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

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC425985 1 SC425985

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Autism Initiatives (UK)

Monitoring visit 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 seven disabled children.

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Information about this children’s home

An interim manager has managed the home since July 2021.

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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 18 and 19 May 2021. A monitoring visit was undertaken by Ofsted on 7 July 2021 to assess the progress to address the two compliance notices issued under Regulation 12 and Regulation 13. Compliance notices were issued again as the registered provider and registered manager had made insufficient progress to address the shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last monitoring visit, the registered manager has left the organisation. An interim manager within the company has resumed day-to-day responsibility for the home. At the time of this monitoring visit, two young people were resident.

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This monitoring visit

The home was clean and tidy and there is evidence of recent decoration. Soft furnishings add to a homely appeal. A selection of healthy snacks and fruit was available on the dining table. A daily notice board in the hallway displays photos of staff alongside the child they are caring for. This helps children have a better understanding of who is their primary carer for the day. Some rooms require attention to ensure that repairs and decoration are completed when children move out. A bathroom used by children had a broken mirror on the wall. Routine checks by staff are not completed to identify hazards.

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This monitoring visit

Independence care planning for children who are due to leave the home takes place Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC425985 2 with placing authorities. There is evidence of a ‘support goal plan’ to help with issues such as personal hygiene and a ‘future goals plan’ to explore personal interests and future learning. Support goal plans require a consistent approach to ensure that children are prepared for independence. There are some improvements for those children who have previously lacked routine and education. Although there has been progress, some children require structured routines to maintain a focus for their day. Measures are introduced with sufficient understanding of the needs of the child.

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This monitoring visit

Some discussions have taken place with children who have access to gaming portals. However, structured work for online safety is required to ensure that children understand how to keep safe online. Currently, the home is unable to demonstrate that there is sufficient understanding of keeping children safe online.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager reported that his primary focus has been to build staff morale and introduce new systems to help improve the overall outcome of children’s experiences. Staff and professionals report a significant positive difference in the management change. Staff report feeling supported, and their views are recognised. Staff now have regular supervision. The interim manager is gaining the confidence of parents who have previously been dissatisfied with the home. Staff rotas indicate that there are sufficient staff on duty throughout the day and night.

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This monitoring visit

One incident resulted in an escalation of incidents for a child who had to leave the home in an unplanned move. This was despite efforts by the interim manager and staff to try and manage concerns. Documents showed that there were improvements in the recording of risk assessments and behaviour support plans to try and manage the incident. The interim manager ensured that the child’s wishes and feelings were noted to help understand the potential triggers, and that she had an opportunity to contribute to her multidisciplinary care planning meeting.

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This monitoring visit

All staff have now completed additional training for medication administration, specific safeguarding for autism and online safety. The interim manager has ensured that all staff have an individual copy of the home’s safeguarding policy and procedures. The interim manager proposes to discuss the policy at regular team meetings.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager is using internal and external monitoring and has recently completed the Regulation 45 report that details the progress of the home over the past six months. This will help to inform future development plans for the home.

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This monitoring visit

A case review meeting concluded that the home has demonstrated a proactive approach to address concerns and that, on this occasion, compliance notices have been met. Further requirements will be assessed at the home’s next full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC425985 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/05/2021 Full Inadequate 30/05/2019 Full Good 05/03/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/06/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC425985 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 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 registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority.

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii)(c)) 1 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon 1 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC425985 5 as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c)) 1 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

securely in the children’s home during the period when the child to whom the case records relate is accommodated there. (Regulation 36 (1)(b) (2)(c)) 1 October 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;

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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; 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 1 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC425985 6 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)(iii)(v)(vii)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that online safety procedures are in place and that bathroom fixtures and fittings are fit for purpose.

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Recommendation

 The registered provider must ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of its children. It should offer a homely, domestic environment. Specifically, toilets in the home should be available and suitable for both staff and children, rather than provided as separate facilities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC425985 7

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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

Kamal Bhamra, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC425985 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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