Children's home run by The Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2583028 1 Registered provider: The Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to four children aged between five and 17 years. According to the statement of purpose, specialist therapeutic care is provided to children who are deaf and have complex needs. Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 30 April 2025. The deputy manager is currently running the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspectors 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: 2583028 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have failed to take robust action to address practice concerns. Inconsistent boundaries and support from staff mean that children have been involved in significant incidents that have placed them at risk of harm. Children have witnessed challenging incidents and have felt responsible for protecting staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers did not act quickly enough when it was identified that staff were not able to keep children and themselves safe. During May, there was an increase in the frequency and severity of incidents. In response, leaders sourced agency staff for additional support in the home. This has led to a reduction in incidents. However, some staff did not have the experience, qualifications and skills to support children effectively. Some staff were unable communicate with the children using sign language and some staff did not have the skills needed to manage children’s behaviour effectively. It is acknowledged that there were external factors that contributed to one child’s escalation in behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff responses to children’s behaviour and support needs have been inconsistent. They do not follow support plans for children, or ensure boundaries are clearly applied. Advice provided by external agencies has not been followed. As a result, staff respond differently to risks and children receive mixed messages about what is expected of them. For one child, this resulted in an escalation in incidents, which the other two children have been exposed to. Physical restraint has been used in the home but is not always used appropriately. This has sometimes made things worse for children by escalating incidents. When staff have not been able to manage serious incidents, the police have been called out to support with children’s behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

Management oversight does not ensure that effective action is taken to address areas of poor practice. Some staff have the right skills and experience to care for the children, but this is not consistent across the staff team. When significant incidents take place, some staff find it difficult to reconnect with the children afterwards. This means that some staff remain stressed and anxious, and they are then unable to provide children with the nurturing level of care and support that they need. Staff have used whistleblowing procedures to raise concerns. These concerns are under investigation.

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Findings from the inspection

Three children have continued to live in the home for over 12 months. All three children were seen and communicated with during this inspection. Two children said that they like living in the home and they get on well with the staff. They said that they feel safer following changes made during the inspection. One child moved out of the home during the inspection and they did not express any wishes to return. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2583028 3 Managers and staff have shown a strong level of commitment to the children. This has had a positive impact on all three children, who have all made progress with their education and communication skills. Feedback from professionals about the care that children receive is positive. However, social workers are not always fully informed about the incidents and concerns in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Limited action has been taken by leaders and managers to address the requirements raised at the last inspection and so they are restated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/06/2024 Full Good 21/11/2023 Full Outstanding 06/09/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2583028 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 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, when concerns are raised about members of staff, conduct procedures should be completed and information shared with external organisations. 30 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff need to be aware of any legal processes that children are subject to and what this means for their practice. 30 July 2025

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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. 30 July 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2583028 5 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)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff develop their knowledge of deaf awareness and have the skills and confidence to support the use of sign language in the home.

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and 8 August 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2583028 6 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2583028 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Exeter Royal Academy For Deaf Education

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Deaf Academy, 1 Douglas Avenue, Exmouth, Devon EX8 2AU

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Inspectors

Sarah Sheffield, Social Care Inspector Polly Soper, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2583028 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

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Inspectors

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