Children's Home run by Wessex College Limited in Wiltshire

Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC037596 1 SC037596

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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

The home can provide care for up to four children aged 11 years and over who may have experienced trauma, abuse and/or attachment difficulties. The home is one of six homes operated by a private organisation. The organisation also owns a school which children from this home may attend. The registered manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2007.

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This monitoring visit

This children‟s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 6 and 7 August 2018. Following this monitoring visit, Ofsted has made a new full inspection judgement in line with our inspection framework. The children‟s home‟s new full inspection judgement is: requires improvement to be good.

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This monitoring visit

Following the previous inspection, two compliance notices were issued under Regulation 11: The positive relationships standard and Regulation 13: The leadership and management standard. Six statutory requirements were also set.

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This monitoring visit

At this monitoring visit, the inspector found that sufficient action had been taken to meet the compliance notices and to address the requirements. At the time of the monitoring visit, no children were living in the home. Therefore, the impact of some of the leaders‟ and managers‟ work cannot be determined and will be assessed at future inspections.

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This monitoring visit

Since the previous inspection, the child who was living in the home has moved out. Staff provided the child with good support regarding this move. Thoughtful consideration took place about which member of staff would best support the child to move to their new home.

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This monitoring visit

Currently there are no children living in the home. The organisation has reviewed Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC037596 2 the way in which it considers which children would be suited to the home. This process is yet to be tested.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers made some progress in reintegrating the registered manager back into the home. The child and the registered manager received good support to help improve their relationship. This enabled the registered manager to spend some time in the home and support the child during a stay in hospital.

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This monitoring visit

Records about the needs of children are starting to improve. A comprehensive review of care plans, risk assessments and positive behaviour support plans ensures that staff have the information they need to care for the child efficiently. The organisation is currently reviewing the template for these documents as part of their development plan.

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This monitoring visit

All staff have undergone further training regarding trauma and attachment. Leaders and managers expect this training to inform and improve practice. It is too early for leaders and managers to assess the impact of this training.

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This monitoring visit

Staff successfully supported the child to engage with the clinical team. The clinical team also supported staff to implement boundaries, routine and structure for the child.

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This monitoring visit

Many useful discussions took place between the staff and the child that link to the objectives of the child‟s care plan. Topics included:

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This monitoring visit

 Age-appropriate dress and presentation  Internet and social media  Relationships  Safety and use of mobile phone  Missing from home  Boundaries and routine  Healthy eating  Sleep

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers took action to review the staffing arrangements in the home. A key team of core and consistent staff was provided for the child. The use of support and agency staff continued to occur, however a member of the core team would always be present. On some occasions, the core team worked alone with the child. A sufficient risk assessment was in place for this.

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This monitoring visit

Since the previous inspection, leaders and managers have recruited more permanent staff. This includes a second deputy manager. Leaders and managers reviewed and changed the way in which they recruit and induct new staff. These new processes appear to have increased rigor, with a focus on quality. However, it is too early to measure the impact of this approach.

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This monitoring visit

Since the previous inspection, all staff have refreshed their safeguarding training. Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC037596 3 The registered manager has received further mentoring and training in safeguarding. One child protection concern that arose since the previous inspection was managed well.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers took action to work more closely with the placing authority and parents to gather more information to safeguard the child. This collaborative work aimed to provide the child with a consistent approach to their care.

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This monitoring visit

The number of restraints had increased since the previous inspection. The registered manager identified that the increase was an impact of implementing more routines and boundaries. On two occasions, staff called the police in response to behaviour from the child. The registered manager promptly discussed with staff in supervision that calling the police is not part of the company policy.

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This monitoring visit

Staff initiated the missing protocol swiftly then the child went missing. On two occasions, the child got on a train. Staff were present but did not board the train with the child. Missing-from-home records do not clearly state how staff assessed that their action was the safest response. Good collaborative work with the British Transport Police took place to return the child home safely.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has become more critical in her monitoring of the quality of care. She acts swiftly on areas of staff development that she identifies. Some weaknesses identified by the registered manager relate to the quality of records. However, when staff make amendments to records the original document is not maintained.

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This monitoring visit

Staff supervisions have become more frequent and purposeful since the previous inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 06/08/2018 Full Inadequate 03/01/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 11/05/2017 Full Good 22/09/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC037596 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

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 and are kept up to date.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that records about the circumstances when a child goes missing from home include factual information about the circumstances leading up to them going missing. Also, ensure that leaders and managers retain the original record of any control, discipline or restraint before staff make amendments to the records following leaders‟ and managers‟ monitoring. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 30/11/2018

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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. Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC037596 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Wessex College Limited, 4 Cedar Park, Cobham Road, Ferndown Industrial Estate, Wimborne BH21 7SF

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Inspector

Nicola Lownds, social care inspector Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC037596 6 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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