Children's Home run by Autism Sussex Ltd in Bexley

Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264841 1 Registered provider: Autism Sussex Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A charitable organisation runs this short-break service for disabled children and young people on behalf of the local authority. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides „overnight stays‟ for up to 10 children and young people who have „disabilities and/or emotional and behavioural needs‟. The service is for children and young people living in the borough, and access to the service is through the local authority‟s disabled children team.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and registered manager were registered by Ofsted in November 2017. The home was previously known to Ofsted under a different ownership.

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Judgement at last inspection: good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two requirements and eight recommendations were made at the last inspection. The home has addressed both requirements and seven of the recommendations. Additional concerns have arisen in relation to the provision of a management monitoring report and staff training. The remaining recommendation is repeated for this inspection. Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264841 2 Independent monitoring of the home has improved. Monthly reports now offer a fuller evaluation of safeguarding and the experiences of young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are of greater detail. Assessments now address the risk of sexual exploitation, self-harm, bullying and radicalisation. Staff understand assessments and use them to inform behavioural management strategies.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Repairs to the building are completed more promptly. The home is well maintained and has secured charity funding to convert one room into a sensory facility.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality of record-keeping remains a concern. The registered manager confirms that she is presently working with the staff team to address this important area of practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The admissions procedure has been revised and improved. The registered manager has reflected on a previous decision and tightened the procedure, particularly regarding emergency admissions.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Ofsted has received a workforce development plan. It outlines a full training programme for staff. Three members of staff are still to complete the required qualification within the allocated timescale. This shortfall limits staff‟s professional development.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Management monitoring is lacking. Ofsted has not received the report which was due in November 2018. This reduces Ofsted‟s ability to accurately assess the quality of monitoring carried out by managers in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recording of complaints has improved. The registered manager has introduced a „concerns book‟. This book allows for the monitoring and tracking of concerns.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/07/2018 Full Good Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264841 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

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—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”).

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home‟s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264841 4

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children‟s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Using the „Social care common inspection framework‟, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children‟s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the „Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sussex House, 19 High Street, Battle TN33 0AE

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Inspector

Barnaby Dowell, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264841 5 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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