Children's Home, Residential special school run by Aurora Care and Education Opco Limited in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report for children's home: 1229766 1 Registered provider: Aurora Care and Education Opco Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to 29 children with complex needs, including autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, profound learning difficulties and/or sensory and/or physical impairments. The majority of children attend the on-site school.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2018.

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Inspection date: 17 November 2021

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1229766 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has sustained in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are well supported and the individualised care that they receive makes a positive difference to their lives. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of each child. They are committed to children’s well-being and to helping them achieve their full potential.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home. These moves were meticulously planned. The staff spend time with children before they move in and carefully identify their individual needs. Adapted guides and the use of social stories help children to feel reassured and minimise their potential anxiety. As a result, children have warm introductions and settle quickly into established routines.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are supported with their education and health needs. One child, who previously did not attend school for five years, is now attending school every day. There are effective communication systems between a range of multi-disciplinary professionals. This coordinated approach to support has ensured that the children make good progress with their education and health.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children enjoy an exciting range of meaningful activities. Recent trips to the zoo, wildlife park and seaside resorts have helped to widen children’s social experiences. Children’s individual achievements are captured well in photos and personalised records. These combined records provide an excellent resource to track children’s progress and memories.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team has met two of the three requirements raised at the last inspection. The statement of purpose has been regularly reviewed and submitted to Ofsted as required. The quality of impact assessments has improved and contributes to thoughtful care planning. Individualised risk assessments and combined support plans are informative and outline consistent risk-reduction strategies.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two out of the three recommendations raised at the last inspection are met. The overall decorative condition of the home is maintained to a high level. Bathrooms have recently been refurbished, creating a consistently good-quality environment that meets children’s needs. Additional managerial monitoring has ensured that the staff’s daily recording systems are objective and accurate.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and they have good knowledge of whistle-blowing procedures. The depth of staff’s knowledge is continuously reflected on in practice-based meetings and supervisions. The manager Inspection report for children's home: 1229766 3 investigates allegations and consults with the designated officer. Effective implementation of safeguarding policies provides assurance that there are suitable systems in place to safeguard children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager undertakes an objective and well-constructed internal quality of care review. However, the review has not included consultations with families and professionals. This omission reduces the capacity of the management team to fully understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager ensures that permanent staff have regular, child-focused supervisions. However, despite it being raised as a recommendation at the last inspection, agency staff who are working regularly at the home do not have the same opportunities to receive formal supervision. This means that these staff members do not have the support that they need to suitably reflect on their practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A training programme with a wide range of courses to enhance staff’s skills is in place and is well attended. However, important training in understanding attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has not been provided. This does not ensure that staff have the necessary skills to support some of the children’s individual needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to experience a difficult period, with a high number of staff vacancies. The management team has used agency staff to cover these gaps. Managers have undertaken an ambitious recruitment drive and regularly review strategies to address negative trends in the staff turnover. However, on several occasions, the staffing levels did not match the staffing ratio agreed with placing authorities, specifically when two-to-one staffing was required for children. This has resulted in some staff feeling overstretched. The reliance on agency staff means that children have not consistently benefited from staff who have the experience to meet their individual needs. Inspection report for children's home: 1229766 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/05/2021 Full Good 19/11/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/12/2018 Full Good 23/05/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1229766 5

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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 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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children are supervised by the number of staff agreed between the home and the placing authority. 30 December

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) 30 December Inspection report for children's home: 1229766 6 In particular, ensure that staff have the necessary training and skills to care effectively for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that agency staff receive regular and effective supervision. 30 December

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the quality of care review meets all the aspects stipulated in Regulation 45. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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 for children's home: 1229766 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aurora Care and Education Opco Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 13, Twigworth Court Business Centre, Tewkesbury Road, Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL2 9PG

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Inspector

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1229766 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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