Children's Home run by North East Autism Society in Durham

Unique reference number SC458754 Visit date 23/10/2014 Inspector Mark Broomhead Monitoring report for a Children's Home Monitoring Report: SC458754, 23/10/2014 2 of 5

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Brief description of the service

The home is owned and operated by a charitable organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to nine young people with learning disabilities.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

At the last inspection, which concluded on 24 September 2014, the inspector was concerned about the provider’s ability to keep children and young people safe. As a result, Ofsted issued two compliance notices. One related to Regulation 11, Promotion of welfare, and the second related to Regulation 25, Staffing of the children’s home. In addition, the inspector set requirements for the home to meet Regulations: 4, Statement of purpose; 16, Arrangement of the protection of children; 25, Staffing of the children’s home; 30, Notifiable events; and 34, Review of quality of care.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

Following a case review, a notice of restriction of accommodation was served on the provider which would not allow any new admissions until Ofsted was satisfied that children were safe. This was because the provider was unable to demonstrate sustained improvements following previous compliance notices, that supervision was not sufficient and that action taken following allegations against staff did not follow procedures and was not conducted in a timely manner.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

In order to evaluate the progress the provider has made in addressing these concerns a monitoring visit was undertaken on 23 October 2014.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

The provider demonstrated that five established members of staff had been transferred to the home. This also provided the Registered Manager with two deputy managers and a senior.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

As a result of the increase in experienced staff, the number of agency staff has significantly reduced. Effective deployment of staff now means that children and young people have a staff team that can manage their needs more effectively.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

The Registered Manager has taken steps to ensure that staff who are not yet qualified, but have successfully passed induction and training, focus on completing their required level of qualification.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

If agency staff are used to cover some shifts, the Registered Manager chooses those shifts to allow for less impact on children and young people for example, to cover night duties when children and young people are asleep.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

The Registered Manager showed the inspector the lounge and dining area. This has been rearranged to improve the ability of staff to supervise more effectively. Action has been Monitoring Report: SC458754, 23/10/2014 4 of 5

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Outcome of monitoring visit

taken to ensure staff provide the appropriate level of supervision to children and young people to reduce their risk of harm. The changes made to staffing, outlined earlier in this report, will also contribute to the reduction of risk as a result of the impact their increased levels of experience will have on supervision of children and young people.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

Following the inspection, an addition has been made to the safeguarding policy which now makes it clear what action must be taken in the event of an allegation. Since this modification, there have not been any allegations and so the effectiveness of the change cannot be fully tested. This aspect will be reviewed at the next inspection to measure the effectiveness of the change.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

The provider has engaged an external trainer to develop the skills of staff members to allow them to investigate allegations. This would only take place once the local authority designated officer has agreed that an internal investigation takes place. This will allow the provider to investigate quickly should there be any allegations made in the future, and reduce the anxiety faced by staff who may be suspended. The introduction of this training will allow staff to return to work sooner, where appropriate, and reduce the impact of changes in staffing caused through suspension of staff. This will reduce the impact on children and young people adapting to changes in the staffing team.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

At the conclusion of the monitoring visit a case review was held which decided that both compliance notices had been met. As a result of evidence gathered by the inspector, Ofsted was of the view that the restriction of accommodation was no longer necessary. The provider acknowledged that new admissions to the home would be suspended to allow the new staff team and changes made to improve the service to become embedded in practice.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

The Registered Manager was also able to provide evidence that confirmed that the home was meeting the regulations that were subject to requirements in the previous inspection report. A requirement in the report that remains outstanding is that the provider must ensure that employment of any person on a temporary basis will not prevent children and young people from receiving such continuity of care as is reasonable to meet their needs. To allow the provider to demonstrate that this regulation is being met, a timescales has been placed on the requirement of 18 February 2015.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

The provider must ensure that the improvements that have been made are sustained.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

Future inspections will review the improvements made as a result of raising the two compliance notices, in addition to the requirements, to ensure that the level of care is maintained and that regulations continue to be met. Monitoring Report: SC458754, 23/10/2014 5 of 5

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About this monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and progress made by the Children's Home following an Ofsted inspection.

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