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

Unique reference number SC065261 Inspection date 18/03/2014 Inspector Bridget Goddard Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Residential special school (>295 days/year)

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Date of last inspection 13/03/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This national private organisation 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.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress .

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Progress

At the full inspection in November 2013, this home received a good judgement overall, and was given two requirements and three recommendations. The home has met the requirements and most of the recommendations and overall is making good progress.

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Progress

The first requirement concerned ensuring that the Regulation 33 monitoring visitor interviewed children, parents, and those working at the home. These monthly visits are now reported in a clearer format, which routinely includes interactions with children and staff members. Parents are interviewed as and when they are on site, and their views are also taken into account by twice-yearly questionnaires. This means that the monitoring visitor can use all of these views to help form an opinion about the quality of care offered. This requirement is therefore met.

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Progress

The second requirement involved implementation of the written policy in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. This has been well-met through general and specific awareness raising, and on-going auditing of supervision records. This requirement is also met.

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Progress

The first recommendation involved identifying advocacy options for young people. The home has achieved some individual successes in this, and is hopeful of successfully commissioning a particular service to offer this more widely. This means that young people, especially those who are particularly vulnerable and isolated will have someone to specifically promote their best interests.

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Progress

The second recommendation concerned young people having individualised care in relation to the frequency of body maps. The home has made progress to meet this recommendation, but has not yet fully completed it. The home have thought through a sound set of principles for establishing the individual frequency of body mapping, and have formulated a process to record this. However, not all staff are aware of this approach yet, and so this recommendation will be repeated.

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Progress

The final recommendation referred to ensuring that recruitment checks relating to references were robustly completed. This has been competently met by a revised form and process.

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Progress

Young people continue to make good progress in this home, and learn new skills which will help prepare them for a more fulfilling adult life. For example, some young people can ride a bike, and others have learnt skills in self-regulation to use when everyday life frustrates them. Staff generally offer thoughtful and sensitive care and now feel well-supported by managers, although not everyone routinely receives formal, written supervision.

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Progress

The home is currently in transition from one behaviour management and restraint model to another. Staff are generally positive about the advantages of the new model, but some are concerned that they have had insufficient opportunities to practice new holds.

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Progress

Although the home still has a significant number of high level restraints, staff are very aware of the exceptional circumstances under which such measures can be used. If used, those young people are carefully monitored and all have risk reduction plans in place. These plans have been successful with some young people who no longer have high level restraints.

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Progress

Three recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that all staff understand, share and implement the home's approach to caring for children. This particularly relates to the use of body maps (NMS 3.4)  ensure that a written or electronic record is kept by the home detailing the time, date and length of each supervision held for each member of staff, including the registered person. The record is signed by the supervisor and the member of staff at the end of the supervision (NMS 19.5)  ensure that there is a good quality learning and development programme which staff and volunteers are supported to undertake. This specifically relates to ensuring that staff have sufficient opportunity to practice new restraint holds. (NMS 18.1)

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

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

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