Children's home run by The National Autistic Society in Islington

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC032154 1 SC032154

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National Autistic Society (The)

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is part of a charitable trust. It provides care for up to eight children who may have autism spectrum disorder. Children may have other associated difficulties, such as sensory impairment and/or physical disabilities. At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is divided into two houses, with a communal hub and garden. This registered children’s home is also part of a specialist school that provides education on site.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2022.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 8 and 9 November 2022. Inspectors found significant breaches in regulations relating to the safety and protection of children, the leadership and management of the home, restraint and the deprivation of liberty, behaviour management policies and records, and the notification of serious events. As a result of that inspection, Ofsted issued a notice restricting accommodation and issued five compliance notices under regulations 12, 13, 20, 35 and 40.

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This monitoring visit

On 19 December 2022, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit to review the notice restricting accommodation. The inspector concluded from that monitoring visit that the provider was adhering to the notice restricting accommodation. However, the restriction notice remained in place because the compliance notices were not scheduled to be reviewed at the time of the visit.

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This monitoring visit

On 4 January 2023, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit to review the five compliance notices and the notice restricting accommodation. The inspectors Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC032154 2 concluded from that monitoring visit that the provider is adhering to the notice restricting accommodation. The inspectors concluded from the monitoring visit that five steps set in the compliance notices with regard to regulations 20 and 35 were not met.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the two reissued compliance notices and the notice restricting accommodation. Since the last full inspection, no children have moved into this home. This monitoring visit included the review of documents and discussions with the manager, responsible individual, staff and the children living in the home. The inspectors concluded from this monitoring visit that all the steps set in the reissued compliance notices with regard to regulations 20 and 35 were met. The notice restricting accommodation will be left to expire, with that date being 6 February 2023.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no physical restraints of children since the last inspection. Revised monitoring systems mean that, going forward, if children are physically restrained, the manager has oversight of all incidents. This will help to ensure that practice is safe and that the views of the children and staff are heard and acted on.

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This monitoring visit

Staff knowledge around lawful physical restraint practice has been developed. The manager has created a powerful learning source to evidence the impact of unlawful physical restraint. This learning includes case studies where children and adults have been seriously harmed or have died from unlawful restraint practice. The manager’s implementation of group reflective sessions tests the staff’s understanding of new learning. Any gaps in staff knowledge are identified and additional guidance provided.

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This monitoring visit

There is improved guidance and oversight on the use of ‘unplanned responses’, which is the term applied when staff use restraint techniques that are not taught as part of the physical restraint methods permitted in the home. Any unplanned response will be scrutinised by the manager to assure that this response was necessary and proportionate.

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This monitoring visit

The organisation has enhanced its physical restraint methodology training programme. Inspectors have seen the developed training course, and the emphasis is on children’s homes regulation and lawful practice. Staff attendance of the three- day course is a learning opportunity to develop their competency to confidently practise in line with the children’s homes regulations.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s individual behaviour support plans record that restraint holds are permitted. These plans provide the staff with guidance about specific restraint holds that are appropriate for individual children, based on their needs and in line with the organisation’s physical restraint methodology.

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This monitoring visit

The organisation’s restrictive practice policy has been developed in accordance with children’s homes regulation. The policy provides procedural guidance that improves leadership oversight and transparency of physical restraint practice. Quality Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC032154 3 assurance measures that are integral to the policy help managers and senior leaders to identify whether physical restraint practice has compromised the welfare and protection of children.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements and recommendation that were raised at the full inspection and do not relate to the compliance notices have not been reviewed as part of this monitoring visit. The requirements and recommendation have been carried forward and will be reviewed at the next full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC032154 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/11/2022 Full Inadequate 22/03/2022 Full Outstanding 21/01/2020 Full Outstanding 08/01/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC032154 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 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 home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

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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

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a) (2)(b)(ii)(ix)) 1 January 2023

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b) (7)(a)) 1 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children; 1 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC032154 6 the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(b)(c) (5))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. In particular, all staff should have up-to-date food hygiene training and the senior team should receive relevant risk-assessment training. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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: SC032154 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: National Autistic Society (The)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 393 City Road, London EC1V 1NG

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Inspectors

Jennifer Fenlon, Social Care Inspector Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC032154 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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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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