Children's Home run by Autism Sussex Ltd in Bexley

Inspection report children’s home: 1264841 1 Registered provider: Autism Sussex Ltd

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Full 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 manager of the home was registered by Ofsted in August 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 11 to 12 December 2019

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1264841 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 31/07/2018 Full Good 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

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only—

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that recruitment files consistently evidence formal verification of references. 01/03/2020

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the review of quality of care report clearly identifies the strengths and weakness in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.4) Inspection report children’s home: 1264841 4  Ensure that all managers working in a children’s home have the qualification in regulation 28 (2), within the relevant timescales listed in regulation 28 (3.) (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.12)  Ensure that the staffing structure, experience and qualifications of staff are included in the statement of purpose. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.10)  Ensure that the children’s guide is age appropriate, provided in an accessible format and explained to each child to make sure they understand it. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 23,

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Recommendations

paragraph 4.21)  Ensure that consent is given in writing to any monitoring or surveillance at the time of placement. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.16)  Ensure that performance appraisals consider the views of the other professionals who have worked with the staff member and children over the year. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 60, paragraph 13.5)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy their short breaks and make positive progress across a range of areas. Young people learn important independence skills, such as how to tie their shoe laces. They develop communication skills and learn basic budgeting exercises. Achievements are warmly celebrated by both staff and the young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well equipped to meet the complex needs of the young people and improved facilities include a refurbished sensory room. Staff plan a wide range of outings in the local area, such as a recent visit to the seaside. High staffing levels support these visits and allow for a choice of activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All of the young people live within the host local authority, allowing good access to schools and their homes. Many of the young people have accessed the service for a significant period of time, establishing strong peer and staff relationships. Familiarity offers the young people the confidence to try new and challenging experiences, such as attending a local bowling alley.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Behaviour management is effective. Staff use their experience and relationships with the young people to intervene quickly when they are struggling. Strategies include offering an alternative activity or some quiet time away from the group. These techniques work well and there has been no restraint use since February 2019. Inspection report children’s home: 1264841 5 Professionals supporting the young people communicate well with each other. A ‘communication’ book promotes interaction between parents, schools and the home. This book allows each party to be aware of any concerns or worries, such as a change in medication, a restless night or difficulties in school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Positive feedback from parents and placing social workers supports this. The obvious delight that the young people display on attending the home helps to reduce parental anxiety. One parent praised the staff team’s understanding and consistent approach to managing their child’s autism spectrum disorder. The parent concerned commented, ‘He loves it here. This is the best I’ve seen him. I don’t know what I would do without them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff inventively seek the wishes and feelings of the young people. Staff use a voice board to allow the young people to express a preference, for example a favourite drink or activity. However, key documents, such as the children’s guide, are only available in written format. This limits their accessibility to young people with complex needs.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff adapt the home environment and schedule daily to meet the needs of the young people. This includes ensuring that the young people access their preferred bedroom and are paired with friendship groups. Activities such as trips to local swimming pools are carefully risk assessed and planned. Staff give notice of their arrival and plan visits during less busy periods, to minimise disruption for the young people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home helps to prevent family breakdown and allows the young people to remain in the care of their families. The home offers the young people a comfortable break, while offering families important respite. Parents can see the direct benefit of young people’s progress. For example, young people learning how to feed themselves at mealtimes provides families with increased independence.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff assist parents and the young people to access specialist support. Recently, staff helped a family to engage with behavioural support services at the home. The service implemented new and successful behaviour management strategies which helped stabilise one young person’s behaviour. Parents, staff and the school now follow an improved, individualised behaviour management plan to ensure consistency.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people enjoy planned introductions to the home at their own pace. Teatime visits help introduce the young people to the daily routine, before staff consider an overnight stay. Good preparation allows the young people to settle quickly and, for many, this is their first experience of spending a night away from home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There is a strong safeguarding culture, supported by thorough case recording and good use of body maps. When concerns arise, referrals to the appropriate agencies are prompt and staff work well with key partner agencies, such as the local authority. Staff review and learn from safeguarding incidents, such as revising procedures on passing on information to parents. Inspection report children’s home: 1264841 6 Risk assessments support good levels of care. Assessments offer a clear picture of the needs of each young person and the preferred means of support when young people are struggling. De-escalation techniques, such as getting the young people to count to 10, are effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home continues to benefit from the positive leadership of the registered manager. She is ambitious and reflective. She has addressed the requirement and the two recommendations from the last inspection and has secured funding for a new minibus for the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Management succession planning requires improvement. One of the two deputy managers has been in post for three years, and the other for two years, yet they are still to begin any form of management training. This reduces their scope for development and understanding of the management role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Recruitment practice is not safe. The registered manager does not verbally verify references. Some references are limited to a confirmation of employment dates only. This limits an assessment of the potential employee’s suitability and previous experience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The service benefits from good levels of challenge and scrutiny from the independent visitor. She works in close partnership with the registered manager to review the progress of the young people and the effectiveness of behavioural interventions. However, the management monitoring report does not assess the strengths and weakness of the service, reducing its effectiveness.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff morale is good. Achievements of the young people and a bespoke training package help to motivate staff. Staff reported effective supervision; however, the quality of performance appraisals is limited by the absence of feedback from the young people and fellow professionals. The home’s statement of purpose requires updating to reflect the skills and experience of the current staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers control admissions well. The registered manager sits on the local authority’s referral panel and assesses potential referrals accordingly. The registered manager conducts a home visit before the acceptance of each referral. This offers a comprehensive assessment of each young person’s needs and home circumstances.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Case files show strong evidence of management audit, and case recording continues to improve. The registered manager oversees the regular update of risk assessments and care plans. She uses this information and her strong relationship with the young people to inform child-centred decision making. At present, case files are lacking formal consent from parents for CCTV monitoring in the communal areas of the home. Inspection report children’s home: 1264841 7

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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

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’. Inspection report children’s home: 1264841 8

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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 Inspection report children’s home: 1264841 9 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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