Children's home run by Devon and Cornwall Autistic Community Trust (t/a Spectrum) in Cornwall

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A suitable registered manager is now in place, following a period of instability for the staff team. The new manager has the knowledge, experience and qualifications needed. She has already made changes to address shortfalls and to drive improvements. This is a service which has unique challenges. The manager has the additional resolve needed to manage staff who are working in a stressful environment, which can be emotionally draining as well as significantly rewarding. The service provided is continually monitored and under close scrutiny by a wealth of both in-house and external professionals. While this provides essential safeguards for a very vulnerable young person, it adds additional pressures and increases the workloads of both the manager and staff.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person continues to make measurable progress in this home. Parents and professional stakeholders alike are positive about the care provided. The young person continues to make advances, both physically and emotionally. He is less anxious and more confident, which allows him to learn and to communicate more effectively. Parents reported that things are ‘going well’, ‘his speech and awareness have improved’ and ‘he is doing well in school’.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are real and potential risks that are very likely to persist, including the risk of serious self-injury. However, the staff team is continually reviewing safeguarding interventions, and there is a culture of constantly trying to negate these risks and keep the young person as safe as possible.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are examples of exemplary practice in this home which are worthy of wider dissemination among providers. The arrangements for the administration of medication are particularly robust and, to date, these have prevented any errors. Induction for staff includes completing questionnaires, one of which is focused on the young person’s care needs and preferences. Staff are able to demonstrate that they have read and understood care plans and policies.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person is provided with the services that he needs to maximise his progress and to keep him as well as possible. Among the many professional stakeholders involved, he has a speech and language therapist, and an occupational therapist, with input from behavioural specialists and mental health services. More recently, he has been allocated and met a social worker from adult services. This commendable arrangement will allow for up to two years of planning to make sure that the transition to adult services is as smooth as possible for the young person.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour management plans have been reviewed and now contain the information needed to assist staff in understanding and managing behaviour. Physical restraint records have been reviewed and the new format is suited to capturing the required information. Although incident reports linked to physical interventions are thorough, some of the recording in restraint records is subjective and lacks sufficient detail.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recruitment and retention of staff remain problematic. The organisation and placing authority are aware of these issues. Recently, a specialist recruitment agency has been successful in finding suitable candidates, and these are due to start their induction. The manager is also considering additional support options to help with staff retention. Meanwhile, staff are working additional shifts, the manager is often included in the staffing quota and staff who work elsewhere in the organisation sometimes cover shifts. Fortunately, there seems to be little impact on the young person, who continues to have particular favourites among the staff team. A previous recommendation has been repeated until the staffing issues are resolved.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although the frequency of supervision has improved since the last inspection, there are still some gaps, and the appraisals of four staff are overdue. The manager has good insight into the shortfalls of the service, and is taking appropriate action to address these.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring of the home by an independent visitor remains robust, offering critical feedback and issues for consideration. Although these reports have been provided to the manager, the organisation and the placing authority, three have not been provided to Ofsted as required. Immediate action was taken to rectify this.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A six-monthly summary and analysis of the care provided were not completed and/or provided to Ofsted by the previous manager to afford additional independent monitoring.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A lack of refurbishment, cleaning and maintenance detracts from what is otherwise a suitable environment for the young person. Despite the efforts of staff, especially in the lounge, the carpets appear beyond cleaning, and paintwork is peeling in patches both inside and outside of the building. Windows and frames are not clean, and the area around the front door does not indicate a warm and welcoming environment.

p.3

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to one child with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning difficulties. It offers a bespoke service which is commissioned and scrutinised by the placing authority.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/04/2016 Full Good

p.4

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 within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

p.5

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard requires the registered person to ensure that staff— (2)(b)(viii) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6(2)(b)(viii))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the environment is clean, well maintained and suitably refurbished. 30/11/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports

p.5

Requirement Due date

(7)(a) The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person's report to HMCI Ofsted. (Regulation 44(7)(a)) 30/11/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

(1) The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children at least every six months. (4) The registered person must— (a) supply to HMCI Ofsted a copy of the quality of care report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of the review of care is completed. (Regulation 45(1)(4)(a)) 30/11/2016

p.5

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The registered person should ensure that all staff are familiar with the home’s policy on record keeping, and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information should 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) In particular, ensure that staff provide sufficient detail and use objective language in restraint reports.  As outlined in in 10.1, the registered person should plan staffing levels to ensure that they meet the needs of the child and can respond flexibly to unexpected events, for instance staffing shortages. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 54, paragraph 10.15) In particular, ensure that sufficient staff are available at all times.

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately skilled and experienced professional. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 61, paragraph 13.2) In particular, ensure that the frequency of supervision is in line with the timescales detailed in the home’s statement of purpose.  All staff must have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. The appraisal shall take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

p.6

What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

p.7

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

p.7

Information about this inspection

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 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 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

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, work- based 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,

p.8

Information about this inspection

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

p.8

Information about this inspection

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

p.8

Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.8