Children's home run by Somerset Council in Somerset

Inspection report children’s home: SC029950 1 SC029950 Registered provider: Somerset County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered as a children’s home that provides short breaks for children and young people who have physical and learning difficulties. The home is owned and managed by a local authority.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2013.

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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 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

The two requirements raised at the previous inspection have been met. The registered manager now ensures that all agency staff are suitability vetted, qualified and experienced. In addition, the manager has ensured that temporary staff who work in the home have the skills and experience to meet the children’s needs. Reviewed consultation systems are now more effective. They provide children with the opportunity to share their views about the quality of care and support they receive.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three of the four recommendations raised at the previous inspection have not been fully met. These have been repeated at this inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection, there have not been any incidents where children have Inspection report children’s home: SC029950 2 been restrained or given sanctions. As a result, the manager’s monitoring of these areas could not be verified at this inspection. However, it is positive that no significant incidents have happened. General behavioural events are monitored well.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children enjoy their short-break visits at this home. They say that they enjoy spending time with their friends, they have fun and that the activities are good. Children enjoy spending time in the sensory and art and crafts rooms. Some children enjoy spending time in the community, visiting places of personal interest. However, not all children are provided with the opportunity to experience new activities.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Care plans, behaviour support plans and generic risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. These documents now provide staff with detailed information about how to meet the children’s needs. However, not all risk assessments include current risks that have been identified from recent behavioural incidents. As a result, new and temporary staff are not provided with up-to-date and essential information.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The atmosphere within the home is vibrant. Children benefit from staying in a homely environment that is well resourced and maintained. Children’s needs are met because the registered manager and staff team ensure that children’s privacy and dignity are maintained and the quality of direct care is warm and affectionate. Inspection report children’s home: SC029950 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/05/2019 Full Good 22/08/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 28/09/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC029950 4

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Recommendations

 Ensure that each child’s talents and interests include selecting activities based on their personal preferences and abilities, so far as is reasonable. Staff should also support children to try activities that are ‘new’ for them, where appropriate. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.4)  The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny, to ensure that their use is fair, and the above principles as set out in 9.35 are respected. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9. 36)  Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that behavioural risks are risk-assessed and that staff are provided with guidance on how to mitigate and manage them.

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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 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: SC029950 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Taunton, Somerset TA1 4DY

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Inspector

Sharron Escott, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC029950 6 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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