Children's Home run by Wessex College Limited in Wiltshire

Unique reference number SC407430 Inspection date 15/02/2012 Inspector Sharron Escott Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 14/09/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people of either gender, aged from 10 to 17 years, with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making satisfactory progress.

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Progress

The overall quality rating for this service was judged as good at the full inspection undertaken in September 2011. Three recommendations were identified as part of that inspection, all three have been successfully met. A further two requirements and two recommendations have been raised as a result of this interim inspection.

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Progress

The completion of Regulation 33 reports remains good. Additional Regulation 34 monitoring is completed monthly, this information is used to form a six monthly report and a copy provided to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector. However the information shared within this six monthly report does not adequately detail all matters required within Schedule 6, they also should include with their consent, the views of the children, their parents, and placing authorities to establish their opinion of the standard of care provided. As a result, a requirement has been raised.

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Progress

The Registered Manager and staff team have demonstrated satisfactory improvement and young people are achieving positive outcomes. This includes young people continuing to make progress from their starting points in all aspects of their daily living. For example, missing from home episodes have decreased and young people's attendance and engagement in education has improved. Contact arrangements have progressed resulting in young people maintaining and developing stronger and positive relationships with family members, significant others and friends.

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Progress

The recommendation relating to the staff group providing care to include staff of both genders has been successful met. The home has recruited two new members of staff since the last inspection. The staff records for recruitment and vetting are currently held at the home’s head office. A supporting document that is referred to as 'staffing profiles' is placed on file within the home. This document provides a photo of individuals, their experience and qualification. However, the recruitment information and vetting checks are not included and safe recruitment practices could not be verified, and as a result a recommendation has been raised.

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Progress

Good working relationships and processes have been developed to ensure young people's wishes, feelings and requests are listened to and acted upon. As a result, this recommendation has been met. Young people are making safer choices, gaining greater confidence and improving their feelings of self-worth.

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Progress

The recommendation relating to sanctions being clear, reasonable and fair has been met. However, the volume detailing measures of control does not include the effectiveness of the measure and sanctions recorded are repetitive and ineffective. Young people are consistently repeating the same behaviours and as a result they are not taking responsibility and learning from them.

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Progress

Young people continue to benefit from living in an environment where staff undertake their duties in a warm, supportive and professional manner. Essential maintenance for the home is responded to well. However, there are uneven surfaces and large pot holes in the main drive that present a significant safety hazard to young people and staff members when leaving the premises by car and foot.

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Progress

Since the last inspection, the home has successfully met the individual care plan objectives of the young people in placement. Young people continue to make satisfactory progress; they continue to develop and achieve educationally socially and emotionally.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17 ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of 30/03/2012 (2001) control, restraint or discipline, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose of which shall include the effectiveness and any consequence of the measure (Regulation 17B (3)(F))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the report reviewing the quality of care details the information as set out in Schedule 6. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)) 30/03/2012

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure the drive to the home is safe and avoidable hazards are repaired to prevent significant risks to children and staff members (NMS 10.2)  ensure the children's home has a record of the recruitment and vetting checks which have been carried out on those working for the children's home. (NMS 16.3)

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011).

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