Children's home run by Longboat Special Education Ltd

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2523030 1 Registered provider: Longboat Special Education Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home forms part of an independent school. It provides residential care for up to 16 children aged between 11 and 19 with severe learning disabilities and associated needs, such as limited verbal communication. Children may have autism spectrum disorder. The school offers residential term-time only placements or 52-week placements. There were 11 children resident at the time of the inspection. One child is a new admission since the full inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector only inspected the social care provision at this school.

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This monitoring visit

At the full inspection on 18 and 19 October 2022, Ofsted identified significant shortfalls in safeguarding practices, specifically in relation to the management and oversight of children’s behaviours and restraint practice. As a result of the full inspection, Ofsted issued compliance notices under regulation 12, in relation to protecting children, and regulation 13, in relation to the leadership of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to ensure that the provider has taken the necessary steps to meet the compliance notices. Leaders and managers have taken the shortfalls identified very seriously. They have taken immediate and direct action which has resulted in significant changes in the home and a reduction in restrictive practices. The compliance notices were found to be met.

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This monitoring visit

A detailed action plan has been implemented by leaders and managers and several steps taken to improve safeguarding practices.

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This monitoring visit

Physical interventions and high-level holds of children on the floor have significantly reduced. A holistic approach has been taken to look at all interventions, with a view Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2523030 2 to reducing the need for restrictive practices. This has included input from occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. For some children, floor holds have been removed from their plans completely. Managers continue to review plans with a view to reducing the need for physical interventions further. This is significant progress.

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This monitoring visit

There is evidence of stronger management oversight of staff practice, in particular, robust oversight of physical interventions. There is a multidisciplinary response to each incident. Managers are working on improved recording processes and staff are receiving training on the reporting and recording of physical interventions. Behaviour management plans have been reviewed by leaders. Leaders have commissioned an external positive-behaviour support service to assist them with staff training and in evaluating children’s behaviour management plans. Also, a quality assurance manager has been recruited to help to oversee children’s care.

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This monitoring visit

A disconnect between the therapy team and the care staff in relation to managing children’s behaviour has led to significant differences of opinion regarding the approaches and strategies that work best for the children. The managers are working through these challenges.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have received additional safeguarding training, which has covered whistle- blowing. Safeguarding policies have been reissued to all staff, and staff are now clearly signposted to the updated list of designated safeguarding leads.

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This monitoring visit

A shortfall was identified at the full inspection in relation to a lack of medical attention being sought for children who received head injuries. This has been addressed and staff are now seeking medical attention for children following any head injuries. Managers are arranging individual multi-agency reviews to devise specific and child-centred safety plans in response to this.

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This monitoring visit

Requirements set at the full inspection will remain in place. This will allow the provider time to evidence how the changes are fully embedded in practice.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/10/2022 Full Inadequate 07/12/2021 Full Good 04/12/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2523030 3

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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 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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to children being restrained on the floor, and the lack of recording about what non-restrictive measures were attempted beforehand.

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Requirement Due date

Also, this particularly refers to staff following risk assessments and care plans that aim to reduce risk and reduce the need for restraint. 7 February 2023

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to the requirement for leaders and managers to robustly review every incident where a child is restrained. 7 February 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2523030 4 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.

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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

take part in activities, and attend appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff not seeking health advice when a child has a head injury. 7 February 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to staff training relating to the children’s communication methods, so that children’s wishes and feelings can be ascertained. 7 February 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should encourage children to understand they can speak to an independent advocate, independent reviewing officer, Ofsted inspectors or other relevant persons if they have concerns about their safety. This relates to children being able to communicate independently with an advocate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.11)  The registered person should ensure that their organisation has arrangements in place that set out clearly the processes and the principles for sharing information. The arrangement should cover how information will be shared within their own Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2523030 5 organisation/agency and with others who may be involved in a child’s life. This relates to the provider not sharing information about staff practice concerns in a reference. (‘Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018’, page 19, paragraph 3)

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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: 2523030 6

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Longboat Special Education Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hilltop Farm, Danethorpe Lane, Danethorpe, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 2PD

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Inspector

Bev Allison, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2523030 7 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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