Children's Home run by Wessex College Limited in Wiltshire

Unique reference number SC037596 Inspection date 18/12/2013 Inspector Thomas Webber Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 15/04/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This home is one of four children's homes operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Brief description of the service

The organisation also runs a school that is registered with Ofsted. This provides placements exclusively for young people accommodated in the group’s homes. Alternative educational placements are used to meet the specific needs of young people where appropriate.

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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 good progress .

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Progress

The overall rating for the home was judged as good at the last full inspection in April 2013 with the individual judgements for safety and the quality of care being judged as outstanding. No requirements or recommendations were made at that inspection. The Registered Manager, with the support of her staff, ensure that young people continue to thrive in an environment where they achieve positive outcomes.

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Progress

The manager continues to demonstrate strong and effective leadership. Her ‘hands- on’ approach together with her style of leadership provides a positive impact to continue to raise standards within the home. The staff team work enthusiastically and are highly committed to meeting the diverse needs of young people accommodated. There is a minimum of two members of staff on duty throughout the day and night which meets the individual and collective needs of young people. There has only been one change to the staff team since the last inspection so young people continue to receive care from a stable staff team. This ensures that young people receive stability, continuity and consistency of care.

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Progress

Staff undertake a range of training to enhance their ability to effectively work with and meet the challenging needs of young people. The organisation continues to be very committed to supporting staff to obtain the required professional qualification. Sixty per cent of the staff team currently hold this qualification with the remaining staff either working towards achieving this or still undertaking their induction programme.

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Progress

Young people continue to be protected through the rigorous and robust staff recruitment practices for the careful vetting of new staff. Records show that they do not commence employment at the home until all the required checks are carried out and the staff are deemed suitable. This was confirmed by examination of the records of the new member of staff recruited since the last inspection.

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Progress

There have been a number of incidents where young people have gone missing since the last inspection. However, these numbers have been significantly reduced since August 2013, due to changes in young people accommodated. Staff are fully aware of the procedures and take prompt action to ensure that young people are returned safe and at the earliest opportunity, where they go missing.

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Progress

Records indicate that there have also been a high number of sanctions since the last inspection, although the numbers of physical intervention remain low. Much of this was due to one young person whose placement was subsequently terminated. However despite this, sanctions have fluctuated. Detailed records are maintained of all such incidents.

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Progress

Young people know how to complain. There has been only one complaint since the last inspection relating to the behaviour of one young person. Records show that this was addressed and resolved promptly. There have been no safeguarding incidents since the last inspection. Young people, who commented, said that they feel safe living at the home. They spoke very positively about the care and support they receive.

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Progress

Regulation 33 visits are conducted on a monthly basis. However, although the visits continue to be announced, the times now vary to include visits when young people are present.

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Progress

The home continues to be maintained to a suitable standard. Some improvements have been made to the accommodation, with some redecoration since the last inspection. Young people have been fully involved in the choice of the colour scheme for the redecoration. Young people are provided with their own bedrooms and there are sufficient bathing and toilet facilities to meet their needs. The manager acknowledged that some bedrooms are in need of redecoration and new carpets and plans are in place for this work to be undertaken.

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Progress

Young people are fully supported to achieve their social and educational needs by living at a home which is well managed. They benefit from being looked after by a dedicated and committed staff team who support the manager in her vision for the home. Young people receive support in order to attend their educational placements with varying success, giving their starting points. Where educational placements prove difficult, young people are provided with home tutors in order to ensure that their educational potential is realised until alternative placements can be established.

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Progress

The home also provides young people, who are ready, with a semi-independent living programme. This helps them to develop practical life skills prior to their transition to independent living. Staff assist young people to re-establish and maintain contact with their families in agreement with their placement plans. Young people continue to make significant progress in their lives as a result of living at this home.

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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

(2001) ensure that regulation visits take place at least once a month and may be unannounced. (Regulation 33(7)) 28/02/2014

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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.

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