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

This privately owned home is currently registered to care for up to 42 children with learning disabilities. Children are accommodated across nine houses and all the children access the school, which is located on the same site. Care is provided to children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since December 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 24 and 25 February 2021

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This monitoring visit

In accordance with Ofsted guidance around COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions, this inspection was undertaken remotely. Telephone and video discussions were held with senior leaders, including a director, the responsible individual, manager, staff and children. One inspector also consulted with the designated officers. Relevant documents were emailed to the inspectors and these were considered as part of the visit.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to provide reassurance to Ofsted about the effectiveness of the service’s action plan that was put into place by leaders following a monitoring visit undertaken in November 2020. In addition, the inspectors looked at progress made in meeting the requirements set at the previous monitoring visit. The main areas of focus for this visit included leadership and management arrangements, staffing, safeguarding and communication between leaders and staff.

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This monitoring visit

Since the previous monitoring visit, the provider has submitted regular updates to Ofsted on their action plan, including the steps that leaders are taking to address the concerns identified from an internal investigation undertaken in 2020. This visit identified that action has been taken in line with the provider’s action plan. The provider has been measured and put in a well-thought-out plan of intervention to make improvements. Significant areas of progress have been made in a short period of time. Areas where progress has been slower remain a priority for leaders, in Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC482294 2 particular, staff recruitment. Critical changes to the senior leadership team include plans to recruit a new responsible individual, and a new manager has recently been appointed. Senior leaders have a good understanding of the potential impact of such significant changes. However, Ofsted has not yet received formal notification of the

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This monitoring visit

planned change of the responsible individual post-holder.

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This monitoring visit

The staff team has supported some children with extremely complex needs. This has had an impact on the staff team and, over recent months, morale has fluctuated. Leaders and managers have responded to this by providing additional support for the staff, including drop-in sessions, debriefs following serious incidents and regular meetings within an open forum. This has given the staff an opportunity to regroup and reflect on the emotional impact on them, and of the work that they do. Senior leaders have reviewed children’s placements and, when necessary, they have taken the difficult decision for children to move on when it was felt that staff were unable to safely and sustainably support them. Although this has reduced some pressure on the staff team and ensured that the remaining children receive the care that they need, it has caused disruption for some children. Leaders have rightly reflected that

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This monitoring visit

they must improve their practice, to reduce the risk of accepting children in the future whose needs cannot be met by the staff.

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This monitoring visit

Steps have been taken to improve the recruitment and retention of staff. This includes an ongoing review of the staffing structure and increasing career opportunities. However, progress is hindered, in part due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also due to the home’s geographical location. Consequently, there remains some reliance on the use of agency staff. The provider was able to demonstrate the minimal negative impact that this has on the children’s need for consistency. The agency staff members are comprehensively vetted and work regularly at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The management of safeguarding has remained consistently solid during this period. A designated safeguarding lead, who has additional teaching responsibilities, is supported by five deputies. This team meets regularly to monitor ongoing concerns, referrals and investigations. Communication with the local authority safeguarding agencies continues to be effective. External safeguarding professionals spoken with confirm that they have no concerns in respect of the management or handling of allegations and safeguarding matters by the current safeguarding lead. Senior leaders have reflected that the size of the home warrants a sharper and more focused spotlight on safeguarding matters. Consequently, introduction of a new safeguarding structure, including the recruitment of a permanent, full-time safeguarding lead is under way.

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This monitoring visit

The children have a good insight into and understanding of the challenges that the home faces regarding staffing and the restrictions on socialising outside the home and on-site school in relation to COVID-19. On occasion, staff have been moved from one house to another, to provide additional support for some children. At times this change has been difficult for some of the children to manage. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC482294 3 Leaders have remained committed to their previous undertaking not to accommodate more children while they focus on making the required improvements. They have made considerable progress to meet most of the requirements issued at the previous monitoring visit. Leaders’ communication with the staff team has improved, child protection policies have been reviewed and monitoring systems have been strengthened. The statement of purpose still has gaps in respect of the

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This monitoring visit

leadership and management approach, ethos and delivery of care, changes to staff roles and responsibilities and staffing levels. This requirement is repeated. While progress is being made with regards to staff recruitment, it is recommended that a workforce development plan is completed to maintain the necessary oversight of the strengths and needs of the staff team, as individuals and collectively.

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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 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.

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(b)) 30 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI, as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so, if any of the following events take place or are expected by the registered person to take place—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered provider is an organisation—

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Requirement Due date

any change in the identity of the responsible individual. (Regulation 49(e)(iii)) 31 March 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20) The plan should: detail the necessary management and staffing structure, (including any staff commissioned to provide health and education), the experience and qualifications of staff currently working within the staffing structure and any further training required for those staff, to enable the delivery of the home’s statement of purpose. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC482294 5 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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Inspectors

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