Children's Home run by Wessex College Limited in Wiltshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC407430 1 SC407430 Registered provider: Wessex College Interim inspection 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 over 11 years who may have experienced trauma and/or abuse, and who may have attachment difficulties.  This home is one of six homes operated by a private organisation. The organisation also owns a school and a farm which children from this home may attend.  The registered manager resigned in September 2018. The new manager intends to submit an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

In the last three months, the home has become more settled. The care team focused on stabilising the one child who remained living in the home. This period of stability has been successful and the child is making good progress. The way in which leaders and managers now consider the suitability of new children moving in has improved. As a result, one child has moved in successfully.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The consistency of care provided for children is improving as the staff team becomes more consistent. Staff development has focused more on the team understanding children’s developmental stages and using trauma-based models of care to support its Inspection report children’s home: SC407430 2 work. Staff are starting to implement this positive ethos well in the care they provide for children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and staff now have positive relationships with one another. Children are more involved in planning their care. Care plans focus more effectively on the needs of the child. An experienced manager within the company is leading a new approach to help staff to support children more effectively. This approach is creating opportunities for staff to respond to children’s needs more proactively.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers implement the child protection policy effectively. Referrals to safeguarding professionals are completed appropriately, with good collaborative working to safeguard children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Progress has been made towards meeting some of the previous requirements, such as improving the frequency of staff supervision. In other areas, more work is required to meet the requirements fully. Repetitive consequences continue to be recorded as ineffective and currently this does not inform the care provided to children. Not all new staff have been involved in a fire drill.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/04/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/06/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/11/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/07/2016 Full Good

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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

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must— ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably 29/11/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC407430 3 practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure staff working in the home take part in fire drills and practices. 35: Behaviour management policies and records

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, review the use of consequences imposed, particularly when the consequence is repeatedly recorded as ineffective. 29/11/2018

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Recommendations

 The registered person is responsible for leading a team which provides high- quality care for all children living in the home. They must lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the home’s statement of purpose (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4). In particular, continue to improve and embed the ethos and culture in line with the statement of purpose.

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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

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

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out Inspection report children’s home: SC407430 4 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’.

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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 children’s home: SC407430 5 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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