Children's Home run by Options Autism (5) Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC361167 1 SC361167

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Options Autism (5) Limited

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for children with autism spectrum disorder. The children may also have additional medical and/or complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

This setting is an independent residential special school registered as a children’s home. It is owned and operated by a private company. The home offers specialised education and care for up to eight children.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager was appointed in December 2021 and has yet to apply to register with Ofsted. She is suitably experienced and is working towards the level 5 qualification in management.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered provider has notified Ofsted that they will voluntarily cancel the home’s registration and the home will close on 28 March 2022.

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This monitoring visit

On 21 March 2022 Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit at this home. The report will be available on Ofsted’s website.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was made to review the safety and well-being of the children and the plans for their transitions on from the home.

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This monitoring visit

Seven children were living at the home at the time of the monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

Managers are focused on working with children’s placing authorities to formulate and finalise transition plans for children to move on from the home. They are doing this diligently. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC361167 2 Action has been taken to ensure that children requiring medical support and intervention receive these. For example, one child is due to go to hospital to undergo tests. This hospital visit is subject to careful planning by managers at the home and health professionals. Two other children have now been visited in the home by the GP. This gives assurances that children’s urgent health needs are being reviewed and treatment prescribed as needed.

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This monitoring visit

Shortfalls remain in the recording and oversight of medication administration. It is not always clear when pain relief has been administered and for what reason. Children’s daily logs, staff handover records and medical administration records do not correlate with each other. For example, one child was administered pain relief three times on one day. However, the handover record indicates this was only given once. This same child’s daily record indicates that she was unwell the following day. Despite this, she was not administered pain relief until the evening. It is unclear why this was.

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This monitoring visit

The home is adequately staffed for the remaining period that it is open. Staff are working hard to prepare children for leaving and have purchased them new clothing and appropriate luggage. There is some use of agency staff. These staff are familiar to the children and have been safely recruited.

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This monitoring visit

No requirements or recommendations have been raised given that the home is due to close imminently. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC361167 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/08/2021 Full Inadequate 22/10/2019 Full Good 27/06/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC361167 4

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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: SC361167 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Options Autism (5) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Atria, Spa Road, Bolton BL1 4AG

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Inspectors

James Tallis, Social Care Inspector Jackie Line, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC361167 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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