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 owned by a private organisation. It provides care for up to five children with a learning disability and additional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left on 16 April 2021 to become the responsible individual. The appointed manager has yet to register with Ofsted.

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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.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 28 and 29 June 2021. The inspection identified that leaders and managers had failed to ensure that suitable arrangements were in place for the safety and protection of children.

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This monitoring visit

A compliance notice was issued under regulation 12, the protection of children standard. This monitoring visit was undertaken to review the action taken by the provider to comply with the notice.

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection, senior leaders and the manager provided Ofsted with a plan detailing the action that they proposed to take to safeguard children and remedy the weaknesses. Leaders and managers have taken sufficient action to address the points in the compliance notice, but requirements will remain and be reviewed in full at the next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection, senior leaders and the manager have taken urgent action to review and amend all fire safety procedures. They have ensured that designated fire exits and garden gates can be opened without delay should there be an emergency. Consultation with a fire safety professional has led to a new fire risk assessment that Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1263124 2 is now fit for purpose. Children have new personalised evacuation plans that suitably inform any staff member on how to support each child safely in the event of a fire. Firefighting equipment remains in the home but is now stored away out of sight while remaining accessible to staff. This arrangement adheres to suitable fire safety procedures without compromising the creation of a homely environment.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed and implemented revised safeguarding procedures. Through team meetings and discussions in supervision, the staff team has been reminded of their responsibilities to ensure children are safeguarded effectively. All team members have completed training in safeguarding, read the revised procedures and confirmed their understanding of their duty to protect children and report any concerns they have.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection, the manager has demonstrated a sound understanding of safeguarding procedures and the requirement to report any incidents to other agencies without delay. Allegation management procedures have been correctly followed, with appropriate consultation with the designated officer.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and the manager have taken action to review the night-time supervision of children. Clear instructions have been written for night staff so that children are always appropriately supported and supervised. Improved systems are now in place for monitoring the actions of waking night staff, ensuring that they are completing tasks as required for the safety and welfare of children.

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This monitoring visit

Children and young people are consulted about their night-time routine and the level of monitoring that is required. This ensures their safety and considers how to avoid compromising their privacy.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are committed to making continual improvement for the safety and protection of children. Time is needed for new procedures to be implemented and embedded into daily practice. Ofsted will conduct a further full inspection of this home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/06/2021 Full Inadequate 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This refers to ensuring that there are prompt repairs to the home and removal of excessive fire notices, to create a homely environment. 28 July 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

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; 28 July 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1263124 4 help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

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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

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)) 28 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the 28 July 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1263124 5 registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This refers to the prompt completion of applications as agreed in care plans, for example, for housing and deprivation of liberty safeguards.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is regular review of any monitoring devices used. 28 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character; 28 July 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1263124 6 the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that senior staff who provide supervision receive appropriate training to do so effectively. 28 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 30 June 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1263124 7 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

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5)) 28 July 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered person is responsible for reviewing the quality of care. The review should enable the registered person to identify areas of strength and possible weakness in the home’s care, which will be captured in a written report. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next six months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. In particular, there should be a development plan for the home, informed by a review of the quality of care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4) Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1263124 8

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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

Clare Davies, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1263124 9 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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