Children's home run by Cruckton Hall Limited in North Kesteven

This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place following concerns about children and young people’s overall experience and progress that were identified at a full inspection completed on 10 June 2015. Specific concerns were about how well the home ensured children and young people were helped and protected. These significant concerns resulted in a compliance notice being served. Additional concerns included the staffs’ lack of confidence in meeting the needs of children and young people and insufficient staff to meet their diverse needs.

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This monitoring visit

The home is part of a school which children and young people attend. Teaching staff raised a number of concerns raised at the inspection in June. Ofsted has not been not been able to re-assess these concerns at this monitoring visit because of staff absence during the summer holiday period.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection in June 2015, the senior leadership team have implemented a detailed strategic action plan. This has pulled resources from other services within the organisation and they have commissioned external professionals to look specifically at behaviour management. The pace of improvements has meant child protection arrangements have been strengthened. They have completed considerable work around behaviour management. Staff have had training about effective behaviour management, managing high risk behaviour and restorative practice. They have brought in experts in the field of behaviour management to deliver this bespoke training. All these actions have resulted in the home meeting their compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

Practice around handling and managing signs of bullying has improved. Staff are now using much clearer procedures. These are helping to ensure they identify bullying quickly and fast track processes mean that children and young people get support and intervention without delay. A member of staff is now assigned as the school’s bullying champion to work alongside the unit that focuses specifically on behaviour management.

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This monitoring visit

The leadership team have recruited new managers. Every residential house now has a designated manager to oversee day-to-day management. This in turn, enables staff to receive guidance and support so that children and young people’s diverse needs are better met.

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This monitoring visit

Feedback gathered by the school at the end of the summer term from parents and professionals is positive. Parents in particular, report that they feel their children are safe. Parents have made positive comments, saying the residential provision is supportive and provides a caring environment in which positive progress is made. At the time of this monitoring visit, eight children and young people are residing at the home. A small, dedicated staff team supports this small group of children and young people.

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This monitoring visit

The senior leadership team has not yet made a full assessment of the impact these changes are having on children and young people’s direct care. This is because the whole school community is not fully operational until the start of school term in September. Nevertheless, the children and young people staying over the summer break are enjoying activities so that they stay physically active. This includes trips to Blackpool, Wales and activities such as the cinema and bowling. Children and young people are relaxed and engaging positively with staff. Staff supporting children and young people during this holiday period are committed and enthusiastic and feel well supported. A manager described a big drop in physical interventions in the last couple of months and morale is significantly improved.

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This monitoring visit

The improvements made by the school will only be fully tested when the whole staff team and full complement of children and young people return in the Autumn term.

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Information about this children's home

This privately-owned home offers an integrated residential education and care package to boys with learning disabilities, specifically, autistic spectrum disorders. Young people are generally in the higher performing range, with associated emotional and behavioural difficulties. The school can accommodate up to 92 residential students, mainly in small house groups located on the main campus, or at one of two off-campus facilities.

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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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Recommendations

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

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the home since their last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. 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

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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