Children's Home, Residential special school run by Cambian Whinfell School Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC066821 1 SC066821

p.1

Cambian Whinfell School Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care, accommodation and education for a maximum of 14 young males with a learning disability, including complex needs and autism spectrum disorders.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Accommodation is split, with most children living on the main site and facilities for some to experience semi-independent living a short distance away.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in June 2020. The manager is working towards the relevant level 5 leadership and management qualification.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This visit was undertaken to monitor compliance with the two notices issued at the last inspection. The compliance notices relate to two issues. The first concerns children’s safety and staff’s understanding of their roles and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children. The second concerns the children’s views, wishes and feelings.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The inspection was conducted off site. Managers provided the inspector with relevant documentation as requested. Discussions were held with the manager, school principal and responsible individual. Information was also provided by the company’s information technology (IT) department. All 11 children living at the home were seen and spoken to on video calls.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Some staff have had increased frequency of supervision. This is to support their understanding of their roles and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children. Supervision sessions focus specifically on developing knowledge of how to keep children safe. All staff’s supervision has had a focus on following the correct procedure for raising safeguarding concerns. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC066821 2 All staff have reread and signed to say they understand, and will adhere to, the home’s safeguarding and behaviour management policies. They have also reread and signed each child’s risk assessment and behaviour support plan. This ensures that they know what each child’s risks are and understand how to manage their behaviour safely.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Most staff have now completed a level 2 safeguarding course. The majority of staff have also completed the company’s own advanced safeguarding training. This ensures that staff have knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures and of how to keep children safe.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Changes have been made to the way that physical intervention incidents are recorded. Staff are now completing the records in legible handwriting. They are also writing out children’s responses if the child’s handwriting is not legible. This ensures that records can be understood and scrutinised for accuracy. Staff who witness any intervention sign the record to confirm that it is an accurate reflection of the incident as it happened. The records now give children further opportunities to express their views. Staff also involve children in developing strategies to prevent their behaviour escalating to the point where physical intervention is necessary to keep them, or others, safe.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Managers have better oversight of physical intervention records. They hold a risk review meeting weekly to monitor children’s risk behaviours and staff’s physical interventions. This helps to identify patterns and trends. Managers focus on understanding children’s behaviour and guiding staff to manage this effectively.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Children have been listened to in relation to their views on the effectiveness of the Wi-Fi in the home. The company has invested financial and human resources in improving the speed of the provision into the home and school. Four children have had Wi-Fi points installed in their bedrooms. The main core speed has been increased. Some laptop computers have been replaced with newer, faster models.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Despite the effort that has gone into increasing the functionality of the Wi-Fi in the home, there are still issues. The actions taken have not yet resulted in significant improvements. Children continue to express their frustration with the Wi-Fi speed. They said that connections drop out and downloading speeds are very slow. They said that the poor Wi-Fi interfered with their education, family contact and leisure. The head of education confirms that issues with IT continue to constitute a barrier to learning for the boys. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC066821 3

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/02/2020 Full Outstanding 29/01/2019 Full Outstanding 15/05/2017 Full Outstanding 12/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC066821 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.4

Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)) 20/03/2020

p.4

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.

p.4

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC066821 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Whinfell School Ltd

p.5

Children’s home details

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

p.5

Inspector

Charlie Bamber, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC066821 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.

p.5

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6