West End House & The Bungalow

Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC061045 1 SC061045

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Dorset County Council

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children‟s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The bungalow, which is adjacent to the main house, provides flexible accommodation to support the development of young people‟s independent living skills as they grow into young adults.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged as inadequate at the full inspection in July 2017. At that inspection, 10 requirements were raised in relation to the protection of children, fire safety, the quality of care, case records, the fitness and suitability of staff working in the home and the effectiveness of monitoring systems.

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This monitoring visit

Insufficient action has been taken by leaders and managers to remedy six of the 10 requirements. Serious weaknesses remain specifically in relation to ineffective management oversight and monitoring, the suitability and fitness of staff, fire safety, care planning, risk assessments and staff training. As a result, a compliance notice under Regulation 13: the leadership and management standard, has been issued.

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This monitoring visit

Leadership and management remain inadequate. Leaders and managers have failed to improve the safeguarding arrangements and address the weaknesses that they said they would improve as listed on their action plan. As a result, young people are not kept safe or protected from harm.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have authorised temporary staff to work directly with young people, without being assured that they are suitable. Leaders and managers did not know if a temporary member of staff had a current disclosure and barring check but Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC061045 2 continued to allow him to work in the home. In addition, leaders and managers failed to risk assess potential concerns about an individual‟s suitability and obtain critical information that staff have the required training, skills and experiences to support young people. These weaknesses were also evident at the full inspection. At the previous inspection, leaders and managers were required to improve staff‟s knowledge and skills to look after young people who self-harm and who are at potential risk of sexual exploitation. Insufficient action has taken place to meet this requirement. The management of fire safety remains inadequate. Leaders and managers have

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This monitoring visit

failed to ensure that a young person who lives independently in the bungalow has completed a fire evacuation drill. In addition, 11 care staff who regularly work in the home have not engaged in a fire evacuation since the previous inspection. This was a requirement at the last inspection and has not been met.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that young people‟s risk assessments are factual and reflect the known risks. Local authority care plans are out of date and staff do not know about the actions and targets from children looked after reviews. Leaders and managers have failed in their duty to ensure that this critical information is shared, accessible and accurate.

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This monitoring visit

At the previous inspection, leaders and managers were required to ensure that the independent monitoring of the home is regular and effective. Visits have taken place. However, the quality of the monitoring reports remains poor. Leaders and managers have not taken prompt action to address these weaknesses.

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This monitoring visit

Since the previous inspection, one young person, whose behaviour staff were struggling to manage, has moved from the home. Another young person told the inspector that since this young person has left, the home is calmer, staff are not being hurt and she now feels safer.

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This monitoring visit

Continuity of care has improved. However, temporary staff continue to work with young people without leaders and managers knowing what training, skills and experiences they have.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have taken effective action to review and improve systems to consult with young people. Staff are now provided with clear guidance on how to recognise and respond to any dissatisfactions and/or complaints made by the young people. Sanctions are now restorative and help the young people to learn from and take responsibility for unwanted behaviour. However, all of these improvements are not yet embedded into staff‟s practice.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed the locality risk assessment. This document now details known risks within the area that may have a potential impact on the safety and well-being of the young people. Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC061045 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/09/2016 Full Outstanding 16/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/09/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC061045 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, 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

12: The protection of children standard The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff:  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;  help each child to understand how to keep safe;  have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;  manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;  understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;  take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child‟s welfare; and  ensure that the home‟s day-to-day care is arranged

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Requirement Due date

and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b)) 18/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard * In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person should enable, inspire and lead a culture in relation to the children‟s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to:  lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent 18/10/2017 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC061045 5 with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home‟s statement of purpose;  ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;  ensure the home‟s workforce provides continuity of care for each child;  understand the effect that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding

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Requirement Due date

to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;  demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received;  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)(c)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h)) 25: Fire precautions The registered persons must ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d)) In particular, ensure that all bank and agency staff have engaged in an evacuation drill. 18/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

31: Staffing of children‟s homes The registered person must ensure that the employment of any person on a temporary basis at the children‟s home does not prevent children from receiving continuity of care as is reasonable to meet their needs. (Regulation 31 (1)(2)(a)) 18/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

32: Fitness of workers The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children‟s safety. Ensure that full and satisfactory information in respect of all staff working in the home has been obtained in relation to the matters in paragraphs 1 and 2 of schedule 2. 18/10/2017 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC061045 6 (Regulation 32 (7)(b)) In particular, ensure that checks are completed for all bank and agency staff and ensure that all recruitment checks are accessible to the interim manager and available for review during inspection. 36: Children‟s case records The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. The registered person must ensure that all case records are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) In addition, the registered person must ensure that all

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Requirement Due date

records are legible, accurate, detailed and factual. 18/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children‟s home at least once each month. The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person‟s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person‟s opinion as to whether—  children are effectively safeguarded; and  the conduct of the home promotes children‟s well- being. The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person‟s report to HMCI. (Regulation 45 (1)(4)(a)(b)(7)(a)) In addition, ensure that copies of the report are provided to HMCI promptly after the visit. 18/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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.

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Children’s home details

Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC061045 7 Unique reference number: SC061045

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Dorset County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XJ

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Inspector

Sharron Escott, social care inspector Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC061045 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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