Children's Home run by Wessex College Limited in Bath and North East Somerset

Inspection report children’s home: 1241840 1 Registered provider: Wessex College Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

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, abuse and attachment difficulties. The home is one of six homes operated by a private organisation. The organisation also owns a school and farm which children from this home may attend. The registered manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2018.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 3 September 2018

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

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 improved effectiveness. Children and young people receive good-quality care and support. Since the previous inspection, staff have developed a better understanding of trauma, therapeutic models of care and the impact positive relationships have on children. This work is helping children to make progress. Leaders and managers take effective action to safeguard children. Good joint-working with other safeguarding agencies takes place. Staff manage risk well, and provide children with good support, so that risks gradually reduce. For example, children stop going missing from home, misusing substances and being involved in criminal activity. Rewards, praise and positive reinforcement are some of the effective strategies which support children to behave more positively. On six occasions, staff restrained children as

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

de-escalation techniques were unsuccessful. These restraints lasted no longer than one Inspection report children’s home: 1241840 2 minute and were used to keep children safe. Following incidents such as these, leaders and managers use information from debrief discussions and their evaluation of the incidents to inform care plans. Leaders and managers have improved their monitoring and oversight of the home significantly. The registered manager uses this knowledge well to improve the quality of care. A well thought-out development plan identifies further areas for improvement. Staff continue to consult with children to continuously improve the decor and quality of the home. Currently, the garden is not used to its full potential, nor does it contain any age-appropriate play equipment. Similarly, within the home there are limited age- appropriate toys, particularly for younger children. Two requirements and one recommendation from the previous inspection are met.

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/03/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 29/11/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/03/2017 Full Requires improvement

p.2

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home (where appropriate) and are encouraged to participate in those activities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.5). In particular, ensure that children have play equipment and age-appropriate toys. Also, improve the grounds to make them more child-friendly, paying particular attention to the garden and outdoor barn area.

p.2

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 Inspection report children’s home: 1241840 3 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.

p.2

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.

p.3

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’.

p.3

Children’s home details

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

p.3

Inspector

Nicola Lownds, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1241840 4 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.

p.3

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.4

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.4

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.4