Chart Wood School

Progress monitoring inspection residential special school report

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Chart Wood School Taynton Drive, Merstham, Redhill, Surrey RH1 3PU Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Context of the inspection

This monitoring visit was undertaken following a judgement of inadequate which was given at the full welfare inspection carried out from 6 to 8 March 2018. The progress made in meeting the national minimum standards for residential special schools was assessed.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

The previous residential inspection was aligned with an education inspection. The residential provision was judged to be inadequate in all reporting areas. There were a total of nine unmet national minimum standards (NMS) at that inspection. This monitoring visit found that seven NMS remain unmet.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Since the last inspection, the local authority, along with consultants, has completed audits on which action plans have been formulated. However, implementation decisions have not been made promptly, possibly because of the multi-agency involvement. The school has not moved forward quickly enough to have an impact and make the necessary change. There continues to be uncertainty on the part of the senior leadership team over the future for the school. The school continues to go through a turbulent time.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

The quality of care provided in the residential provision remains strong, with young people enjoying all that it has to offer and staff clearly put the young people’s views and experiences at the heart of all the decisions made. Young people are able to have fun and enjoy a range of activities.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

NMS 11.1 – Not met. Since the last inspection in March 2018, not all safeguarding file audits have been undertaken by the school. The inspectors were informed that 48 files out of 97 remain unchecked by those responsible. Thorough safeguarding audits of the files have not been completed to a satisfactory level, with no rationale on the decision- making on which files were audited. No detail of any audit undertaken by the senior leadership team is available. Audit trails are not in place. In addition, information provided during the visit did not evidence what change had been made as a result of the file audits undertaken by the local authority. During inspection, when sampling a file there were questions arising over child protection referrals to the necessary professionals and why escalation processes had not been used. When concerns for young people’s Inspection Report Chart Wood School, 19/06/2018 Page 2 of 7

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

safety have been identified, individual risk assessments have not been updated or the information shared with staff; appropriate strategies to minimise these risks are not available. Inspectors were concerned that there is a group of young people that may be at significant risk and there are no clear safety plans in place to protect these young people and others. Although the senior leadership team is working with outside agencies, the leaders have not swiftly obtained important information from other agencies to ensure that they can then support young people and keep them safe.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Since January 2018, there has been only one documented safeguarding meeting; other individual meetings have been verbal and not recorded. The one meeting documented does not detail any actions to be taken and who is responsible to complete these. This poor audit trail renders effective review and oversight of safeguarding concerns impossible.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Information is now being moved to the online system and this will include all past referrals and concerns, which will give a focal point for review.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

NMS 12.5 – met. Young people are now given the opportunity to speak with an adult following a physical intervention within the required timescale. There is now better oversight of restraint by the senior leadership team.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

NMS 13.1 – not met. The interim executive board has been in operation since February 2018. The members of the board do not have sufficient skills, experience and knowledge of residential special schools. This has hampered their ability to quickly grasp the issues of concern within the residential functions of the school. They have yet to visit the residential accommodation or talk to the young people who access it. They have used other professionals’ audits to oversee the safeguarding practice and welfare of young people, and acknowledged at inspection that this means they have no clear evidence base for the conclusions drawn. They are therefore not adequately monitoring the effectiveness of the leadership, management and delivery of the boarding and welfare provision in the school.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

The local authority commissioned an action plan following the last inspection. This was only received by the school the week before this visit and has not been meaningfully implemented. The action plan does not give clear direction and does not demonstrate how it relates to the breaches of NMS or recommendations in the report. This hampers the ability to identify if further work is required.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

NMS 13.4 – not met. The school has not completed any self-evaluation against the NMS. The shortfalls identified do not demonstrate that leaders have undertaken the necessary monitoring to ensure that the standards are met. Actions undertaken to date have not had a significant impact in achieving clear and sustainable progress.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

NMS 13.8 and 13.9 – not met. Since the last inspection, there has been a change of roles in the senior leadership team, with the deputy being promoted to the head of care. The oversight has improved in some areas such as staff training and with the sharing of data with the senior leadership team. However, gaps in the oversight of safeguarding records and young people’s risk assessments continue. Inspection Report Chart Wood School, 19/06/2018 Page 3 of 7 NMS 19.6 – not met. Staff are receiving more detailed supervision with a focus on current safeguarding issues. Where senior staff supervisions have been undertaken by an external partner these have not supported the person in fulfilling their role effectively as identified in the action plan. They lack clear action when the supervisee has stated that they require more support.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

NMS 21.1 – not met. Young people’s 24-hour management plans and risk assessments have not been reviewed when concerns have been raised. In some cases, they lack detail of how to support young people with particular vulnerabilities, such as being at risk of exploitation. They do not provide the steps to support young people to develop coping mechanisms and strategies to keep themselves safe. The head of care is aware that this is an area for development.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

NMS 20.2 – met. The standard 20 visits that have recently taken place are now challenging and relevant issues are addressed. They now focus on young people’s welfare and safety.

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residential special schools:

 11.1 The school ensures that: arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of children at the school; and such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  13.1 The school’s governing body and/or proprietor monitors the effectiveness of the leadership, management and delivery of the boarding and welfare provision in the school, and takes appropriate action where necessary.  13.4 The school’s leadership and management consistently fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the standards are met.  13.8 The records specified in Appendix 2 are maintained and monitored by the school and action taken as appropriate.  13.9 The issues specified in Appendix 3 are monitored, and action taken to improve outcomes for children as appropriate.  19.6 All staff have access to support and advice for their role. They also have regular supervision and formal annual appraisal of their performance.

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residential special schools:

 21.1 The school produces a written placement plan, agreed as far as is practicable with the child, the child’s parents/carers and any placing authority for the child, unless the information is held elsewhere such as in the child’s statement of special educational needs or education, health and care plan. The placement plan identifies the needs of that child that the school should meet and specifies how the school will care for the child and promote their welfare on a day to day basis. Where significant changes are made to the placement plan there is appropriate consultation. Where applicable the plan is consistent with the care plan of the placing authority for any child placed by a local authority. The placement plan is regularly reviewed and amended as necessary to reflect significant changes in the child’s needs or progress in Inspection Report Chart Wood School, 19/06/2018 Page 4 of 7 his or her development. Where feasible, children in the school are aware of the

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residential special schools:

content of their placement plans, and confirm that the school is providing care for them that is consistent with the plans. Inspection Report Chart Wood School, 19/06/2018 Page 5 of 7

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Inspection team

Emeline Evans Lead social care inspector Ruth Coler Social care inspector

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Information about this school

Chart Wood School is a maintained school. It provides for both day and residential boy pupils aged from nine to 16 years. There are 99 pupils on roll, with provision for 24 boarding at any time. At the time of the inspection, there were 26 residential pupils accessing the provision on different boarding arrangements. There is one residential unit on the school site. The school takes young people who have been unable to succeed in mainstream school and who have education, health and care plans arising from social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and mental health needs. Inspection Report Chart Wood School, 19/06/2018 Page 6 of 7

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School details

Unique reference number 125457 Social care unique reference number 1271379 DfE registration number

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School details

This inspection was carried out under the Children Act 1989, as amended by the Care Standards Act 2000, having regard to the national minimum standards for residential special schools.

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School details

Type of school Residential Special School Number of boarders on roll 26 Gender of boarders boys Age range of boarders 9 to 16 Headteacher Jo Gale Date of previous boarding inspection 06/03/2018 Telephone number 01737 215488 Email address head@cws.surrey.sch.uk Inspection Report Chart Wood School, 19/06/2018 Page 7 of 7 guidance ‘raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.co.uk/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 .

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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