Children's home run by Autism Initiatives (UK) in Sefton

Inspection report children's home: SC055780 1 SC055780 Registered provider: Autism Initiatives (UK) Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is run by a registered charity. It provides care for up to eight disabled children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 27 October 2010.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 3 August 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: Four compliance notices were issued: in relation to regulation 12, the protection of children standard; regulation 13, the leadership and management standard; regulation 14, the care planning standard; and regulation 21, privacy and access. Following a monitoring visit on the 8 June 2021, the compliance notice for regulation 14, the care planning standard was not met. This was later met at a monitoring visit on the 3 August 2021. Inspection report children's home: SC055780 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/04/2021 Full Inadequate 05/09/2019 Full Good 21/11/2018 Full Good 14/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC055780 3

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improvement to be good

Senior managers are in the process of implementing their plan in relation to refurbishment of the home, this involves consultation and agreement with a number of people. As a result, the overall experience and progress of children requires improvement to be good.

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improvement to be good

Children enjoy positive relationships with the staff because they know and trust them. Parents said that their children are happy and settled here, and that they enjoy spending time with the staff.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the importance of clear, consistent routines for the children and how this helps to reduce the children’s anxieties. One child told the inspector what was happening next, and where they were going.

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improvement to be good

Children enjoy a range of self-chosen activities. One child was excitedly getting ready to go on the train with staff, to attend their summer school. Other children enjoy trips to local parks, shops and beaches. As a result, children are becoming more confident to go out and to try new things.

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improvement to be good

Care planning is sound. Staff know the children well and adapt the plans to meet their ever-changing needs. Parents and professionals state that the children receive effective care and support that is enabling them to make progress.

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improvement to be good

Plans for children who are moving out of the home are reflective of the children’s individual needs. This means that the two children who have recently left have settled in well to their new homes and are happy. Staff and the registered manager advocate well on behalf of the children and families to help them to get the support that they need.

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improvement to be good

Children’s health and emotional well-being are improving. Recently, an issue with the administration of some medication could have placed a child at risk. However, this was identified quickly, and staff took appropriate action to ensure the safety of the child.

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improvement to be good

Following this incident and subsequent investigation, additional service-specific training was provided to all staff. A new medication admission process was established, and staff undergo a competency test for the administration of medication.

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improvement to be good

Family time is supported by staff who understand the complexity of needs for both the children and their families. A parent said that staff were rearranging their family time so that they got the opportunity to spend more time with their child. Inspection report children's home: SC055780 4

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improvement to be good

At the last inspection, numerous issues were identified with the condition of the property. Since then, a decision has been made for the home to undergo a full refurbishment programme. Senior managers have yet to devise a comprehensive plan as to when the work will commence. Some remedial work has taken place, but the home still looks tired, worn and in need of repair.

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improvement to be good

Staff have a sound understanding of child protection and safeguarding practice. Consequently, they can respond quickly to any emerging concerns. Staff understand the known and perceived risks to children.

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improvement to be good

Staff know the children well and can intervene quickly as they notice the subtle differences in their behaviour. They use kind words and calm voices to distract children and to help them to feel safe, Consequently, the use of any physical interventions is minimal.

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improvement to be good

Following an incident in a supermarket, staff updated a child’s behaviour support plan and risk assessments to prevent a reoccurrence. The recording of this incident and subsequent complaint, made by a member of the public, would benefit from more in-depth recording of the actual event and the action taken. This would provide greater clarity about the incident.

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improvement to be good

Parents and professionals said that staff are proactive in supporting children who struggle with their emotions. Professionals said that, even though children can display challenging and aggressive behaviours, they are supported well by staff who keep them safe.

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good

The home is led by a qualified and experienced registered manager. The registered manager accepts that they last few weeks have been difficult, but staff have kept the children at the heart of everything that they do.

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good

Staff said that their moral had been low. However, they have reflected on the last inspection and are moving forward to support the children. Staff remain committed to improving outcomes and life opportunities for the children.

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good

One new member of staff has joined the team, since the last inspection, and appropriate recruitment and vetting procedures have taken place. This helps to protect children from unsuitable people. There have been 161 shifts covered by nine agency staff. Whilst this is a high number, it was agreed so as not to introduce new staff to the children while they were preparing to move out of the home. This provided stability for the children. Inspection report children's home: SC055780 5 Monitoring by the registered manager and independent person is not yet secure. Reports by the manager and independent person would benefit from more challenge and analysis to help the manager drive forward improvements.

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good

Discussions with professionals and family members acknowledge that the home is in need of repair. However, the care of their children remains good, and the children continue to make progress. Inspection report children's home: SC055780 6

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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)) 1 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

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

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. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(b)) 1 October 2021 Inspection report children's home: SC055780 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there is a clear plan for the refurbishment of the home, which includes timescales for the completion of work and how the children are to be supported during this time. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that records such as incident and complaints contain sufficient information to tell the story of the event. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC055780 8

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Autism Initiatives (UK)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sefton House, Bridle Road, Bootle, Merseyside L30 4XR

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Katharine Silver

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Inspector

Chris Scully, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC055780 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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