Children's Home, Residential special school run by Acorn Norfolk Limited in Norfolk

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC435322 1 SC435322

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Acorn Norfolk Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This residential special school is registered to provide care for up to 40 children on 38- and 52-week residential placement options. The service specialises in working with children who have autistic spectrum disorders, complex needs, moderate or severe learning difficulties, communication difficulties and/or challenging behaviour. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2018. She has the experience and qualifications required for the role. She holds a relevant level 5 qualification.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted served a notice restricting accommodation at this home on 24 August 2018 due to serious concerns that were identified at the full inspection on 14 and 15 August 2018. Two compliance notices were served under Regulations 12 and 13, relating to the protection of children and the leadership and management of the home. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to monitor compliance with the notice restricting accommodation and to monitor progress against the steps set out in the compliance notices in accordance with Regulation 12 and Regulation 13. The statutory requirements that were raised at the full inspection have not been monitored at this visit. They will be reviewed at the next inspection and so are restated. No children have been admitted to the home. The provider is therefore compliant with the notice restricting accommodation. A new format of supervision has been implemented and includes reflection on

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This monitoring visit

practice, poses safeguarding scenarios to staff and identifies training needs. Autism awareness training has taken place since the last inspection. Deputy managers have Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC435322 2 received further training in recording and monitoring incidents. A risk assessment reviewed in respect of a staff member who cannot currently perform restraint shows that practice has been adapted to facilitate the staff member’s needs. Sixteen staff are booked onto advanced physical restraint training in October 2018. Posters have been put up in visible areas so that all of the staff have information on how to use an independent route to whistle-blowing if they need to. Safeguarding and whistle- blowing have been discussed at length during team meetings, and further meetings are planned. Safeguarding has been discussed with new staff who recently started working at the home. Staff surveys have been used to help to identify training needs

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This monitoring visit

and any issues in respect of safeguarding children. The staff spoken to during the visit confirmed that there have been positive changes since the full inspection and said that issues relating to safe practice are being identified and acted on. Training records and discussion with staff demonstrated that all staff have up-to- date safeguarding training and that the majority of staff have received training in safeguarding disabled children. A further session of training in safeguarding disabled children is planned for October 2018. Four risk assessments and associated behaviour plans were reviewed during the visit. The plans are all up to date, having been updated in the last two weeks. Two out of the four files reviewed show that staff have signed to say that they have read the documents. Managers confirmed that an email is sent to the relevant staff to ask them to read the updated documents when changes are made, and staff confirm

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This monitoring visit

that they are told when there are changes. The site risk assessment has been updated to state that the gates to the maintenance yard must always be kept locked. A new fence and gates have been ordered to improve the security of the yard. The provider has taken sufficient action to meet the steps identified in the compliance notice in respect of the protection of children. Overall, there is progress. However, there is still some work to be done to ensure that staff read records promptly when an update has occurred and that managers monitor to ensure that this happens. The registered manager and the quality manager have a clear training matrix that details all staff, the training that they have, any gaps in training and the status of qualifications. It is clear to see what training is needed due to the flag system. Training needs are being identified in supervision sessions. A corporate induction day that covers topics including safeguarding and whistle-blowing and site safety

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This monitoring visit

has been introduced for new staff. New staff have a clear offer of training that will take place in the first six months of their employment. Staff said that they are feeling better supported since the last inspection. The supervision process is more meaningful and gives time for reflection on practice. Managers are benefiting from role modelling of effective supervision by an experienced human resources manager who is spending time with the staff each week. The records of supervision viewed were clear and comprehensive. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC435322 3 The system of reviewing the records of all physical incidents has changed. The registered manager and the quality manager now receive an email alert for each incident, which they review. Records of debriefings between managers and staff following an incident of restraint show that staff are being given time to reflect on

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This monitoring visit

the incident. Overall, although the provider has made significant progress towards meeting the compliance notice in respect of the leadership and management of the home, the notice is not met. Although there is progress, there is room for further improvement. There is a lack of evidence to show that actions are identified when an incident has not been managed successfully. For example, in one debriefing, the record states that the hold was unsuccessful. The staff released the child and gave him space and he calmed, so no further hold was required. However, there was no exploration of why the hold failed or whether there should be any change to the strategy used, or if any further training is needed for those staff. Therefore, a statutory requirement is raised. The provider has made significant improvements and therefore the restriction of accommodation is lifted.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/08/2018 Full Inadequate 07/03/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 07/06/2017 Full Good 13/07/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC435322 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

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 registered person to ensure— 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)(b)) 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 registered person to ensure— 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)(b)) In particular, evidence that staff have read and understood children’s risk assessments and plans each time plans are updated. 26/10/2018

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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— use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) and (2)(h)) In particular, ensure that scrutiny and monitoring of incidents of physical restraint identifies when action is required, and that identified actions are implemented and 26/10/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC435322 5 recorded. For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained— the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the

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Requirement Due date

Level 3 Diploma"); or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. The relevant date is— in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual— does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part- time basis. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b) and (6)(a)(b)) 30/11/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction; and that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)(4)(b)) 26/10/2018

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under regulation 40— must include details of— the matter; the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter; and must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 26/10/2018

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must 26/10/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC435322 6 consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (5)) The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— the quality of care provided for children; the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. After completing a quality of care review, the registered

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Requirement Due date

person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report"). The registered person must— supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(4)(a)(b) and (5)) 26/10/2018

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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: SC435322 7

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorn Norfolk Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Merchants Place, River Street, Bolton BL2 1BX

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Inspector

Louisa Bayley: social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC435322 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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