Children's Home run by Autonomy Plus Limited in Wiltshire

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1263124 1

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Autonomy Plus Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. The home can accommodate five children or young people who have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 10 October 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this monitoring visit, four young people were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

This home was last inspected in September 2019.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was completed because the home has not been inspected since September 2019. In addition, the independent visitor is not submitting their reports to Ofsted in a timely manner and they did not visit the home in December 2020. The requirements set at the previous inspection were also reviewed.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector completed this visit remotely. The visit included a review of records, interviews with staff and video discussions with young people, who also gave the inspector a virtual tour of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Young people like living at the home and each young person has an allocated education provision, either at school or college. The young people enjoy a wide range of fun and purposeful activities. Imaginative activities have taken place during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) lockdown restrictions. One young person shared with the inspector a video they have made with staff, in which they danced and sang along to their favourite song.

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This monitoring visit

Young people’s plans are of good quality, and provide clear guidance for staff on how to meet each young person’s needs. Consequently, young people are making Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1263124 2 progress, particularly with their independence skills. Staff spoke with pride about the young people’s achievements.

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This monitoring visit

Staff involve young people in the development of their support plans by using creative approaches, including the use of alternative communication systems. One young person recently produced a PowerPoint presentation for their review, to express their views.

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This monitoring visit

Staff manage young people’s behaviour well. During the summer, there was an increase in the number of incidents for one young person, but these have now decreased in number because staff have reflected on these incidents and developed different approaches. Records of incidents are of good quality, and include conversations between staff and young people after the event.

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This monitoring visit

On occasions, staff use institutional language within the records they complete, which does make these records helpful and meaningful to the young people.

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This monitoring visit

Staff take swift and appropriate action regarding safeguarding concerns, which protects young people. However, records of safeguarding events require improvement. Although it is possible to evidence that appropriate actions are taken in a timely manner, the information is not collated in one place. This does not help managers to monitor these records.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are managing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic well. They have undertaken individual sessions with the young people to develop their awareness of how to keep themselves safe. Staff have built a visitors’ pod in the house, which provides a comfortable place for visitors while protecting everyone.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have met three out of the four previous requirements and the recommendation set at the previous inspection. The requirement that has not been met relates to the independent visitor, and remains a shortfall that was identified at this visit. The independent visitor is failing to send their reports to leaders and managers and to Ofsted in a timely manner. In addition, they did not carry out a visit in December 2020. This does not help the leaders and managers in their development of the home. Furthermore, it means that Ofsted is not being provided with a key tool for monitoring the service. Leaders and managers have raised this with the independent visitor previously, and are taking action to address the ongoing concerns.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/09/2019 Full Good 06/11/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1263124 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

(a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that records of safeguarding events are collated in a format that aids the registered manager’s monitoring. 5 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

the independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI; 31 March 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1263124 4 upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a) (7)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the reports are sent to HMCI, the registered provider and the registered manager in a timely manner.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure all staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Records must always be written in a way that is helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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

Registered provider: Autonomy Plus Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 67 Roundpond, Melksham, Wiltshire SN12 8EB

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Inspector

Wendy Anderson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1263124 5 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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