Children's home run by Kisimul Group Limited in North Kesteven

Inspection report children’s home: SC367623 1 SC367623 Registered provider: Kisimul Group Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned service provides education, care and accommodation for up to 61 children who have learning disabilities and/or challenging behaviours associated with autism spectrum disorder. For some children, this is their home. Other children have term-time-only placements, and a small number of day pupils also come for short breaks.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in August 2018.

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Inspection date: 14 January 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC367623 2

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children 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 declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three requirements from previous inspections remain unmet. These repeated shortfalls present ongoing challenges for the leadership to provide a sufficiently trained and stable workforce to care for the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff’s response to emerging risks and concerns is not always quick enough. In one example, the response to a child’s escalating risk-taking behaviour lacked sufficient pace to ensure this child’s safety. Senior leaders did consult with other professionals, such as a clinical psychologist, for guidance. However, this was not incorporated into the child’s care planning documents. This means that staff are unaware of the specific interventions that had been recommended. Although senior leaders have plans to train staff in dealing with such behaviours, including the use of specialist equipment such as ligature scissors, there is no clear timescale for this training.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement was made at the last inspection for staff to improve on their recording practice; specifically, this related to marks and bruising noted on children. The records viewed at this inspection show similar omissions. In some cases, the rationale for the staff decision not to follow a safeguarding or behavioural support route is unclear, given the lack of a reasonable explanation of how a child got such a mark.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Senior leaders have assessed the level of support required to better meet the children’s needs. This has resulted in an increase in the number of staff required and also includes plans to recruit a new middle management team. This, coupled with the fact that several staff have left since the last inspection, means that the staff vacancy rate has increased. While there are no plans to admit any new children until the staffing situation improves, the safety and the quality of the care for the remaining children are compromised. The leadership team has a staff retention improvement plan, but it is too early to assess its effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has made some progress in ensuring that staff record incidents involving physical intervention more accurately. Senior leaders have successfully introduced a new behaviour management programme. Staff speak in the most positive terms about the fresh approach. Some staff said they feel empowered to use de-escalation more effectively. The number of physical interventions has decreased. However, the approach to recording high-risk physical interventions is inconsistent. Some records do not provide enough detail to demonstrate why staff had to resort to a supine restraint to manage behaviour, or why the number of staff involved in the hold increased during the restraint. Although staff sign off a child’s well-being after such an intervention, some records do not indicate who took responsibility for monitoring a child’s breathing, communication Inspection report children’s home: SC367623 3

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and circulation. In other records, staff who have been involved directly in the restraint complete these checks. Neither scenario is best practice and places the child at potential risk.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children were observed by the inspectors to express that they are happy to be in the home. One child looks at pictures of the home and expresses joy to her parents when she is due to return here. Staff are managing mealtimes much better and providing a lower arousal environment to suit the needs of autistic children. Leaders have demonstrated good practice such as using colour coding when plating up food. This has resolved confusion about dietary needs at mealtimes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that children’s health needs are met, as required at the last inspection. They are diligent at following up on appointments, such as with a neurologist, or advocating for treatment, such as dental treatment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are engaging much better with children. They use activities in the home to provide the opportunities to relate to children while having fun with them. They use various methods to communicate, and especially with children who have severe communication difficulties; for example, for some children they use a talking book.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager responds to recommendations made by the independent visitor. She has updated the personal emergency evacuation plans and commissioned maintenance staff to improve the decor in some of the children’s houses.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the ongoing and repeated shortfalls, staff morale is positive. Staff say they are well supported by the management team, which includes a recently appointed responsible individual. Inspection report children’s home: SC367623 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/07/2019 Full Good 09/01/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/12/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC367623 5

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)) 24/02/2020

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(d)) 15/07/2020

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)) 15/02/2020

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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— 15/02/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC367623 6 details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used. (Regulation 35 (a)(ii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: SC367623 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 address: Kisimul School, The Old Vicarage High Street, Swinderby, Lincoln LN6 9LU

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Duduzile (Judith) Robbins

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Inspectors

Keith Riley, Social Care Inspector (lead) Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Emeline Evans, Social Care Inspector Daniel Healy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC367623 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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