Children's home run by St Joseph’s Specialist Trust

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2502382 1

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St Joseph’s Specialist Trust

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A charity owns and operates the children’s home and the school that is located on the same site. The home is registered to provide care for up to 29 children. The home’s statement of purpose states that it caters for children and young people aged 5 to 19 years, who have autism, learning difficulties or speech, language and communication difficulties. Ofsted registered the manager on 30 October 2018.

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This monitoring visit

This visit took place in response to concerns arising from references within Regulation 40 reports to the safeguarding of children. The purpose of the visit was to consider recent incidents and to review the requirements and progress made since the home’s previous interim inspection in January 2020. Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, this inspection took place off site through a combination of telephone discussions and the reviewing of documents.

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This monitoring visit

At the previous inspection, a requirement was made regarding improving the maintenance of the home: this requirement is judged to have been met. The manager has improved the decor, fixtures and fittings and children now benefit from a homely environment.

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This monitoring visit

Four further recommendations were made at the previous inspection. These related to the recording of accidents, the monitoring of restraints by managers, case records being signed and the independent visitor seeking the views of families and professionals within the home. The registered manager has taken action to address these deficits. For example, regulation 44 reports now include feedback from children, parents and professionals. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2502382 2 On one occasion, the registered manager did not report a safeguarding concern in line with home’s safeguarding policy and wider safeguarding guidance. This resulted in managers completing an internal investigation prior to notifying the designated officer from the local authority. This action could have compromised the investigation by other safeguarding partners or caused a delay in action being taken to safeguard

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This monitoring visit

Risk management and behaviour support plans do not detail clear strategies on how to de-escalate incidents and support children who display violent behaviours. This means that staff are not informed on how to respond to incidents, resulting in inconsistent care.

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This monitoring visit

Staff supervision records lack exploration of staff practice and how this impacts on children’s experience. Records to do not evidence sufficient challenge of staff practice or how this can be developed to improve the quality of care provided to children.

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This monitoring visit

Children enjoy a breadth of experiences and opportunities to develop their skills in the local and wider community. Children enjoy access to a range of age-appropriate and enjoyable activities, both in the home and the local community. Children are relaxed with each other, enjoy making friends and value spending time with staff.

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This monitoring visit

Children have good relationships with staff. Staff are attentive to the needs of the children they care for. Staff use a range of tools to communicate with children who have difficulty communicating verbally. This makes children feel included in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have responded positively to the challenges they have faced during the COVID- 19 pandemic and they feel that they have been supported well by managers through the pandemic. A number of staff have fallen ill recently, but staff remain resilient and keen to deliver high-quality care to the children.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 23/01/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 10/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2502382 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 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—

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Requirement Due date

that staff 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

(Regulation 12(1) (2)(a)(i)) 23 March 2021

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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—

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Requirement Due date

that staff take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12(1) (2)(a)(vi)(vii)) 23 March 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that supervision of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. This specifically relates to ensuring that supervision with staff focuses on the experiences of the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that strategies for managing children’s behaviour are kept under review and revised where appropriate. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34) Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2502382 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

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: St Joseph’s Specialist Trust

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Amlets Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 7DH

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Inspectors

Matt Nicholls, Social Care Inspector Pete Hylton, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2502382 5 to achieve excellence gin 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

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

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