Children's Home run by Devon and Cornwall Autistic Community Trust (t/a Spectrum) in Cornwall

Inspection report children’s home: 1276719 1 Registered provider: Devon and Cornwall Autistic Community Trust (t/a Spectrum) Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The provider states within the statement of purpose that this home provides long- term placements for up to three children aged between 11 and 18. These children may have autism spectrum disorder and/or associated conditions. The home is owned by a private organisation.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2021.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 21 and 22 January 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on our website.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 14 November 2019

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1276719 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/11/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/03/2019 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: 1276719 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child currently lives at this home. In line with their current needs, the home is sparsely decorated. Consistent attempts are being made to reintroduce soft furnishings and more homely decorations.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child now attends school daily on the school site rather than a tutor visiting them at the home. They have started to spend time with their peers at school, which they greatly enjoy. Increasing the time they spend with other children is a goal.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have skills to undertake extra-curricular and enjoyable activities. They are providing the child with varied experiences, including skateboarding and Spanish lessons. They also plan to provide surfing and swimming lessons in the near future.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child was observed to have good relationships and interactions with staff. The child was dancing and singing with staff, and their requests for physical affection were met appropriately with hugs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staffing has been changeable. However, this has not had a significant impact on the child’s progress. The team has begun to stabilise, and good practice is being embedded.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have been no child protection referrals since the last inspection. Safeguarding is promoted through close communication with other professionals, in line with the child’s needs. Some restrictive practice still takes place. However, this is only used as a last resort. For example, the use of the dining room as a calming space is still happening at times to keep the child safe. The child is always supported by at least one staff member on these occasions.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Clear and consistent boundaries have had a significant impact. The child is increasingly able to manage difficult emotions. This has resulted in the limited use of physical interventions. There have been no ground holds since February.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Incidents are well managed, and each are reflected on by the registered manager to support learning about how staff respond to behaviour. The child’s views are sought after incidents happen.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The child’s needs, wishes and feelings are consistently sought and listened to. They are encouraged to make choices and to express how they feel, which directly informs day-to-day care arrangements. Inspection report children’s home: 1276719 4 A healthy and varied diet is enjoyed by the child. This demonstrates significant progress from previous concerning vomiting, and regurgitation behaviours. These are now minimal. The child has also had a medication reduction, which was promoted by the registered manager.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Notifications after significant incidents are not always completed in line with regulation. This prevents external partners from providing scrutiny of these incidents and understanding the child’s lived experience.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This home is well managed. The registered manager has a good oversight of the home. She is providing a good standard of parenting. This approach is being embedded throughout the staff team.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager advocates with passion for children. She continuously champions the child’s best interests. Good communication with other agencies and professionals has promoted positive outcomes.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records are detailed and depict nurturing approaches. De-escalation techniques are being used consistently, which is reducing incidents. Management oversight is evident throughout practice within the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Analysis of behaviour patterns and use of restrictive practice are lacking. This does not demonstrate how the registered manager is driving the lessening of restrictive practice or promoting learning opportunities.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have been provided with specialist training to meet the child’s needs. Further training is due to be facilitated soon. Inspection report children’s home: 1276719 5

p.4

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.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to their full potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should have a good understanding of the positive progress made by the child. This includes quantifying and reflecting on how often restrictive practices are used to inform ongoing care planning and to demonstrate progress. 18 June 2021

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.5

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 18 June 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 1276719 6

p.5

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: 1276719 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Devon and Cornwall Autistic Community Trust (t/a Spectrum)

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lakeside Offices, The Old Cattle Market, Porthleven Road, Helston, Cornwall, TR13 0SR

p.7

Inspector

Polly Soper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1276719 8 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.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8