Children's home run by Wessex College Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1253583 1

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Wessex College

Monitoring visit 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 six children’s homes operated by this private organisation.

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This monitoring visit

Senior managers and leaders took immediate and effective action both during and following the last inspection to improve the safety and well-being of the children.

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This monitoring visit

An action plan for improvement was produced. It has been reviewed and updated on a regular basis to ensure that previous shortfalls are, and continue to be, addressed.

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This monitoring visit

The statement of purpose has been updated to provide accurate details of the services and support offered to children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have received additional training, guidance and information to equip them to better understand behaviour and act to protect children.

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This monitoring visit

Significant records, such as care plans and risk assessments, have been reviewed and updated. These are now meaningful and easier to understand. They provide clear guidance for staff and actions to support the young person. The acting manager remained unable to provide or locate several documents.

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This monitoring visit

A telephone has been installed at the home for use by the children. They can now access Freephone numbers, such as Childline, without having to ask staff’s permission.

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This monitoring visit

A newly appointed manager is due to start work at the home. She has considerable experience of working in registered children’s homes. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1253583 2 Leaders and managers are working in partnership with the placing authority, parents and the child. Currently, staff have very little meaningful delegated responsibility or authority to make decisions. This particularly compromises staff’s ability to support work towards independence and age-appropriate risk taking. Leaders and managers continue to make representations to the placing authority and advocate on behalf of the child.

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This monitoring visit

Noteworthy improvements have been made. However, full compliance with all aspects of some requirements has yet to be realised. Several are repeated until fully resolved and/or changes are well established in practice. Another full inspection will take place.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/09/2017 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 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

(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; (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 (b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; (e) that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. 01/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

6.—(1) The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— (2)(a) understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; (b) ensure that staff— (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 01/12/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1253583 4 independently as an adult; (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 each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

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Requirement Due date

(ii) is under the supervision of a person who is appropriately skilled and qualified to supervise that care. 8: The education standard

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Requirement Due date

8.—(1) The education standard is that children make 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; (vi) maintain regular contact with each child’s education and

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Requirement Due date

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; (x) help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and (b) that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities 01/12/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1253583 5 and resources to support the child’s learning. 13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

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 deliver 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 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

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Requirement Due date

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 (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 01/12/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1253583 6

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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

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 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1253583 7 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(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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