Children's home run by Cambian Asperger Syndrome Services Limited in Hammersmith and Fulham

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC482294 1 SC482294

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Cambian Asperger Syndrome Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is currently registered to care for up to 42 children with learning disabilities. Children are accommodated across nine houses on the site. The home is privately owned by a large organisation, which specialises in providing education and care. All the children access the school, which is located on the site. Care is provided to children with a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

The managers were registered with Ofsted in February 2020.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit explored the serious concerns that the provider had identified to Ofsted about significant and ongoing disruptions to the leadership and management arrangements.

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This monitoring visit

Through interviews with a range of leaders and staff, the inspectors concluded that the previous closed culture in the setting had disempowered the staff teams across the children’s home and school provision. This affected each team’s ability to work collaboratively in their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children.

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This monitoring visit

Although the staff are positive about ongoing leadership arrangements, the development and action plans that are in place do not present a fully coherent approach. For example, some staff now have additional roles and responsibilities, but these are not captured in written agreements or amended job descriptions. Consequently, it is not always clear how the progress of aspects of the action plans is to be measured and by whom.

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This monitoring visit

The absence of clear senior leadership oversight by the provider remains a weakness. The recent management investigation does identify some very clear and relevant findings. However, in other aspects of this investigation there are gaps. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC482294 2 The inspectors were reassured by the current practice of the designated safeguarding lead (DSL). Case tracking showed that the staff know what to report about the children if they are worried, and to whom. From the records seen, the inspectors were confident that all but one safeguarding concern was appropriately responded to. The general practice of staff includes consultation with and referral to wider safeguarding agencies. In the remaining example, the inspectors shared their concerns with senior leaders and were confident that appropriate action was immediately taken. The current safeguarding recording tools and databases are

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This monitoring visit

cumbersome and time consuming for the DSL and this is exacerbated by an insufficient number of deputy DSLs in post.

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This monitoring visit

The majority of staff are well informed of whistle-blowing procedures. However, one example, of a new member of staff, identified that they were not yet clear about this process. This has the potential for unsafe practices to go unreported.

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This monitoring visit

Significant leadership and management changes have had a disruptive impact on the staff team and for the young people’s experiences. The young people are, however, positive about the ongoing changes but feel they would have benefited from more information at the start. Similarly, staff report positivity but would also welcome greater communication from senior leaders.

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This monitoring visit

Staffing levels are not sufficient to meet the aims and objectives of the statement of purpose. There continues to be a reliance on the use of agency staff combined with permanent staff working additional hours. Activities for the young people, particularly those at weekends, have been disrupted or cancelled as a result. The provider recognises these shortfalls and is actively seeking to recruit permanent staff. The provider has made the decision to make two of the houses non- operational and does not intend to make further admissions that increase on current occupancy until more staff have been recruited and in consultation with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

The statement of purpose does not provide accurate detail of the leadership and management approach, ethos and delivery of care, for example, changes to staff roles and responsibilities, and levels of staffing.

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This monitoring visit

The success of consultation mechanisms for the young people is variable. This is indicative of the previous culture across the service. Some young people are confident to raise their concerns and issues with a range of staff. Others are not. For example, minor maintenance issues were raised with the inspectors. These were passed on to leaders, along with the concern that young people should not feel the need to share their worries in this way. This also indicates that some of the young people do not understand the role of the home’s independent advocate. The young people praised recent changes to the provision of meals at weekends, when they can now have an increased say in the meal planning, shopping and preparation. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC482294 3 The requirements that were set from the last inspection were explored. The service has been proactive in further developing working partnerships with local health

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This monitoring visit

services to ensure that primary health teams are fully informed and involved in decision-making, when appropriate. There is a more independent overview and debriefing process following physical interventions. These requirements are met.

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This monitoring visit

Further work is still needed regarding some of the requirements previously set, including additional resources to improve communication with the children so that they feel cared for and are informed of the changes taking place. In addition, although the staff say that morale has improved, there is still room for improved communication from leaders, so that the staff can better understand the challenges that the home faces and the changes taking place. Therefore, these requirements have been repeated.

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This monitoring visit

Additional requirements have been made because of this visit. These relate to the home’s statement of purpose, safeguarding and leadership and management.

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This monitoring visit

The provider demonstrates a strong commitment to improvement. This includes the current commitment to pause the admission that increase current occupancy of any further young people until the desired improvements have been made and in consultation with Ofsted.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 03/07/2019 Full Good 20/02/2019 Full Good 04/10/2017 Full Good 07/12/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC482294 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 effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(e)) 31/01/2021

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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— 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; ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(h)) 31/01/2021

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who— take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. (Regulation 7 (1)(c)) 31/01/2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC482294 5 The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1)) 31/01/2021

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)) In particular, ensure that better communication takes place with the staff so that they can better understand the challenges that the home faces and the changes taking place. 31/01/2021

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Recommendations

 As part of the policies for protection of children, the registered person should include information about whistle blowing, with clear procedures for how a staff member should report to an appropriate authority any concern they have about a child within the home being either at risk of, or already experiencing significant harm., The policy should reflect the principles set out in the Francis review ‘Freedom to speak out’. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.15) In particular, review the practice to include whistle-blowing guidance early in new staff’s induction period.

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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.

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Asperger Syndrome Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Children’s home details

Registered managers: Ryan Thirlwell and David Thomas Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC482294 6

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Inspectors

Liz Driver, Social Care Inspector Sophie Wood, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC482294 7 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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