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

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC037762 1 SC482294 Registered provider: Cambian Asperger Syndrome Services Limited

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Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is currently registered to care for 37 young people with learning disabilities. Young people are accommodated across eight houses on the site. The home is privately owned by a large organisation which specialises in providing education and care. All of the young people access the school, which is located on the site. Care is provided to young people with a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder, usually Asperger syndrome.

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Information about this inspection

This monitoring visit was undertaken as a result of concerns raised in the annual point-in-time survey that Ofsted conducts in all children’s homes. The purpose of the visit was to assess staffing levels and how young people are enabled to raise concerns about their experiences, including their relationships with staff.

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Information about this inspection

24 hours’ notice was given for the inspection to allow for relevant people to be available and for a short questionnaire, produced by Ofsted especially for this visit, to be completed by young people currently resident in the home.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors considered the completed questionnaires, spoke to young people and senior leaders and examined key documents. Inspectors also spoke to the independent visitor.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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This monitoring visit

Young people have multiple avenues to express their worries or concerns. Staff take these seriously and record them in relevant formats, such as a key-work record, house council minutes or a ‘cause for concern’ form. All of the young people currently accommodated are able to verbally articulate their views and opinions. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC037762 2 They can speak to external agencies such as an advocate, who visits fortnightly, or an independent visitor who visits monthly. Young people expressed in the questionnaires and, to inspectors verbally, that they feel able and comfortable in raising concerns. They identified the people they could talk to and described a positive and trusting relationship with their key workers.

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This monitoring visit

No safeguarding concerns were raised by the young people during this monitoring visit. One young person said, ‘The staff are kind and reassuring.’ The registered manager was aware of the other issues that some of the young people raised with inspectors; for example, group dynamics and getting along with each other. He has clear plans in place to address these.

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This monitoring visit

Young people were less able to demonstrate their understanding of more formal complaints procedures, albeit these are in place. To ensure that young people remain fully aware of this process, it is recommended that this is more widely and regularly advertised.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are clear on how to escalate concerns or report any safeguarding issues through internal systems or to external safeguarding professionals. The designated safeguarding lead takes swift action, involving other safeguarding professionals when necessary, to fully investigate any concerns. Documents examined by the inspectors clearly demonstrated that this is usual practice.

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This monitoring visit

The current vacancy rate for day staff is 16.7% and for night staff 14.3%. The senior management team (SMT) recognises the staff shortages. The current situation is managed through overtime and the use of agency staff. Some staff expressed concerns about the long-term viability of the current arrangements. The SMT has a recruitment strategy and has recognised the need to broaden its recruitment drive.

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This monitoring visit

Some staff are not within the timescale for completing the level 3 qualification. Some agency staff are used as full-time care staff to provide a consistency of care but there is no formal record to demonstrate how leaders and managers have concluded that these staff have the necessary skills to care for the young people.

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Summary

The total number of permanent staff continues to fall short of the home’s staffing needs. This was identified at the previous full inspection and a requirement was made. The requirement is repeated at this visit with an addition to consider the qualifications of agency staff on whom the service is dependent to manage the current shortfalls. The progress of leaders and managers in meeting this requirement will be examined at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC037762 3 Young people have various avenues to express any concerns that they may have about their care or any member of staff. This includes external agencies. Staff are clear on the procedures to follow should a young person raise a concern with them. Young people are aware of the complaints procedure but have not recently used this. No formal complaints have been made since the last inspection. A recommendation is made to establish the complaints procedure so that young

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Summary

people see this as another option, should they wish to raise or escalate a concern.

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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

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person is required to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (2)(c)(d)) 30/09/2018

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Recommendations

 Staff should encourage children to share any concerns about their care or other matters as soon as they arise. Children must be able to take up issues or make a complaint with support and without any fear that this will result in any adverse consequences. Regulation 39 sets out the requirements on the registered person to have a complaints procedure. Children must be aware of this procedure and be reminded of it as necessary. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.13) Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC037762 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/10/2017 Full Good 07/12/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/07/2016 Full Good 02/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC037762 5

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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 Asperger Syndrome Services Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors:

Keith Riley, social care inspector Emeline Evans, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC037762 6 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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