Children's home run by Wessex College Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 1 Registered provider: Wessex College

p.1

Full 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 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 accommodation is split between two adjoining houses. Each house has two bedrooms for children.  The registered manager resigned in October 2018, and the home has not had a registered manager in post since this date.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

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

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: Inadequate

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: A monitoring visit was completed on 20 August 2019. Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/06/2019 Full Inadequate 30/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/12/2017 Full Good 12/09/2017 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met

p.3

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.3

Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the manager actively seeks to receive information shared in independent return home interviews and has this available at inspection. 31/10/2019

p.3

Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

p.3

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.3

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.3

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

p.3

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are 31/10/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 4 designed and furnished so as to—

p.3

Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child; and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(iv)(vii)(c)(i)(ii)) 11: The positive relationships standard

p.4

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.4

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.4

Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.4

Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

p.4

Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.4

Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

p.4

Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or 31/10/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 5 potentially violent behaviour by children;

p.4

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others.

p.5

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(ix)(xi)(b)) 12: The protection of children standard

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

p.5

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; 31/10/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 6 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

p.6

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)) *13: The leadership and management standard

p.6

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) 31/10/2019

p.6

Requirement Due date

20: Restraint and deprivation of liberty

p.6

Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

p.6

Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

p.6

Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

p.6

Requirement Due date

a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate.

p.6

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)) 31/10/2019

p.6

Requirement Due date

35: Behaviour management policies and records

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the 31/10/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 7 use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.7

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (‘the user’), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)—

p.7

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure.

p.7

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 8

p.7

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The full inspection in June 2019 identified that, while leaders and managers were aware of weaknesses, they had not acted swiftly or effectively enough to ensure that shortfalls did not impact negatively on children’s overall experiences and progress. This situation remains.

p.8

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children living in this home have complex needs. They struggle to develop trust and meaningful relationships. Their needs have not been fully addressed, in part because there have been significant changes in the management and staff of the home throughout the six months they have lived there. This has meant that children have not always been cared for by staff who know them well or who feel invested in them doing well.

p.8

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children continue to have a negative impact on each other, and their behaviour is not being managed effectively. This has resulted in children fighting, assaulting staff, causing extensive damage to the home and running away. The police have been called frequently.

p.8

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The environment does not present as homely or well cared for. For example, there are several pieces of broken furniture in use and several windows are boarded. Eggs have been thrown at windows, and these windows have not been cleaned. Some curtains and curtain poles have been damaged and removed. Overall, both the internal environment and the extensive garden and outbuildings present poorly and do not provide a warm and nurturing home environment that children need to feel loved. This is a repeated shortfall from the previous inspection.

p.8

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s bedrooms have been improved since the full inspection. The children have been supported to personalise them with attractive bedding and posters. However, broken bedroom furniture detracts from the overall impression.

p.8

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The company provides good clinical support and has been instrumental in children receiving appropriate support such as assessments and medication reviews. Both children have made some progress and attend education. Daily routines and structure are identified as key to both children, and they are developing a better sense of personal identity and feeling more able to share how they are feeling.

p.8

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

Children are not adequately helped and protected. Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that necessary improvements are made, sustained and embedded.

p.8

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

The environment is unsafe. Hazards are not removed promptly. Broken furniture is deposited in the garden and barn and can easily be accessed by children. This is a repeated shortfall from previous inspections. Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 9 When serious incidents have occurred, such as children tampering with an oil tank that is in the garden, robust action has not been taken to fully reduce risks. An old and disused oil tank still presents a risk, and inspectors asked for this to be addressed as a matter of priority.

p.8

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

Restraint records do not always provide sufficient detail to explain why children are physically restrained. One record of an incident in September 2019 indicates that staff restrained a child for compliance reasons, rather than to protect him and others from harm. This action resulted in staff being assaulted by the child. The inspectors could not find evidence that staff and children always receive a debrief as required. Monitoring of these incidents is ineffective. This is a repeated shortfall from the previous inspection.

p.9

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

When children go missing from home or school, staff take appropriate action to return them home safely. Not all records are completed satisfactorily. For example, one recent record of a child going missing is not dated or allocated a log number. Neither do these records contain evidence of an independent return home interview taking place or evidence that any learning has been shared or informed a review of a child’s care. Other incident records are poor, and some are missing. Management oversight is not sufficiently robust and does not evidence what lessons have been learned and how practices are being improved. This is a repeated shortfall from the previous inspection.

p.9

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

Some records are good. These include positive handling plans, daily records and medication forms.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leadership and management of the home are ineffective. There has not been a registered manager in post since October 2018.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the full inspection in June 2019, two managers have been in post at separate times, but both left the company before successfully completing the registration process. A new manager has just been appointed. These inconsistent management arrangements have meant that necessary improvements have been hampered. Some progress had been made at the time of the monitoring visit in August 2019, but progress has not been sufficiently sustained or embedded.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff feel unsafe and more than 25% of the staff team members have received injuries and have taken time off work. There has been a high turnover of staff. Fifty percent of the team members left in the 15 weeks prior to this inspection. Because of sickness and staff vacancies, high levels of agency cover have been used. Although the home has tried to limit the number of staff used from agencies, combined with a high staff turnover this has led to children being cared for by too many adults who do not know the children well or have positive relationships with them.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

At the time of the inspection, 11 staff members were in post, including the newly appointed manager, five of whom hold suitable residential childcare qualifications. The Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 10 team is not sufficiently experienced or qualified to engage children enough to effectively manage volatile incidents. This has continued to result in the police being called to manage children’s behaviour.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Three staff sleep in each night, but often staff have disturbed sleep. In addition, staff sleeping in facilities are unsuitable, and leaders and managers have failed to address this shortfall.

p.10

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff who have stayed in post are developing strong relationships with children. They are learning to understand their complex needs. They have the capacity to work well with children, but not with the current combination of children.

p.10

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have developed an action plan which identifies a wide range of improvements.

p.10

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.

p.10

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 11

p.10

Children’s home details

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

p.11

Inspectors

Norma Welsby, social care inspector Michelle Oxley, regulatory inspection manager Inspection report children’s home: 1253583 12 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.

p.11

Inspectors

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.12

Inspectors

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

p.12

Inspectors

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

p.12