Children's Home, Residential special school run by Wandsworth Borough Council in Wandsworth

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC470513 1 SC470513 Registered provider: Wandsworth Borough Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority-run service that provides care for up to 40 children with autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities and associated conditions. The home is on the same site as the organisation’s school and is comprised of separate houses, so children live in small groups. It accommodates children for short breaks and for placements of 38 weeks in the year. There were 33 children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 31 August 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 11 June 2024. As a result of the inspection, four compliance notices were issued due to serious concerns in regard to the administration of medication, poor management oversight of care practice, concerns about how allegations and concerns are managed and because healthcare plans for children with complex needs were unclear.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the progress that the provider has made in relation to the areas of practice subject to compliance notices. Consequently, the other requirements made at the last inspection were not considered and therefore remain in place.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has made significant improvements and leaders have plans in place to implement further improvements. As a result, the four compliance notices issued at the last inspection were deemed to be met. The requirements that relate to these areas of practice will remain in place and will be monitored at the next full Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC470513 2 inspection. This is to ensure that the recent improvements are sustained and to assess the impact of changes that are proposed but not yet fully implemented.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has introduced new leadership and management arrangements since the last inspection. The local authority has also increased monitoring and provided additional support. They have appointed a new manager for the children’s home and a new responsible individual.

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This monitoring visit

In a relatively short space of time since the last inspection, leaders have undertaken an in-depth review of management monitoring systems. They are in the process of introducing new systems to provide better oversight of day-to-day practice. In addition, they have identified ways to improve strategic oversight of incidents and concerns in order to better identify patterns and trends and inform service development.

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This monitoring visit

It is not possible to fully assess the impact of these changes as they are in their infancy and not fully implemented. However, there are now clearer lines of responsibility and communication within the management team. The provider has also arranged a comprehensive package of training for staff over the school holidays to refresh their knowledge in relation to safeguarding, administering medication and understanding children’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have undertaken a comprehensive review of safeguarding policy and practice and the processes for managing concerns. They have implemented new arrangements to ensure that there are clear lines of communication and accountability when concerns are raised. New posters have been produced to ensure that all staff understand how to act on concerns and refresher training for all staff was planned for soon after this visit.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a noticeable improvement in the way that the small number of concerns that have arisen since the last inspection have been managed. There is a greater emphasis on communicating with children following incidents and improved responses to managing incidents between peers. There is better communication with social workers and parents. A safegaurding professional in the local authority reported that the provider has investigated and acted on recent concerns in a way that is ‘proportionate and appropriate’.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken measures to improve oversight of the administration and management of medication. Since the last inspection, there have been significantly fewer errors, and these have been quickly identified and promptly addressed by managers. All medication sheets have been reviewed and updated to ensure that staff are clear on the correct dose for prescribed medication and that arrangements for medication given ‘as required’ are clear. Arrangements for managing stock are improved and all medication kept in the houses and sampled during this inspection was accounted for. There are still some minor shortfalls in recording that are being addressed by the provider. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC470513 3 All healthcare plans and emergency protocols detailing how to respond to children’s individual health conditions have been reviewed and updated. For the majority of

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This monitoring visit

children, the provider has consulted with relevant healthcare professionals to inform these plans. This work is ongoing and, where this has not yet happened, leaders are liaising with health services. Plans are better informed and much clearer. This reduces the risk to children as staff know how to monitor and respond to their health issues.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/06/2024 Full Inadequate 12/12/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/06/2023 Full Good 13/09/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC470513 4

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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, The 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 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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that health guidance to staff remains reviewed, updated and informed by health professionals so that staff fully understand how to respond to the health needs of all children. 31 October 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 31 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC470513 5 within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure.

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Requirement Due date

Paragraph (3) does not apply in relation to restraint that is planned or provided for as a matter of routine in the child’s EHC plan or statement of special educational needs. (Regulation 35 (2) (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c) (4))

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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

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;

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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)(a)(v)(vii)(b)) 31 October 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

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)) 31 October 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— 31 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC470513 6 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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(d)) 31 October 2024

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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

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff engage with each child in a way that is purposeful and focused on engaging them to make progress. 31 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC470513 7 The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child.

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Requirement Due date

Paragraph (2) does not apply to medicine which—

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Requirement Due date

is stored by the child for whom it is provided in such a way that other persons are prevented from using it; and

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Requirement Due date

may be safely self-administered by that child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3)(a)(b)) 31 October 2024

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Requirement Due date

at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification. (Regulation 31 (2)(a)) 31 October 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character; 31 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC470513 8 the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that accurate records of staff rotas are kept. 31 October 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC470513 9

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Wandsworth Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Wandsworth Borough Council, The Town Hall, Wandsworth High Street, London SW18 2PU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Debbie Tomlinson

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Inspectors

Lee Kirwin, Social Care Inspector Rebecca Fisher, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC470513 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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