Children's home run by Cambian Asperger Syndrome Services Limited in Hammersmith and Fulham

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people have made good progress from their initial starting points since arriving at the home.  Young people are growing in their emotional resilience, developing and learning positive coping strategies while also self-regulating their behaviour, emotions and feelings.  Young people attend and engage in education. All young people make progress utilising their individual capabilities. Care staff have good relationships with education staff, promoting consistency in the approaches used to support young people.  Staff support young people to develop life, social and personal care skills, promoting independence and opportunities for adulthood.  Young people are developing friendships while also learning how to manage conflict and build relationships.  Young people access a wide variety of activities on- and off-site, which enables them to try out and experience new situations and activities.  Staff support young people to meet their basic healthcare needs with referral

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The children's home provision is good because:

to additional healthcare services when required. Staff are swift to gain support, addressing change in health needs and updating plans to reflect this.  The in-house therapy services work closely with care services, input in to care plans and provide good evaluative overview of behaviour and cause.  Staff are successfully educating young people about the dangers associated with risk-taking behaviours.  Staff compile ‘Life Books’, which keep a visual account of all celebrations and achievements a young person has made.  Each young person has a key adult whom they trust and confide in.  Staff respond to concerns, complaints and allegations with referral to others when required.  Skilled staff support young people to manage and self-regulate their behaviour. Staff are trained in the home’s preferred approach.  Staff employed for longer than two years have all achieved the required qualification.  Staff have good relationships with professionals, families and others outside

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The children's home provision is good because:

of the home.  Leaders and managers have aspirations for the young people in their care.  Staff have reflected and learned from reviews of incidents, complaints and allegations, thus improving practice.

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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

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure― (a) that staff ― (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iv) manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies; (b) that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)(vii)(b)) 1 October

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to― (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; specifically to retain staff and provide consistency in care to young people. (Regulation 13 (2)(a)) 1 October

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Requirement Due date

(1) The care planning standard is that children― 1 October (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees 4(b) receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) 1 October

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must― (b) ensure that the records are kept up to date.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to care for 53 young people with a learning disability. Young people are accommodated across six houses on the site. The home is privately owned by a large organisation which specialises in providing education and care. All young people access the school, which is located on the site. Care is provided to children and young people with a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder, usually Asperger syndrome or high functioning autism.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

2 February 2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

5 October 2015 Full Requires improvement

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Good

Young people are making good progress in developing their life, personal and social skills while at the home. Staff support young people to form positive relationships with peers and others. Young people report that they have a trusted adult they can confide in and gain support and advice from when needed. Staff listen and seek the views of young people, exploring the key issues which affect them.

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Good

Staff are child focused in their approach and show a real interest in the young people in their care. Staff are implementing plans, which are reinforcing the sense of belonging for those young people who reside at the home on a permanent basis. They support young people to have their voice heard and assist them in understanding the outcomes of any decisions made that affect them.

p.7

Good

Staff support young people using detailed care plans, which identify key needs and risks. Some plans require review and update to ensure that they reflect all current needs and risks. Staff enable and encourage young people to talk about their worries, feelings, anxieties and concerns. They provide regular one-to-one sessions, supporting young people to explore emotions and feelings. Staff gain a young person’s views post incident and explore with young people possible triggers or cause for challenging or negative behaviours.

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Good

Young people are well informed and confident, raising concerns, complaints and worries. Staff have responded to complaints and worries through a variety of means. Complaints are responded to in writing and staff ensure young people have understood the outcome and reasons for it through conversation with them. The home’s noticeboard details how to make a complaint and who else a young person can speak to if worried or concerned.

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Good

Young people are involved in making key decisions about the home, including aspects of decoration, activities and menu planning.

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Good

All young people attend the school, which is on the same site as the home. Staff have plans in place to support those choosing not to engage in education. Staff facilitate a variety of visits to local colleges, exploring the opportunities available. They have sourced a varied programme of exciting and interesting activities to try to encourage and engage young people in education. Young people are achieving academically within their individual abilities. Staff support young people with aspects of daily education, encouraging and facilitating them to engage in the school day. Those who have taken exams state that they have felt supported and assisted in preparing for exams.

p.7

Good

Staff support young people to explore further education and training opportunities. They have supported young people to visit local colleges and attend taster days. Staff have sought vocational courses for young people, and these have further developed their key interests and hobbies. Staff have explored employment opportunities for young people in the local community.

p.8

Good

Staff offer a variety of on-site and off-site activities, and young people are encouraged to follow key interests and hobbies. Staff support young people to attend local clubs and groups of their choosing. Young people are encouraged to be involved in planning and choosing activities. Young people have taken on roles that develop their social skills, for example helping to run the tuck shop, while others have been encouraged to follow a healthy lifestyle and engage in regular physical activity.

p.8

Good

Young people are learning and developing strategies to self-regulate and manage their behaviour. They report feeling proud that they have achieved this, having learned more positive ways to express themselves. Young people have developed individual strategies, which they use when they feel anxious. This may include taking themselves away from the group to a safe place.

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Good

Young people are developing life, personal and social skills that are equipping them for adulthood. For example, cooking, shopping, bathing, interacting with peers, managing conflict and developing relationships and friendships.

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Good

Staff support and encourage young people to meet their basic healthcare needs and they facilitate specialist medical appointments and reviews. Staff request additional reviews if the young person’s health deteriorates or they are concerned. The staff’s prompt intervention has promoted young people’s emotional well-being.

p.8

Good

The home’s therapy service regularly assess the needs and impacts of young people’s behaviour. They offer a variety of therapy services that promote young people’s emotional well-being. Staff evaluate the intervention and impact for young people, with plans adjusted as required. Staff from different specialisms work closely together, sharing information that promotes practice and a positive approach for each young person. Young people admitted to the home are welcomed and supported through a planned transition. Staff are patient, kind and supportive to those who are new to the home supporting them to settle. Staff complete a basic assessment of need prior to admission with more detailed assessment carried out once the young person has arrived at the home. Plans address need, minimise risk and detail how to support a young person. Staff have identified that they need to consider the impact of new admissions on those already living in the home.

p.8

Good

Staff support young people to work through situations of conflict and to develop friendships and relationships with peers. Staff provide additional support and guidance in one-to-one sessions, exploring and developing a young person’s knowledge and social skills. Staff use a ‘restore and rebuild’ approach to improving relationships following a conflict between peers and or staff.

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Good

Staff complete ‘Life Books’, which are visual records of a young person’s journey and achievements while at the home. They include details of places visited, activities engaged in and other positive events during their stay at the home.

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Good

Staff prepare young people for contact with family and friends in line with their plan and they request review when required. Care plans do not detail the most up- to-date information and details for staff to follow.

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Good

Staff have good relationships with young people, they treat young people with respect and dignity. They are caring and friendly in their approach.

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Requires improvement

Young people report that they feel safe and secure with all having a trusted key adult from whom they can gain support and advice. The environment is well maintained with all required safety checks completed.

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Requires improvement

Staff report, refer and record concerns with an evidence trail available regarding actions and outcomes. Staff have acted assertively to seek guidance and information that will inform them of what to do when situations are complex and significant. Known information is reflected in plans; new information has not been reflected in plans and updates and reviews have not been prompt.

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Requires improvement

Detailed risk assessments identify risks but do not clearly state what is required to minimise and reduce risk factors. An example of this is within missing records. Staff provide a well-coordinated and managed approach to episodes of going missing. Missing risk assessments and plans do not clearly identify individual plans for staff to follow when an episode occurs. Staff welcome young people back on return to the home and request return from missing interviews from the relevant authorities.

p.10

Requires improvement

Staff have referred and reported all allegations to the relevant external professionals. The home’s records generally detail the investigation from instigation to outcome. Staff have regular contact with the designated officer who also seeks advice and guidance when needed.

p.10

Requires improvement

Staff explore and investigate all complaints, informing complainants of outcomes with outcome or apology letters providing details of the findings.

p.10

Requires improvement

Staff complete detailed risk assessments that detail all of the risk factors a young person presents. The behaviour support plans provide practical advice and guide staff on how and what is required to support young people to de-escalate, self- regulate and manage their behaviour if it reaches crisis point. However, the behaviour support plans do not detail how to minimise and reduce all risks identified in individual risk assessments.

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Requires improvement

Staff are trained in the home’s preferred method of behaviour management. Plans provide detail about triggers, behaviours and how to support the young person following an incident. Staff report and record incidents and young people are asked for their views following the event. Staff review, monitor and evaluate the findings following incidents. Staff use this detail to inform plans and strategies and this enables them to support the young person.

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Requires improvement

Staff are positive in their approach with young people, they model positive behaviour and reward all achievements. For example, a young person’s level of physically challenging behaviour has reduced, with staff rewarding and celebrating this positive achievement.

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Requires improvement

Staff use a good variety of approaches to rewarding positive behaviour and achievements through reward systems, tokens, special outings and certificates.

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Requires improvement

Staff apply a restorative approach to sanctions; they are linked to the trigger or cause. A large financial sanction was applied to cover the cost of damage to property. Managers have not monitored or reviewed the sanction to ensure that it was fair and proportionate.

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Requires improvement

Staff meet and explore the needs of young people prior to admission. The assessments completed do not clearly state if need can be met and what is required to meet needs. Staff complete impact risk assessments after a young person has arrived at the home. They do not evaluate the impact of risk on the young person and others in the home. Staff do not currently prepare young people resident in the home for the arrivals of new admissions.

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Requires improvement

The homes ‘location risk assessment’ explores some of the risks in the local area but requires review to ensure that all risk factors are considered and what is required to minimise risk factors. The manager has plans in place to address this.

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Requires improvement

Staff provide young people with education and advice about the impact of risky behaviours through one-to-one sessions and in-house meetings. This has included education about the risks associated with social media and the internet.

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Requires improvement

Staff have good, effective working relationships with others outside of the home. The police have attended the home to educate young people and in circumstances when their support has been required due to damage to property or risk to self or others.

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Requires improvement

Staff document all room searches completed. These have taken place when staff have concerns or if it has been agreed as part of a risk management plan. Managers review and monitor all of these records.

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Requires improvement

Recruitment processes are thorough and meet the requirements required to ensure that they comply with safer recruitment practice and guidance. Staff receive regular training and information, ensuring that their knowledge of safeguarding is up to date and current. They have a good understanding of the whistle-blowing policy and procedure.

p.11

Good

Managers and senior staff are effective, using good systems to review and monitor the quality of care provided. Good evaluation forms the basis of the home’s development plan. The plan identifies key areas to improve and develop, with clear action points. Robust independent visits take place, providing additional scrutiny and oversight of the quality of care provided. Managers use the evaluation and act on the areas identified. Managers use feedback from questionnaires, learning from and reflecting on incidents, complaints and allegations to improve practice. Care plans describe the needs of the young people and how to meet them but lack management oversight to ensure that they are up to date. Managers determine and review plans to ensure that needs can be met. Staff can and do request review when it has been identified that need cannot be met.

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Good

Leaders and managers have positive working relationship with external professionals. This includes regular communication with placing social workers, education staff and others as required.

p.12

Good

Staff access a wide variety of training via face-to-face and online training sessions. Training has included safeguarding, behaviour management and positive parenting. This was identified as a key need to support staff in providing a consistent approach. Staff are qualified in or are enrolled on the required qualification.

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Good

The statement of purpose reflects the ethos of the home and the aims and objectives it is setting out to achieve.

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Good

Staff levels in each home area are based upon the assessed needs of young people. This does not take into consideration the impact of issues or circumstances that might arise in the home, for example sickness. There is an ongoing recruitment drive to address staff vacancies. Leaders and managers have identified key issues which are affecting the retention of staff. Plans are in place to address this matter within the upper management level of the organisation.

p.12

Good

Staff are provided with effective supervision, managers have implemented new systems to address gaps in frequency of supervision. The requirement previously set to address this has been actioned but is not embedded into practice. Records indicate that some members of staff have gaps in supervision frequency. Staff have their practice appraised at least annually.

p.12

Good

Staff have actioned previous requirements and recommendations set at the last inspection. Managers have identified that staff inconsistency in approach with young people was having a negative impact. They have begun to address this through training and review of support plans. There has been a positive impact following this, staff are positive in their approach with young people and there is more consistency across the home.

p.12

Good

Managers and leaders are reviewing the use of areas within the home; their development plan reflects this and the aims and objectives they wish to achieve through this. Staff are currently reviewing the home’s policy and procedure regarding young people’s access to other home areas.

p.13

Good

Leaders and managers have a good understanding of the needs of the young people in their care. They have positive relationships with young people. Staff review plans and address concerns when they arise if it is felt that staff are not meeting a young person’s needs.

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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 children looked after 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 that 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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