Children's home run by Wessex College Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 1 Registered provider: Wessex College Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is one of five children’s homes operated by this private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 12 to 13 September 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and/or the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: this is the first inspection since the home was registered in May 2017

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is inadequate because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff are unable to keep the young people safe. Serious and dangerous Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 2 incidents have occurred. Risk management strategies are ineffective and impractical.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Leaders and managers have not made good decisions about which young people come to live in this home together. The current residents are in an abusive relationship. Staff have been unable to prevent serious bullying and abuse, including verbal threats, physical assaults and intimidation.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager, shift leaders, and staff in day-to-day control of the home do not demonstrate a good understanding of the risks of child sexual exploitation. As a result, they are not managing these risks effectively and a young person is left at risk of harm.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Not all staff understand the current protocols in place to respond to missing from home incidents. Staff have failed to report young people as missing to the police, in accordance with individual risk management plans.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Leaders and managers have failed to identify and take action to resolve practice and safeguarding weaknesses, as part of their responsibilities to monitor the quality of care provided in the home.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The records kept by staff, and the home’s recording systems, do not support effective understanding, management or analysis of the risks presented by young people.

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Key findings from this inspection

 One young person’s move was poorly managed and resulted in a very negative experience. This young person’s belongings remain in the home, despite the young person not having lived here since June.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people have good opportunities to spend quality time with staff and speak with them about what is happening in their lives. Staff make time for the young people and relationships between them are generally good.

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Recent inspection history

Not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 3

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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 (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (i) 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; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (iv) manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; (b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and

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Requirement Due date

delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; (c) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded; (d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and (e) that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. 16/10/2017 Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 4 6: The quality and purpose of care standard 6.—(1) The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— (a) understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; (b) use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the

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Requirement Due date

registered person to— (a) understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; (b) ensure that staff— (i) understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; (ii) protect and promote each child’s welfare; (iii) treat each child with dignity and respect; (iv) provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; (v) help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect; (vi) help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult; (vii) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably; (viii) provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and (ix) make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for

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Requirement Due date

each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice; (c) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— (i) meet the needs of each child; and (ii) enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home; and (d) ensure that any care that is arranged or provided for a child that— (i) relates to the child’s development (within the meaning of section 17(11) of the Children Act 1989) or health; and (ii) is not arranged or provided as part of the health service 16/10/2017 Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 5 continued under section 1(1) of the National Health Service Act 2006 (a), satisfies the conditions in paragraph (3). (3) The conditions are— (a) that the care is approved, and kept under review throughout its duration, by the placing authority; (b) that the care meets the child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

(c) that the care is delivered by a person who— (i) has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care; and (ii) is under the supervision of a person who is appropriately skilled and qualified to supervise that care. 13: The leadership and management standard 13.—(1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (a) 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; (b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for

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Requirement Due date

each child; (e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (f) 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; (g) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— (i) research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and (ii) feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and 16/10/2017 Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 6 (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 14: The care planning standard 14.—(1) The care planning standard is that children— (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

(b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose; (b) that arrangements are in place to— (i) ensure the effective induction of each child into the home; (ii) manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and (iii) plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority; (c) that each child’s relevant plans are followed; (d) that, subject to Regulation 22 (contact and access to communications), contact between each child and the child’s parents, relatives and friends, is promoted in accordance with

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Requirement Due date

the child’s relevant plans; (e) that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if— (i) the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs; (ii) the child is, or has been, persistently absent from the home without permission; or (iii) the child requests a review of the child’s relevant plans; and (f) that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. 16/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

8: The education standard 8.—(1) The education standard is that children make 16/10/2017 Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 7 measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (i) help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; (ii) support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; (iii) understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; (iv) help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; (v) promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

(vi) maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement; (vii) raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority; (viii) help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible; (ix) help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment; (x) help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

and (b) that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. 16: Statement of purpose The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure 16/10/2017 Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 8 that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (5)(6)(a)(b)) 22: Contact and access to communications The registered person must ensure that children are provided at all reasonable times with access to the following facilities which they may use without reference to persons working in the home: a telephone on which to make and receive telephone calls in private; and facilities to send and receive post and, if the necessary facilities are provided for the use of children,

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Requirement Due date

electronic mail, in private. (Regulation 22 (3)(a)(b)) 16/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

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, are kept up to date and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a–c)) 16/10/2017

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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. When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced. 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’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider

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Requirement Due date

whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (2)(b)(3)(4)(a)(b)(5)) 16/10/2017

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Inspection judgements

Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 9

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to consider whether young people’s needs can be safely met alongside one another in this home. Young people’s needs have not been assessed and they are not currently well matched. As a result, serious and dangerous incidents have occurred and leaders and managers have had to make decisions to move young people from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

One young person’s move from the home was poorly managed and the process resulted in a very negative experience. This young person’s belongings remain in the home, despite the young person not having lived here since June. Although leaders and managers have asked the placing authority to collect the belongings, they have failed to escalate their concerns that this has still not happened. The needs and feelings of this young person have not been adequately considered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The current young people are in an abusive relationship. Staff have been unable to prevent this from continuing. As part of the risk management plan, staff have been directed to keep young people apart. This strategy is unrealistic and unachievable. Staff have been unable to prevent young people experiencing serious bullying and abuse, including verbal threats, physical assaults, intimidation and goading. Despite their best intentions, staff are unable to keep the current young people safe. An emergency strategy meeting was held, which involved the placing authorities. Additional staffing is to be provided and one young person was moved the day following this inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

One young person’s contact with their family is thwarted because of the distance that they are placed away from the family home. The staff have failed to effectively challenge very limited visiting arrangements, leaving the young person isolated from those who she is close to. A lack of internet access in the home further restricts positive family contact opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Young people are not well supported to develop the skills for adulthood, and do not have some of the same opportunities as other young people of a similar age. One young person does not have access to a telephone without first asking staff, despite there being no contact restrictions in place. Neither resident has access to a computer or is able to use the internet in the home. As a result, young people are unable to do school work and are unable to maintain good contact with their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

An incident occurred whereby a young person was able to take an overdose of tablets. Although the staff member supporting the young person made a poor decision, the situation was exacerbated by restrictive practices that have become commonplace in the home. The acting Manager, shift leaders, and staff have not challenged any of the restrictive practices relating to the lack of a telephone, a computer and snacks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Despite the efforts of staff, a young person has not had a school placement for some time. Another young person is excluded from school. Arrangements in place to occupy young people during school time do not provide suitable learning, and activities are not Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 10 linked to the national curriculum.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Young people have good opportunities to spend quality time with staff and speak with them about what is happening in their lives. Staff make time for the young people and relationships between them are generally good. Sometimes, key-work sessions are written up in advance of the key workers meeting with the young person. As a result, these may not include a full account of what was actually discussed or the young person’s understanding.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff offer a range of activities and one young person enjoys regular horse riding lessons. Unfortunately, young people do not spend time with any friends and community peer group activities are very rare. This limits development of social skills and friendships. Some of the activities done with young people have not been positive in promoting a sense of achievement and building confidence. A raised flower bed built by a young person has been allowed to go to waste and weeds. Vegetables and fruit planted by young people have not been looked after.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Young people have made some progress. An independent professional said that a young person is ‘more relaxed and less anxious... able to engage with the adults around them and has some aspirations for the future, which were previously missing’. Staff report another young person is ‘less reactive when faced with boundaries and there is a notable reduction in the use of unacceptable language’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Young people receive good healthcare and attend for check-ups and appointments. Staff have ensured that young people’s routine vaccinations are up to date.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

A sense of belonging exists for the young people and they have made some investment in the home. One young person said that they were really pleased when they were told that they could stay for the foreseeable future. They are spending time decorating their bedroom with the help of staff.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

There is an inconsistent response to risk identification and risk management. Poor impact and matching assessments have led to young people being inappropriately placed together. The two current residents are in an abusive relationship dominated by issues of bullying, threats, intimidation and physical harm. Staff interventions have not been able to stop or reduce these behaviours.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Risk assessments are not robust or updated consistently following significant incidents. It is not possible for the manager to tell if staff have read updates to plans or understand fully the care needs of young people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff lack a clear understanding of their responsibilities and the actions needed to keep young people safe. During one incident, staff were not clear if they should phone the police for assistance during what they described as a very dangerous situation. Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 11 The manager, shift leaders and staff do not demonstrate a good understanding of the risks of child sexual exploitation. As a result, they are not managing these risks effectively and a young person is left at risk of harm. Staff do not have strategies in place for them to respond consistently to the risks and behaviours that exist from a young person’s online interactions and their physical presentation. Staff are naive to the risks of these behaviours and at times are responding in ways that actively encourage rather than discourage the high-risk behaviours.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

There is a mixed response to safeguarding concerns. Some are dealt with robustly, while others are insufficiently explored and not followed up. This approach does not safeguard young people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The acting manager is not assured that staff understand the current protocols in place to respond to missing from home incidents, before they allow staff to lone work with young people. Incidents have occurred where staff have failed to report young people as missing to the police in accordance with their individual risk management plan. Leaders and managers have failed to identify these weaknesses as part of their responsibilities to monitor the quality of care provided in the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The acting manager has failed to ensure that they receive feedback from return home interviews. As a result, they are unable to develop effective risk management plans and strategies to reduce the risk of harm.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Records are in disarray. It is not possible to identify patterns and trends or analyse incidents. It is not possible to see what, if any, action has been taken in response to safeguarding concerns, incidents or risks.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

There is insufficient reflective discussion following the use of physical restraint used to manage young people’s behaviour. One incident of restraint was badly managed and made the young person so angry that they went on to seriously damage property and make significant threats to the adults caring for them. The whole experience was detrimental to both the young person and staff.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Young people are not supported to take age-appropriate risks as part of their development. They do not have access to the internet in the home. There is not a strategy in place to check their understanding of how to keep themselves safe using social media or other electronic forms of communication.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

One young person does not have access to a phone without asking staff. This reduces their options to contact someone should they be concerned, scared or wish to make a complaint.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Relationships between carers and young people are generally good. Young people say that they get on with most of the staff most of the time. Lots of individual support time and opportunities for discussion are provided to young people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Arrangements for the safe recruitment of staff are in place to avoid those who are Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 12 known to seek to abuse children from working in this environment.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Young people who go missing at night are particularly vulnerable in this area. Agreements made at registration to negate some of these risks, such as keeping the gate to the property closed, have not been adhered to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has not been effectively managed since it was registered just four months ago. The registered manager resigned after failing to provide sufficient support and guidance to staff and young people. Several incidents of difficult behaviour were exacerbated by staff interventions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The current manager has inherited disorganised records, which do not support understanding of the needs of the young people or the functioning of the home. Monitoring and oversight of the home are ineffective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The acting manager does not have the necessary knowledge of, and has limited experience in, managing a children’s social care home. She is suitably academically qualified and ambitious for the young people. Unfortunately, there is no mentor or acting deputy in place to support the development of this new manager and the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The service provided is not as described in the statement of purpose. It has not been possible to develop or implement the therapies as described. The intention to offer a protective therapeutic environment in which young people thrive has not been realised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Effective supervision and support has not been provided to staff. Supervision is out of date. The supervision provided has not been reflective and does not always support staff to develop their skills in caring for and keeping young people safe. Team meetings have not taken place for some time. This further limits staff opportunities for personal and practice development and reduces their chances to express any concerns that they may have.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

An induction and training programme is in place, but there are some gaps in the specialist training needed to meet the specific needs of the young people. Staff have not received training around self-harm. Their understanding of the needs of young people who are at risk of, or have been exposed to, issues of sexual exploitation is naive. The manager cannot be sure that staff know how to manage safeguarding issues, as staff knowledge and understanding are not tested following training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

External monitoring of the home is ineffective in identifying safeguarding issues and areas of concern. Much of this monitoring is a tick box exercise and there is little evidence that these visits contribute to keeping young people safe or to improving the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers took immediate and effective action following this inspection to address the shortfalls identified. Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 13

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this 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’. Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 14

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ward Goodman, 4 Cedar Park, Cobham Road, Ferndown Industrial Estate, Wimborne BH21 7SF

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Inspector(s)

Janice Hawtin: social care inspector Paula Lahey: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 15 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(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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