Children's Home run by Options Autism (5) Limited in Shropshire

This monitoring visit

This home was last inspected in August 2016 and was judged to be good. One requirement, relating to the recording of restraint, was made at that time. This monitoring visit was conducted due to concerns received by Ofsted. These concerns related to the use of physical intervention and behaviour management with specific young people at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Records of behaviour management were viewed as part of the inspection visit and discussions were held with senior managers. Areas of the home were also viewed and no concerns were noted. No regulatory concerns have been identified as a result of this inspection visit.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken appropriate steps to meet the regulation from the last inspection. Young people can pose significant risks to their peers, and staff continue to support young people appropriately during these times. Incidents of restraint and supporting young people in less communal areas are now better recorded and contain all required details. However, the recording of some incidents does not always include sufficient detail for subsequent management analysis of these events. For example, staff do not always detail the individual behaviours of young people, and instead use broad terms and interpretations. This means that the registered manager is not fully able to review all incidents involving young people in the home. There is, to date, no demonstrable impact as a result. However, a recommendation to improve practice has been made.

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This monitoring visit

The organisation is in the process of implementing further improvements to the home. Areas are being redecorated and there are active plans to improve the services for young people further. There are clear plans for modifying some communal areas of the home. For example, a large, enclosed play space is being adapted so that young people can access this area with more frequency and independence.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this monitoring visit, one recommendation has been made. This relates to improving the quality of records in relation to describing young people’s behaviour.

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Information about this children’s home

This setting is an independent residential special school registered as a children’s home, operated by a private company. The service offers specialised education and care for up to 22 children with learning disabilities, including three children under short-break arrangements. The school has a specialism of children diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder and associated complex needs. Some young people stay until they have completed their education at 19.

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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 staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. out in 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 this guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234 or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

to 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, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

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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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