Children's Home, Residential special school run by Options Autism (1) Limited in North Lincolnshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC066565 1 SC066565

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Registered provider: Options Autism (1) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to 26 children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides a specialist service for children with an autistic spectrum condition and associated learning disabilities. There is an on-site school, which also caters for day pupils. Some children live in the home for 52 weeks a year, while others go home at the weekends and during the school holidays. Only the social care provision was inspected. At the time of the inspection, there were 15 children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2022.

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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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: SC066565 2

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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.

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Findings from the inspection

The provider has restructured the children’s living arrangements in line with plans to have three smaller registered homes within the same setting. This means that children live in three separate areas, with their own specific staff team and home manager. However, for this inspection, the setting was inspected as one home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have good relationships with the children. The home recently received an award for good practice with children on the autistic spectrum. Staff know the children well, can identify their needs and know how to meet these needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff spend time with the children and support them to enjoy varied activities. On occasions, the staffing ratio is not always in line with the children’s needs. This has not raised any safeguarding concerns, but resulted in a delay in children accessing planned activities. Changes in the children’s routine, can result in unnecessary upset for the children. The registered manager is aware of challenges around staff sufficiency and is actively recruiting staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, further errors have taken place around the administration of children’s medication. The registered manager recently reviewed medication procedures and has implemented a new system to help to reduce the likelihood of this reoccurring.

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Findings from the inspection

Some maintenance was taking place in the home during the inspection and actions were taken to address a health and safety matter. However, to help the children to live more comfortably, further repairs are required, and attention is needed to some children’s bathrooms and the sensory area.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive mandatory training around how to safeguard children with disabilities. However, staff do not always follow the home’s safeguarding procedures. A child made an allegation about a member of staff but there was a delay in this being reported to the registered manager.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand children’s associated vulnerabilities. However, during an incident, staff were unable to gain access to a child who had locked themselves in an area of the home. The child was not offered support in line with their risk assessment and care plan. Management oversight also failed to identify any associated risks. This means that it is not clear what actions were taken to reduce any future risks to the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Gaps in the recording of some incidents mean that it is not clear whether staff have assessed children properly following an incident and considered whether children have injuries or require any medical support. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC066565 3 The registered manager challenges poor practice and staff conduct. The registered manager responds appropriately to safeguarding incidents and has positive links with the local authority designated officer. However, the three homes’ managers now have the responsibility of separately escalating concerns, and they do not always share all required information with the designated officer. This restricts the oversight and monitoring of any possible patterns of concern around staff conduct.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have access to mandatory training. However, not all staff have received specialist training to strengthen their communication with children. Staff are not supported to revisit or review safeguarding policies and procedures. The gaps in training mean that all staff have not had the opportunity to further develop their understanding around their safeguarding roles and responsibilities.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/05/2023 Full Good 07/06/2022 Full Good 09/02/2022 Full Inadequate 08/01/2020 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC066565 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered persons must take to meet The Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to The Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered persons 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vii)) 12 January 2024

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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; 12 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC066565 5 ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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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)(c)(d)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered persons must ensure that they have clear oversight of any allegations and how these are managed.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(viii)) 12 January 2024

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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

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (2)(a)(b)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered persons should ensure that home repairs are progressed in a timely manner, actions are taken to reduce any external issues impacting on the children’s personal spaces, and children have access to suitable sensory areas. 12 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC066565 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: Options Autism (1) Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Gina Lightfoot, Social Care Inspector Rachel Ruth, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC066565 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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Inspectors

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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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