Children's Home, Residential special school run by Cambian Autism Services Limited in North Yorkshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1227060 1

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Cambian Autism Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is made up of separate houses in the grounds of a residential special school. Both the school and the home are owned and managed by a private company.

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Information about this children’s home

The children may be placed by various local authorities from across the United Kingdom. Their residential placements are for 38 or 52 weeks of the year. The school also caters for day pupils. The children may have learning disabilities and/or a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. They all have an education, health and care plan.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit took place on 29 March 2021, following concerns raised about the safety and protection of children and ineffective leadership and management. At that time, Ofsted issued compliance notices under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a further monitoring visit on 13 May 2021 to review the actions taken to address the steps detailed in the compliance notices. The inspectors found that leaders and managers had failed to take sufficient action to meet all aspects of these notices. Consequently, these notices were reissued.

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This monitoring visit

At a monitoring visit on 22 June 2021, inspectors found that leaders and managers had again failed to complete all the necessary steps required to meet the compliance notices. The manager and head of care acknowledged that these had not been met and that they were still ‘a work in progress’. As a result of that monitoring visit, Ofsted reissued two compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13 and suspended the registration of the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1227060 2 Ofsted carried out a further monitoring visit on 3 August 2021. A tour of the site and discussions with the head of care confirmed that there were no children living in any of the houses that are linked to this registration. An action plan was in place to address the shortfalls found at the previous visits. Leaders and managers were monitoring the plan and some progress had been made. Ofsted reissued one

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the progress and the actions taken to meet the reissued compliance notice. This monitoring visit included the review of documents and discussions and interviews with the head of care and other relevant people. There are still no children living in any of the houses, although day pupils are attending the school. The inspector concluded from this monitoring visit that the final step set within the compliance notice was met.

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This monitoring visit

The developed processes and guidance to provide better oversight of critical incidents have been shared with staff. Staff demonstrate an improved knowledge and understanding of this practice area. Managers and staff now know what is expected from them to maintain good and safe responses to children during, and following, any incidents. Staff said, ‘Previously, l thought I knew my role and responsibilities but following all the training and guidance I now truly understand.’

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This monitoring visit

A workforce development plan is in place and the staff team is completing a programme of training and developmental activities. Leaders and managers now have sufficient oversight of staff attendance at this training. Mop-up sessions and training course content are shared through a variety of processes. This helps all staff to have a consistent level of practice knowledge.

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This monitoring visit

The development of managers’ monitoring processes involves additional oversight and scrutiny from senior leaders. As a result of the suspension of the home, the managers have no records to audit. However, management meetings regularly look at and review these new processes and monitoring systems. The procedures that have been implemented mean that the children’s risk assessments and the positive behaviour and risk intervention plans are routinely reviewed. Improvements to children’s care experiences are expected, as tools are now in place to identify and address shortfalls in the quality of care for children.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted has received a complete application for the proposed registered manager. This manager has the necessary knowledge and experience for this role. An interview to assess their suitability for registration with Ofsted is scheduled.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has met the actions detailed in the compliance notice. The suspension notice remains in place until 15 September 2021. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1227060 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/01/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/05/2019 Full Good 29/01/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/11/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1227060 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 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 homes 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 is carried over from the monitoring visits. Evidence has been limited within this area because of the suspension of the home. 21 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 21 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1227060 5 that each child is registered as a patient with a general medical practitioner and a registered dental practitioner; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This is carried over from the monitoring visits. Evidence has been limited within this area because of the suspension of the home.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate.

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Requirement Due date

These regulations do not prevent a child from being deprived of liberty where that deprivation is authorised in accordance with a court order. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2) (3))

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Requirement Due date

This is carried over from the monitoring visits. Evidence has been limited within this area because of the suspension of the home. 21 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure; 21 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1227060 6 a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (‘the user’), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This is carried over from the monitoring visits. Evidence has been limited within this area because of the suspension of the home.

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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

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This is carried over from the monitoring visits. Evidence has been limited within this area because of the suspension of the home. 21 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person— 21 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1227060 7 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

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. (Regulation 44 (2)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is carried over from the monitoring visits. Evidence has been limited within this area because of the suspension of the home.

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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

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Autism 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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Inspector

Jennifer Fenlon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1227060 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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