Children's Home, Residential special school run by Cambian Autism Services Limited in Dorset

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065261 1 SC065261

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Information about this children’s home

Cambian is a national, private organisation. Care and accommodation are provided for up to 60 children and young people at this residential special school. The team provides care for children and young people who have autistic spectrum disorders and/or learning disabilities. Some children and young people live at the service for 52 weeks of the year. Therefore, it is registered as a children’s home. The accommodation is on the main school site except for one home, which is located a short drive away.

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This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit was conducted following a full inspection in June 2017, when the home was judged as inadequate. Ten requirements were set to address the shortfalls identified at that inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there have been changes in the leadership and management team. An executive headteacher for the organisation is now the responsible individual for the home. This arrangement is in place to support the induction of the new principal who is yet to commence their post. The manager has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have taken some action to improve the quality of the homes. Staff have removed a large number of locks from young people’s accommodation and from the outdoor areas. As a result, the number of restrictions is reduced. Despite this progress, the action is not swift enough to rectify all of the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not removed all of the restrictions in place. These inhibit young people’s free movement and full participation in usual day-to-day living arrangements. Locks remain on some wardrobes, a number of televisions are in locked cabinets, not all bathrooms have bath/sink plugs and children and young Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065261 2 people cannot access their gardens without asking the staff, due to the doors having a key code system. Some areas of the homes have not been refurbished, and urgent action is required to address these.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have made errors when administering medication to children and young people. Staff take immediate action to seek advice from external medical professionals. Leaders and managers set actions to address shortfalls in medication administration. However, they fail to evidence that these actions are complete or to implement strategies to improve practice.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have implemented an improved system to manage and monitor injuries to children and young people, the cause of which is unknown. Staff report these injuries as a child protection concern. Leaders and managers follow the child protection procedure to report these concerns to the designated person and professionals appropriately. Leaders and managers record the action they take and the outcomes of child protection concerns in the child protection log.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have taken action to improve the recruitment processes.

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This monitoring visit

A further full inspection will take place to determine the progress against the ten requirements.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/06/2017 Full Inadequate 01/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/06/2016 Full Requires improvement 16/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065261 3

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met

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Requirement Due date

5. In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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(d) seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate, having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, improve the arrangements in place when parents visit their child, enabling when possible for them to visit and spend time with their child in their home and to utilise the facilitates in the school. 15/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children, and use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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(i) understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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(ii) protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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(iv) provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; 15/09/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065261 4 (vi) help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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(vii) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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(viii) provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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(ix) make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

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(c) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

(ii) enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the care provided promotes the welfare of children and young people and provides them with opportunities to learn and develop. Ensure that records detail the needs of children and evidence the progress they make against their targets. Ensure that children and young people have suitable, clean and homely accommodation to live in. 7: The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard

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Requirement Due date

7.—(1) The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who develop positive relationships with them, engage with them, and take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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(e) ensure that the views of each relevant person are taken into account, so far as reasonably practicable, before making a decision about the care or welfare of a child.

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In particular, ensure that the view of parents are sought when making decisions about the care of their children. 15/09/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065261 5 9: The enjoyment and achievement standard

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9.—(1) The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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(i) develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

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(ii) participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and

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(iii) make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and

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(b) that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies.

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In particular, ensure that there are sufficient staff to enable all children to access activities in their community. 15/09/2017

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12.—(1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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(iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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(v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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(vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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(vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s 28/07/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065261 6 child protection policies.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the child protection policy is followed when there is an unknown cause for bruises and injuries sustained by children. Ensure that child protection concerns are reported and communicated effectively to the relevant designated officers, social workers and parents when appropriate. 13: The leadership and management standard

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13.—(1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare.

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(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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(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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(b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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

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(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;

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(g) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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(i) research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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(ii) feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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In particular, ensure that the home has effective, stable and consistent leaders and managers. Ensure that monitoring systems to review the quality of care are effective. 28/07/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065261 7 Implement a development plan that will drive improve the children’s experiences. Build positive relationships with parents, and manage and learn from complaints. 20: Restraint and deprivation of liberty

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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injury to any person (including the child); or

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serious damage to the property of any person (including the child).

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Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate.

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In particular, consider any restriction imposed as a restraint and that these restrictions are communicated explicitly to local authorities in relation to deprivation of liberty. This includes the use of locks on external doors preventing access into the home and access to gardens.

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32.—(1) The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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(b) the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; and

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(d) full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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In particular, ensure that satisfactory recruitment checks are undertaken prior to employing staff in the home.

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The registered person must ensure that all employees: 15/09/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065261 8 receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience.

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(Regulation 33(4)(b) 39: Complaints and representations

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39.—(1) Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that no child is subject to any reprisal for making a complaint or representation.

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065261 9

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Autism Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4th Floor, Waterfront Building, Chancellors Road, Hammersmith Embankment, London W6 9RU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Katherine Landells

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Inspectors

Nicola Lownds, social care inspector Wendy Anderson, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065261 10 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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