staff, the impact on students by not meeting this recommendation is low and therefore the judgement remains the same.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person meets the Care Standards Act 2000, The Childrens Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider must comply with the given timescales.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • continue to work towards a minimum of 80% of all care staff having completed their NVQ Level 3 in care or equivalent (NMS 29.5). 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC065261

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