Children's Home, Residential special school run by Cambian Asperger Syndrome Services Limited in Hampshire

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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because:

The home was registered as a children’s home in the past year as it was previously registered as a Residential Special School. Changes and improvements have been made but these currently do not meet the standard required to be a good children’s home.  There have been incidents in which restraint has unnecessarily restricted the liberty of the young people involved.  There has been a high turn over of staff which has impacted on the quality and  consistency of care provided.  Health care plans are not present; health information is not collated into a  single document.  The ethos of the home as described within the statement of purpose is not yet  visible throughout the home.  Policies and procedures do not reflect the requirements as set within  regulation for a Childrens home.

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The children's home strengths

 The staff team are committed, experienced and knowledgeable about the  needs of those in their care.  The variety of activities available to young people allows them to develop new  skills and enjoy new experiences.  Some houses have a homely, relaxed feel to them and the young people value  and invest in it.  Young people have good relationships with staff and have a person they trust.  The support available to young people considers their holistic needs with a  therapeutic approach being intrinsic to care plans.  Bullying is swiftly managed with a restorative approach to conflict resolution.  Young people are involved in aspects of care planning and their views are  sought regarding decisions which impact on them.  Food available is of good quality offers choice and staff gain young people’s  views regarding menus.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that restraint is applied only for the purpose of preventing injury or serious damage, and that it is necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a) and (2)) 01/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure when using devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children that the child's placing authority consents in writing to its use and, so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child's age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance. (Regulation 24 (1)(b)(c)) 01/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person is required to:

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Requirement Due date

2 (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

(c) ensure that staff have the experiences, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

(d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

(f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. 01/02/2016

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Information about this children's home

 The home is registered to care for 53 young people with a learning disability accommodated across nine houses on the site.  It is privately owned by a large group who specialise in providing specialist education and care.  Care is provided to children and young people with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder, usually Asperger’s syndrome or High Functioning Autism.  The home provides a nurturing therapeutic approach to care.  All young people access the school which is located on site. This is its first inspection of this residential special school since it has registered as a children’s home.

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requires improvement

Young people are settled and make discernible progress within the home. They enjoy positive relationships with staff, and often with each other.

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requires improvement

Health plans are not drawn together; health detail is present but has not been formulated into a single health action plan. Emotional well-being is very well supported through the therapy team; it is integral to practice and care plans. A wide variety of therapies are accessed with a positive impact to young people’s capacity to manage feelings and behaviour.

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requires improvement

Education is promoted with all levels of academic learning being accessed. Inventive strategies and individual plans have led to young people being engaged in education and achieving within their capabilities. One young person has been supported to set up a small business with a key interest in antiques being his focus. Work experiences opportunities have been sought (or paid work), developing skills and life opportunities. Communication between staff and education promotes positive transitions between home and school.

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requires improvement

A wide variety of social activities and clubs provides something for all with each young person accessing an activity of their choosing. Young people access local community services and associations utilising services offered. All young people are encouraged to develop their life skills by assisting in managing in house clubs such as helping to run the tuck shop.

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requires improvement

Young people’s views are regularly sought on aspects regarding how the home is run through house meetings, school council, questionnaires, referendums and request forms. Young people are encouraged to attend reviews and care planning meetings. Staff have begun to collate ‘life books’ and display photographs but as yet this is not embedded across the whole setting.

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requires improvement

Some houses have a homely relaxed feel to them providing a home-from-home atmosphere while others continue to require ongoing development to create this. It is evident in some houses that the sense of belonging and investment by young people is contributing to the positive feel.

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requires improvement

Young people have positive relationships with key staff and peers. Young people will ask for support when required from trusted adults. Staff provide positive role models to young people, for example by talking through issues and situations of conflict and exploring strategies to manage better. Rewards used promote good behaviour with young people proud of their achievements. A visual token system promotes working towards achieving larger rewards of an individual’s choosing. Sanctions used are permissible and effective to key individuals. Consideration should be given to ensure school sanctions are applied, but do not carry over into home life unless so serious this would be so even if the child was not living at a residential school.

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requires improvement

Young people feel safe and know how to seek assistance and ask for help. They are aware of the complaints process as it is visible in each house and is explored in key sessions. The young person’s guide refers to complaints though more detail is needed. The guide is in an easy read format but does not contain all required elements of the regulations.

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requires improvement

Risks are identified and plans altered to ensure they include how to minimise risk. This is completed in a multi-disciplinary manner with all stakeholders contributing to plans though some require review and update. Risk assessments allow for young people to take age-appropriate risks which promote their independence and development.

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requires improvement

Safeguarding concerns are well managed and reviewed and referral to statutory organisation occurs when required. Policy and procedure is detailed, robust and effective.

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requires improvement

There has been one episode of missing which was well managed; the policy requires review to ensure clarity is present on when to engage other statutory organisations in the management of missing episodes.

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requires improvement

E-Safety education is provided to young people within the school setting, young people do not currently have access to Wi-Fi when at the home.

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requires improvement

Several policies are education focussed and require review to ensure they are equally children’s-home focused. Behaviour management support plans are clear and easy to follow with detail how and what is required to support young people, this is well recorded and documented. Physical intervention is used when required for minimal periods of time. There have been some incidents in which doors have been held to manage situations. On review of these incidents it does not appear that this has been necessary or proportionate. It is not detailed as a de-escalation technique or strategy within young people’s behaviour management plans. Review and evaluation of these incidents is not present and so trends and patterns have not been identified. Staffs capability to manage challenging behaviour is being negatively impacted by staff vacancies and a recent high turnover of staff. Young people are frequently cared for by staff from other houses that are providing additional support to

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requires improvement

houses with staff vacancies. Managers have a plan in place to address the vacancies and have explored with leavers their reasons for exit. Young people are not always aware of who will be caring for them at night which also creates some uncertainty and impacts on their daily routines.

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requires improvement

Staff are trained in the homes preferred behaviour management technique and this is reviewed annually. Staff may benefit from more frequent updates to explore strategies to manage specific behaviour challenges they are faced with.

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requires improvement

Staff have managed incidents of bullying well with a restorative approach being applied alongside debrief and reflection resolving conflict as it arises.

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requires improvement

A robust safer recruitment process is in place ensuring vetting of staff complies with guidance. All staff have knowledge and have been trained in basic child protection with care staff trained to a higher level with regular updates and refreshers.

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requires improvement

The requirements set at the previous residential special school inspection have been met. This is the homes first Childrens home inspection and more work is now required to ensure the children’s homes’ regulations are met.

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requires improvement

Leaders and managers hold relevant qualifications and are currently working towards achieving higher levels of qualification. All staff have regular training and development sessions promoting their knowledge and practice with all staff attaining the recognised (level 3) qualification being a current focus.

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requires improvement

Pre-admission are completed, often without the direct input of managers or staff who lead the care. The documentation is not sufficiently robust and does not evidence whether the presenting needs can be met within the setting. Case recording and documentation is thorough with regular review and update. Case records hold out-of-date information and in some cases duplicated records were present. Recording systems are complex and details are located in several places which hinders ability to review and evaluate effectively.

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requires improvement

Staff retention has been poor but it is a recognised concern which staff are attempting to address through exit interviews and recruitment of new staff. The home is staffed as identified within the statement of purpose but does not allow for any contingency if the need arises. Staff work well together being a supportive team but the impact on young people can be negative when carers not well known to them are their principal carers.

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requires improvement

There are positive robust relationships with organisations and statutory bodies outside of the home with effective working relationships having a positive impact on young people’s plans and interventions. Relationships with families and carers are particularly robust with many parents feeling key parties to the care planning and decision making for their young people.

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requires improvement

The manager evaluates and monitors the quality of care provided with this being incorporated into a wider school development plan. The plan requires review and specific focus on care is required as the current plan is education focussed. Many physical areas of the home have been developed and refurbished and the plan is to continue with this programme through the whole home. Areas identified as needing repair and making good have not been swiftly repaired and so low level risk is present.

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requires improvement

Staff receive regular supervision and annual appraisals which are effective and allow for staff development and performance to be explored. Not all staff have achieved the required qualifications yet, plans are in place to ensure all staff achieve this in a reasonable time frame.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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