Children's Home run by Wessex College Limited in Wiltshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff team continue to provide good quality care to young people. Young people were observed to be happy and comfortable in the company of staff. They engaged well with the inspection, chatting, playing games and showing the inspector their bedroom. The manager and staff actively work in collaboration with other professionals and family members. This ensures a joined up approach in meeting the needs of young people. Young people enjoy maintaining contact with family and friends and their home area. Some enjoy particular foods and would like to have meals to reflect their culture and identity more often than is currently arranged.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The stable staff team provide consistent boundaries that enable young people to make informed choices and improve their behaviour. Staff are skilled in their negotiation with young people, enabling them to think through their decision making as they become less reactive when feeling angry and upset. Young people improve their social skills and gain in confidence as they begin to embrace the support that staff offer. As a result, the incidents of going missing and disruptive behaviour have significantly decreased. The use of physical intervention is rare, used only once in the last seven months.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Consultation with young people is a strength at this home. Day to day consultation occurs through dialogue with staff, and in written records that young people contribute to such as ‘My day’ and any sanctions. More formally, the manager and staff gather young people’s view on their placement plans and other key documents such as the review of the location of the home. This level of engagement captures the views and opinions of young people. The manager ensures that their comments are incorporated into the documents, valuing their contribution. An improvement since the previous inspection is the quality and style of recording young people’s house meetings. Use of colour and pictures make these records more inviting to read. Direct quotes from young people are recorded in these minutes demonstrating ownership of the discussion and a recognition that their contributions have been heard. Young people are supported with their education as staff advocate on their behalf

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to secure the most appropriate provision to meet their needs. For example, a young person who did not engage well and began to reduce her attendance was supported in transferring to another educational setting where she has re-engaged with her learning and maintained regular attendance. Young people who struggle to attend formal learning are provided with home tuition alongside an incentive plan to integrate back into a classroom setting. Young people enjoy opportunities for work experience on farms and in care homes for older people. These experiences prepare young people for the responsibilities of employment and allow them to contribute to other communities. To think of others, the young people made a charitable donation to a local food bank before Christmas.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are supported with planned endings at this home, assisted with moving into their next placement with visits and a celebratory event such as a meal with cards and gifts. Equally new young people are welcomed into the home with planned visits where possible. During the summer months, the combination of young people leaving and arriving at this home led to some anxieties being displayed through challenging behaviour. There was an increase in anti-social behaviour resulting in criminal damage to the home and incidents of young people going missing. Since these events, young people have built up some good relationships with the manager and staff. This results in the ability to talk more about their feelings and reduce the need to rebel against the boundaries.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of young people going missing are frequently associated with the pull factors to return to family and friends. The manager and staff work in partnership with social care professionals and family members to establish safe arrangements for young people to have planned visits. This reduces the need to leave the home without prior arrangement, resulting in only one incident of being reported as missing over the last ten weeks. Senior managers meet every month with the police and safeguarding officers to share information and work together to effectively reduce incidents of young people going missing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people generally respond well to praise and rewards, achieving monetary vouchers for shopping when targets are met. As a result of the decline in incidents of going missing, young people have been rewarded with cards and gifts in recognition of this progress. The manager and staff review behaviour management plans at team meetings and make adjustments where incentives are ineffective. This ensures each plan is tailored to individual needs with a focus on achievement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has responded well to the three requirements from the previous inspection. Young people’s risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated as part of a monthly check. The manager uses these checks to monitor the quality of care and staff practices, this effectively informs the manager of areas to address within the team. For example the manager has identified where staff are not providing sufficient details in some records. This has led to staff discussions as a team and within individual supervision. The format to record any complaint has improved to demonstrate clearly the outcome of any investigation. However, this has yet to be fully implemented due the absence of any complaints since the previous inspection; this is a positive indicator for this home. The house is pleasantly furnished with involvement from young people in choosing decoration and new items. Young people like their

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

bedrooms as their personal space however, for some there is insufficient furniture to store and display their belongings.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for four young people of either sex, with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is one of four children’s homes operated by a private organisation. The organisation provides an independent school where young people from this home can attend.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

06/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

 Each child should have their own personal space which will usually be their bedroom. In particular, ensure that there is sufficient furniture in each child’s bedroom to display and store personal belongings. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 16 paragraph 3.18)

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Recommendations

 Children should be able to maintain and develop their cultural or religious beliefs as far as is practicable and where appropriate, through participation and instruction, and by observing religious requirements including dress and diet. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 17 paragraph 3.22)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This 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 Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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