Children's Home, Residential special school run by Cambian Autism Services Limited in West Northamptonshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2611190 1 Registered provider: Cambian Autism Services Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run and provides care for up to 20 children between eight and 18 years who have autism spectrum disorder. There are currently six children living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager in post. A suitably qualified and experienced manager has been appointed and been in post since the beginning of December 2022. She is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home shares the same site as a separately registered school provision. The inspectors only inspected the social care provision at this school.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 2 November 2022

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2611190 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

The care of children

Children have positive and trusted relationships with staff. These relationships have helped some children to continue to make progress, despite the home going through significant leadership and staff changes. A child talked about a staff member and said: ‘She is like an eagle; she just knows when something is not right for me.’ A core group of staff have supported children well through a period of instability at the home.

p.2

The care of children

There has been a prompt and diligent response to meeting the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection . New systems and processes are in place to ensure that children’s needs are a priority and being met. This includes improved arrangements for children’s activities, menu planning and ensuring children attend school on time.

p.2

The care of children

Staff are working to make the home a more positive, nurturing environment for children to enjoy. Some shortfalls previously identified at the last inspection relating to the environment have been put right. Children’s views have been established and taken into consideration about the home environment, the decoration and furniture. The work to update the home needs to continue.

p.2

The care of children

The manager has quickly established relationships with clinical support services. She has engaged this support in relation to children’s care, and children have access to direct therapy services. Also, clinical reflective practice is in place to support the staff team. The manager is proactive in accessing support to develop the service with a view to securing improved outcomes for children.

p.2

The care of children

Most children are engaged in education and making progress from their starting points. The manager and local authority have worked collaboratively to ensure that children have individualised plans for their care and education. This means that children are more engaged in education and making some progress. Some children have been well supported to attend bespoke post-16 provisions and they are doing well.

p.2

The safety of children

The manager has prioritised addressing the safeguarding concerns identified at the previous inspection. Staff training and the development of new plans to address children’s risks and behaviour is work in progress. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2611190 3 Children have risk management plans and behaviour management plans that are tailored to their needs and behaviours. These have been reviewed, enhanced and updated since the last inspection. The manager is aware that these plans continue to be an area in need of development. Supervision of children is in line with their plans that continue to be reviewed.

p.2

The safety of children

There have been a relatively small number of children’s behavioural incidents and a reduction in the use of physical restraints since the last inspection. The records sampled evidence that the manager has robust oversight of incidents. The manager has ensured that there are debriefs with staff and children after incidents. The manager has significantly reduced the risk of children being harmed by each other.

p.3

The safety of children

Staff are aware of the risks associated with the use of digital technology. There are individual agreements in place for each child regarding the safe use of digital technology. This is also covered in each child’s risk assessment and risk management plan.

p.3

The safety of children

There are safe staffing arrangements in the home. Staff have been reminded of their safeguarding responsibilities in respect of regulations and policies. Managers have adhered to child protection procedures regarding an allegation against a staff member, which has now been concluded and suitable action has been taken. Managers have appropriate oversight of child protection matters.

p.3

The safety of children

Health and safety concerns regarding the testing of electrical equipment have been addressed since the previous inspection. The manager has oversight of the arrangements for monitoring the safety of equipment and there are prompt repairs to ensure a safe environment for the children.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager’s vision for the service is ambitious. She has very quickly understood the needs of the service and taken priority action to address shortfalls. There is clear evidence of the positive impact of her oversight on the service. A child said: ‘The manager has uplifted the place and structure is now in place.’

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has been proactive and devised a development plan that includes requesting additional new resources and changes to the structure of the service. This has been well received and staff recruitment is in place to support this.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has clear leadership and management skills. The knowledge and experience that she is bringing to the home and cascading to staff is positive. There is a greater senior management presence in the home.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Some requirements set at the last inspection were met. Others were partly met, but not yet fully embedded into practice. The manager and staff have responded to the shortfalls appropriately. There is significant progress in the management and oversight of systems. This has led to improved communication between staff. The Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2611190 4 staff also have a better understanding of processes. More time is needed to further evidence the impact of the change in leadership and management.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders are in the process of reviewing the effectiveness of children’s plans. They are developing the plans to ensure that they reflect the ethos and therapeutic approach to care of the children living in the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff are receiving more regular supervisions and the manager provides the staff with good support. Staff said that they were confident that, if they raised any matters of concern, these would be responded to by the manager. The manager ensures that staff receive supervision that supports their development. She has gone ‘back to basics’ with staff to ensure there is clear and consistent understanding around what care practice should look like.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff have received safeguarding training since the last inspection. The manager has quickly identified the shortfalls in staff’s learning and ensured that staff are quickly upskilled in core safeguarding policy and practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has taken the difficult decision to end one child’s placement. This decision was based on the best interests of the child and the remaining children in the home. The manager is confident enough to make difficult decisions that focus on children’s safety and well-being. There is a lesson’s learned exercise to look at how and when the service does not meet a child’s needs and ensuring timely response to this, and to avoid drift for children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The regulation 45 report was almost complete and was shared with inspector at the time of inspection. It evidenced a detailed overview of the actions the manager had taken in the short period of time that she has been in post. This report concurred with the inspection findings. The report highlights the progress that most children have made in the reporting period. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2611190 5

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/02/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2611190 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

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; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This is in relation to ensuring that children’s risk assessments are fit for purpose, reviewed, up to date, and that staff are aware of any changes. 3 March 2023

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; 3 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2611190 7 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This is in relation to ensuring that there is stable and consistent management oversight with clear lines of accountability. 3 March 2023

p.7

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) 3 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2611190 8 This is in relation to the provider reflecting on lessons learned where children have moved on from the service and whose needs have not been fully met, and where care plans have been allowed to drift.

p.7

Recommendations

 The registered person should continue to develop the home to provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming and supportive, and which provides appropriate boundaries in relation to children’s behaviour. Homes must also meet children’s basic day-to-day needs and physical necessities. Staff should seek to meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met – doing so is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2611190 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Autism Services Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cambian Autism Services Limited, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

p.9

Inspectors

Bev Allison, Social Care Inspector Cathey Moriarty, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2611190 10 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.

p.9

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspectors

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspectors

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

p.10