Children's Home run by Devon and Cornwall Autistic Community Trust (t/a Spectrum) in Cornwall

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1276719 1

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Devon & Cornwall Autistic Community Trust (t/a Spectrum)

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home was registered in May 2018 for three children.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 4 March 2019.

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This monitoring visit

Following the previous inspection, two compliance notices were issued, in respect of Regulation 12: the protection of children standard and Regulation 13: the leadership and management standard. The purpose of this inspection is to monitor whether the actions set out in these compliance notices have been met.

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This monitoring visit

To meet Regulation 12, the registered person was required to revise safeguarding procedures and systems and to ensure that all staff are fully aware of their responsibilities. This has not happened.

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This monitoring visit

The registered person was required to develop a nurturing approach towards challenging behaviour to move away from punitive practice. The acting manager gave an example of a recent positive and nurturing approach towards challenging behaviour. However, this ethos is not embedded within the staff team.

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This monitoring visit

The use of police to manage challenging behaviour has not happened since the last inspection. However, clarity has not been provided to staff as to how they should manage difficult situations.

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This monitoring visit

Physical restraint has not been used since the last inspection and children have not made any recent complaints. Therefore, the management of these areas could not be assessed at this inspection. In summary, the protection of children standard remains unmet. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1276719 2 To meet Regulation 13, the registered provider was required to train staff to the relevant level and promote the retention of staff. Since the last inspection, two further staff have left the home. Recruitment of new staff is under way. Personal development plans for staff are not yet in place. Supervision of staff is now taking place on a regular basis.

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This monitoring visit

The acting manager has now submitted her application to register with Ofsted. She feels that she is supported by senior leaders in her role. The registered provider had not shared the compliance notices with the manager prior to this inspection. As a result, insufficient action has been taken to address all of the required action points. The leadership and management standard remains unmet.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted will continue to monitor this home and will undertake a further full inspection within eight weeks.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/03/2019 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1276719 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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and

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use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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treat each child with dignity and respect;

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provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably; 3/4/2019 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1276719 4 provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice; and

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ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that any care that is arranged or provided for a child that— relates to the child’s development (within the meaning of section 17(11) of the Children Act 1989) or health; and is not arranged or provided as part of the health service continued under section 1(1) of the National Health Service Act 2006, satisfies the conditions in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The conditions are— that the care is approved, and kept under review throughout its duration, by the placing authority; that the care meets the child’s needs; that the care is delivered by a person who— has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care; and is under the supervision of a person who is appropriately skilled and qualified to supervise that care; and that the registered person keeps the child’s general medical practitioner informed, as necessary, about the progress of the care throughout its duration.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(c)(i)(ii))(d)(i) (ii)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard*

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The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. 3/4/2019 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1276719 5 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

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assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; and

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that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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(Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(e))

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13: The leadership and management standard*

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The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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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; 3/4/2019 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1276719 6 ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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

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ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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;

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demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f))(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

20: Restraint and deprivation of liberty

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Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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injury to any person (including the child); and

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serious damage to the property of any person (including the child).

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Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate.

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The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. 34/2019 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1276719 7 In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child.

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The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year.

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Requirement Due date

35: Behaviour management policies and records standard

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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a description of the measure and its duration;

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details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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the name of the person who used the measure (‘the user’), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and 3/4/2019 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1276719 8 a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)—

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has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure.

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(Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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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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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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the quality of care provided for children;

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the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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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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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered 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’).

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 3/4/2019 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1276719 9 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

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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.

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The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff.

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(Regulation 45 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(4)(a)(b)(5))

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*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. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1276719 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Devon & Cornwall Autistic Community Trust (t/a Spectrum)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lakeside Offices, The Old Cattle Market, Porthleven Road, Helston, Cornwall TR13 0SR

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Inspector

Polly Soper, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1276719 11 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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