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

Unique reference number SC065261 Inspection date 01/12/2011 Inspector Clare Davies Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 24/02/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

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 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

p.3

About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

p.3

The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Satisfactory : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

p.3

Brief description of the service

The school provides care and accommodation for up to 60 students with autistic spectrum disorder and learning difficulties. 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.

p.4

Brief description of the service

Students are accommodated in eight on-site living units and one off-site in a neighbouring village. 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.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Young people receive extensive support from dedicated staff delivering an excellent quality of care. There are high aspirations for young people, and the enthusiasm and commitment from the staff contribute to this outstanding provision.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The quality of care is highly personalised and effective in providing a safe, healthy and stimulating environment. Young people enjoy the purposeful activities and opportunities to integrate with community events. Young people are secure in their surroundings, feeling safe and consequently happy. They are able to form good quality relationships with staff who are creative in seeking young people's views through varied methods of communication. Staff from all departments focus on the young people at the centre of their work and are innovative in ensuring there is equal access to opportunities wherever possible, challenging the barriers to disability.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The leadership and management include effective monitoring systems and this service continually strives to develop. A proactive approach is taken to further improve the outcomes for young people.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Highly personalised care from staff across all departments contributes to young people making exceptional progress in their personal development. The multi- disciplinary team approach contributes to the success of young people achieving their personal targets as they benefit from bespoke programmes of therapy. This enables young people to develop in confidence and form a positive self view. Young people are supported in following a healthy lifestyle through physical activities and a nutritious diet. Young people enjoy the use of the sports hall, playground and fitness centre on site as well as visiting leisure facilities in the community. Guidance from an occupational therapist ensures that young people are encouraged to develop their posture and movement in a safe and supportive manner to improve their physical abilities. Imaginative and adaptable methods of communication support young people to make informed decisions and express themselves.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from the collective skills of the therapy team available at this provision. In addition young people access some community health services such as a dentist and an optician. This contributes to young people developing their independence and becoming familiar with community resources.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

As a residential school, young people access education on site. Residential and teaching staff work collaboratively to provide a waking day curriculum. This ensures that young people receive consistent messages about their learning and work towards targets in their classroom and within their living groups. By staff working together across departments this ensures that targets are achieved and adjusted to stretch the development of young people further. Progress, no matter how small, is celebrated and young people respond well to such praise.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people contribute well to the running of the school and their living groups, supported by the dynamic communication skills of the staff teams. The involvement of young people is creative and purposeful. Use of pictures, symbols and sign language stimulates communication and participation. This ensures that young people feel listened to and their contribution valued. There are links with the wider community where young people deliver community newspapers, collect and deposit recycling materials, visit local events and attractions and join-in with some local clubs. This level of community involvement builds up the confidence of young people and enables them to participate in their local community.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

With support from staff young people are encouraged to develop personal and life skills. Staff record young people's achievements, this contributes to the enhancement of self-esteem and stimulation for further progress. For example, young people who use a spoon at mealtimes are supported to use a fork instead and finally a knife and fork. Similarly with dressing and personal care, young people are supported to achieve their maximum potential.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported when contacting their families through visits, telephone calls and video calls through the internet. Staff provide emotional support at these times and assist young people in making sense of their lives and why they are not living with their families.

p.5

Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

p.5

Quality of care

A strength of this service is the commitment and dedication of all staff who place the wellbeing of young people at the centre of their practice. Young people are able to build relationships with staff members, receiving consistency in care and boundaries, this enables young people to feel secure in their placement. Parents say, 'the staff are very courteous, professional and caring'. 'The care and support is outstanding'. 'The child's needs are always a priority'.

p.5

Quality of care

Staff are ambitious for young people and display immense pride and joy when talking about young people's achievements. When young people achieve a personal skill for the first time or engage in new communication, there are big celebrations and congratulatory praise. This helps young people to develop their self-esteem and gain in confidence.

p.6

Quality of care

Staff challenge the barriers faced by young people with a learning disability and promote inclusion; this ensures that whenever possible, young people have access to services and facilities enjoyed by other young people. Some complex needs of the young people challenge the staff to become creative and resourceful. For example, where furniture has been damaged through a young person's distress, the staff are keen to replace it with better quality and more robust in design. For young people who become extremely anxious having mealtimes with others or attending a classroom, alternative solutions are put in place with the aim of working towards integration. This meets the individual needs of young people whilst preparing them to develop emotionally and socially.

p.6

Quality of care

Staff are able to meet young people's care needs relating to their cultural background and their personal identity. The mixed gender staff team is made up from a diverse range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This fosters a culture where difference is explored and celebrated.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people have access to the complaints procedure in each house. Through using photographs of key staff and picture symbols, the procedure informs young people of who can support them with a worry or complaint. This child focussed document is one of many examples of excellent practice with the inclusion of young people being a top priority. Similarly there is a social story using picture symbols to explain the role of Ofsted and the inspector. Complaints are effectively responded to and there are many compliments that demonstrate some high levels of satisfaction from parents. Parents report, 'this school is exceptional in its diligence and care', 'it is a pleasure for us to observe our child's progress' and 'my child's progress has been phenomenal'.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people are involved in care planning and the review of their care wherever possible. Staff are proactive and imaginative in finding ways to establish the views and wishes of young people. Pictures, symbols, photographs use of a computer are used to select and identify likes, dislikes and a range of emotions. This creative approach engages young people in their care planning process.

p.6

Quality of care

There are sound systems for the management of medication. Some young people have complex health care needs that are managed well by the range of professional skills available on site. This supports parents in the knowledge that their child is being cared for by competent, medically trained staff. Parents report how they value the fact that this service has a multi-disciplinary team on site who are integral to the young people's care.

p.6

Quality of care

This service has an excellent range of facilities and resources to enable young people to experience purposeful and enjoyable activities. Sensory toys and stimulation provide interaction for many young people and a secure outdoor area and a sports hall provides a safe space for games and play equipment. Books and toys promote the educational development. All staff are aware of young people's targets within education, this ensures that the waking day is supported with learning outside of school hours. Good staffing levels enable young people to enjoy these activities alone or part as a group. This meets their individual needs and provides opportunities for social interaction with others.

p.7

Quality of care

There are eight separate living groups providing accommodation across the site and one house located in a nearby village. With the majority of the accommodation on the same site as the school this supports young people who struggle with transitions and avoids the need to use transport. Each living group has its own character providing a well-maintained environment. Any damage to the residential areas are promptly repaired or replaced to ensure that young people live in a pleasant homely environment. Some young people have selected the colour scheme and some soft furnishings for some areas of their house and bedroom. This consultation values the views of young people as they make a contribution to the development of the service.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are safe in this provision and their development and progress is indicative of the security they experience. Staff are very knowledgeable about the particular vulnerabilities of the young people and have a range of effective risk assessment documents to reduce known risks. This ensures young people can take an active part in activities, on and off site, with measures in place to keep them safe. For example, some young people are very inquisitive when out in the community and may require additional staffing to support them. Careful selection for a group activity or outing ensures young people are less likely to become upset by others in the group whilst ensuring no-one is denied an opportunity to take part.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

The supervision provided from good staffing levels minimises the risk of young people going missing. Procedures are known by staff if this situation should arise, this ensures prompt action can be taken and liaison with the police to secure the safety of any missing young person. Social stories and discussions have alerted young people to matters of safety such as the dangers of wandering away from the adults supporting them and how to respond upon hearing the fire alarm. This level of communication and reinforcement provides a structured environment for the young people enabling them to understand the potential dangers. The staff team receive regular training in safeguarding and there is a culture of reporting any concern about the welfare of the young people. This high level of awareness demonstrates a robust understanding of the need to promote the safety and well-being of all young people. Staff communicate clear boundaries and

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

expectations; this enables young people to begin to modify some of their behaviour and for some, they learn about consequences for their actions. Reward charts are effective for some young people, these provide a visual target and promote praise and recognition for positive behaviour.

p.8

Safeguarding children and young people

Behaviour support plans are excellent documents providing an understanding of the behaviour exhibited and details of strategies for staff to use to support young people. These documents ensure that young people receive a consistent response from all the adults involved in their care; this contributes to improved behaviour and progression in their personal development. Psychologists and therapists work effectively together with care and education staff to create and review strategies in managing some challenging behaviours exhibited. This co-ordinated approach ensures the most suitable support is made available. The psychology team closely monitor reports of incidents of behaviour, this enables patterns and trends to be identified and contribute to the review of any support plans.

p.8

Safeguarding children and young people

Comprehensive records detail incidents of behaviour and any physical intervention. The senior managers have further improved this level of recording to closely monitor incidents that involve the restraint of any young person. This level of monitoring ensures that staff are effectively trained and that young people are receiving the most appropriate level of support and intervention when distressed.

p.8

Safeguarding children and young people

The provider adopts a robust procedure to employ new staff following safer recruitment practices, this also applies to volunteers, ensuring young people are protected from unchecked adults. There is a rigorous approach to health and safety matters, fire detection and prevention. This is underpinned by policies, procedures and training that alert staff to their roles and levels of responsibility. As a result, young people benefit from a safe environment and this has a positive impact on their welfare.

p.8

Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding .

p.8

Leadership and management

Young people benefit from this outstanding service which is managed extremely well with effective leadership. Two recommendations made at the last inspection have been addressed satisfactorily; personal information is not on display and young people's risk assessments are up to date.

p.8

Leadership and management

The Registered Manager ensures the living groups are well organised and staffed to ensure that young people receive stability and consistency of care. The senior leadership team is both approachable and supportive, which is appreciated by staff and parents. Young people know the senior leadership team through their involvement in providing support whilst covering for care staff absence and being visible around the site and involved in the day to day events. The senior leadership team ensure that they are actively able to consult with young people, this ensures young people's views are considered when making decisions.

p.8

Leadership and management

This service is proactive in engaging and collaborating with other professionals and agencies in order to support young people and improve the quality of service. Parents and carers reported high levels of satisfaction with the care provided by this service.

p.9

Leadership and management

Young people receive high quality care from an experienced and skilled staff group who are committed to achieving the best outcomes. New staff say they are welcomed and provided with a thorough induction and training programme; this ensures they are equipped to effectively support the young people. Staff are provided with details of new legislation and practise developments to keep abreast of social care issues and those specific to autism. The manager ensures that the service fulfils its commitment to young people as laid out in the Statement of Purpose and young people's guide.

p.9

Leadership and management

Young people benefit from being cared for by staff members who feel supported in their work through regular supervision and good training opportunities. Staff report that they have ready access to the manager, the senior leadership team and the professionals within the multi-disciplinary team. This collaborative working contributes to stimulating the enthusiasm of the staff teams and good outcomes for young people are achieved as a result.

p.9

Leadership and management

Record keeping is generally very comprehensive with good systems in place for effective monitoring of the development and progress of young people. The senior leadership team understand the strengths and weaknesses of the service, learning from monitoring and inspection activities to improve practice.

p.9

Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

p.9