Children's Home, Residential special school run by Wandsworth Borough Council in Wandsworth

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC470513 1 SC470513

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Wandsworth Borough Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority-run service, which provides care and accommodation for up to 56 children with autistic spectrum disorder, learning disabilities and associated conditions. The registered children’s home is on the same site as the organisation’s school. It accommodates children for short breaks, as well as for placements of 38 and 52 weeks of the year.

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Information about this children’s home

A manager has been appointed and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring inspection was undertaken in response to information received by Ofsted regarding safeguarding concerns about the care of children.

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This monitoring visit

Senior leaders have sought advice and guidance from external professionals and specialists in relation to the management of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. They responded to immediate and evolving risks. Senior leaders acted to protect the children and staff. As a result, the impact on children was reduced. There were examples of very good practice, such as providing individualised care to a child who was clinically vulnerable if he became ill with COVID-19.

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This monitoring visit

The staff undertook direct work with the children and used social stories to educate them and help them to understand what was happening. This meant that all the children successfully had COVID-19 tests. Those who needed to self-isolate were helped to achieve this. The school staff taught them in the residential homes. They were able to access educational resources and keep to the school routine.

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This monitoring visit

All staff spoken to were positive about the support from the senior management team. Senior leaders regularly contacted staff who were self-isolating at home. This Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC470513 2 contact, regular updates and access to training meant that the staff were fully prepared when they returned to work.

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This monitoring visit

All staff have undertaken additional training specific to the COVID-19 pandemic. Senior managers have communicated well with staff and given them the necessary guidance and support. One staff member said, ‘We all pulled together as a team, like a family.’ The staff spoke warmly of how proud they were of the children and the way that they have responded.

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This monitoring visit

When agency staff have worked with children they have stayed within one home to reduce movement between the homes. Safety measures have been agreed with the agency to protect the children and permanent staff. All staff who are new to the home have followed an induction plan and undertaken mandatory training. A new member of staff told the inspectors that she felt very supported by the team and this increased her confidence and enjoyment of the role.

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This monitoring visit

Senior leaders reported a safeguarding issue as soon as they were informed of the incident. They acted to safeguard children and shared information with external professionals. There was a delay in informing Ofsted, which was recognised by the head of residential services. The child was not at risk due to this delay. The child’s parent was informed. However, there is not a formal agreement in place with regard to how and when a parent should be informed of such incidents.

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This monitoring visit

The inspectors found that children are safeguarded. Senior managers communicate well with staff and give them the necessary support and guidance.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 02/12/2019 Full Good 11/03/2019 Full Good 27/11/2018 Full Inadequate 29/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC470513 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 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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Requirement Due date

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 —

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 10/02/2021

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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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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use 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; 10/02/2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC470513 4 the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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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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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Recommendations

 Children should be consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care. (‘The guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’ Page 22, Paragraph 4.11)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that children’s surveys include questions about their experience of staying/living at the residential homes.

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Recommendations

 Not all children in homes are looked after; for those children too, a close working relationship is essential with those with parental responsibility for them, usually their parents or other carers. (‘The guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’ Page 11, Paragraph 2.5)

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Recommendations

In particular, have formal agreements with parents in regard to when they would like to be informed of incidents.

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Recommendations

 Regulation 40 (4) requires the registered person to notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40 (4) (a)-(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protections, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC470513 5 be serious. (‘The guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’ Page 63, Paragraph 14.10)

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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: Wandsworth Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: London Borough of Wandsworth, Early Years Centre, 1 Siward Road, LONDON SW17 0LA

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Inspectors

Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Sophie Wood, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC470513 6 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

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