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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC458070 1 SC458070

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Cambian Autism Services Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This national private organisation provides care and accommodation for children and young people who have autistic spectrum disorders and/or learning disabilities. The service operates as a residential special school and provides accommodation for a number of children throughout the year. Accommodation is provided in four houses for up to 40 children. The houses are located in the same grounds as the school.

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This monitoring visit

An interim inspection undertaken in January 2018 judged the home to have declined in effectiveness. At that inspection, significant shortfalls were identified. Two compliance notices were issued under Regulation 12: The protection of children standard and Regulation 13: The leadership and management standard. Seven requirements were also set. Although leaders and managers briefed all staff about their expectations to improve the quality of care and protection of children, this briefing did not take place quickly enough after the last inspection. Some progress has been made, but continued shortfalls were identified at this monitoring visit. Not all of the actions set out in the two compliance notices were met and five of the seven requirements have been repeated. Following this monitoring visit, the two original compliance notices were re-issued. The day-to-day care that children receive is still not ensuring that they are all kept

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This monitoring visit

safe from harm. Another incident has occurred where a member of staff left a child who requires one-to-one support unattended. Staff failed to prevent the child from ingesting a substance that could have been hazardous to the child’s health. Following this incident, staff took appropriate action to seek medical advice and monitored the child’s welfare. Despite staff being provided with child protection information, too many staff Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC458070 2 continue to fail in their duty to report possible safeguarding concerns promptly to senior leaders. Leaders and managers do not have a system in place to track and monitor ‘key working’ records regularly. At this visit, inspectors found concerns that a child had raised about their care and about staff practice recorded in these records. Consequently, no action had been taken by leaders and managers to respond to the child’s concerns, thus placing this child and staff at risk.

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This monitoring visit

Weaknesses remain in the quality and frequency of staff supervision and appraisal. Leaders and managers have failed to consistently address poor practice and routinely provide staff with the direction that they require to improve the care that children receive. Records that detail the needs of children are not consistently good quality. Some healthcare plans and epilepsy protocols have been reviewed and now provide clear information about how to care for the children, but not all. The healthcare plans and epilepsy protocols for children who live in one house have not been reviewed. These documents remain of poor quality and are not up to date. Leaders and managers have taken action to address the health and safety concerns identified at the previous inspection. Doors with locks on now have a mechanism attached to ensure that children can open the door from the inside. Staff are now storing food safely.

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This monitoring visit

All staff have been provided with the tools to help them to communicate more effectively with children. During this visit, inspectors observed a mealtime. This mealtime was organised well, interactions between staff and children were effective and the mealtime was seen to be a positive experience for children. Action is being taken to improve the quality of accommodation. Some areas of the home are being redecorated and new flooring is being fitted. Every house now has a working telephone available to children. Most of the houses were clean, well presented and becoming more homely, but not all. Weaknesses remain in one house. Leaders and managers have recruited an additional housekeeper to provide increased support to maintain the houses. This person is yet to commence their post. Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have undertaken a review of the care management team’s skills. New job descriptions have been written and a

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This monitoring visit

restructure has started. A staff development and training programme has been implemented so that all staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities. It is too early to see the full impact of these changes.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 03/01/2018 Interim Declined effectiveness 18/04/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC458070 3 11/01/2017 Full Inadequate 20/09/2016 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC458070 4

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard 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; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably; (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(iv)(vii)) In particular, ensure that all children’s plans detail the most up-to-date information about how to meet their needs. Ensure that all of the homes are frequently cleaned so that children can live there comfortably.

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Requirement Due date

10: The health and well-being standard The health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)) In particular, ensure that children’s health plans and epilepsy plans detail the necessary information staff require to meet their needs. 07/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard* The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the 07/03/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC458070 5 registered person to ensure— that staff— have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; 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 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b)) 13: The leadership and management standard*

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Requirement Due date

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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 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; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; 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; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2()(a)(c)(e)(f)(h)) 07/03/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC458070 6 33: Employment of staff (4) The registered person must ensure that all employees— (c) receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and (d) have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. 07/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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.

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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: Thomas MacDonald-Milner

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Inspectors

Nicola Lownds, social care inspector Paula Lahey, regulation inspection manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC458070 7 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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