Children's home run by Wessex College Limited

Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: 1253583 1

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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 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. Children from this home can go to the school and the farm that are also owned by the organisation.  The accommodation is split between two adjoining houses. Each house has two bedrooms for children. Currently, there are two children in residence, and each house is occupied by one child.  The registered manager resigned in October 2018 and the home has not had a registered manager in post since this date. A new manager has started in post and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged as inadequate at the last full inspection, on 10 October 2019. This monitoring visit was undertaken to review the actions taken by the provider to make improvements and to comply with a compliance notice issued following the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Leadership and management of the home have improved since the last inspection. A new manager is in day-to-day control of the home, and is making steady improvements. Serious incidents have reduced in number, and the home felt calmer during this monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are feeling more supported and safer than they did at the last inspection. Turnover of staff has reduced and there is better consistency for children. Three agency staff are regularly used. They know the children and the children respond Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: 1253583 2 well to them.

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This monitoring visit

The suitability of the staff’s sleeping-in arrangements is being addressed and staff are not being disturbed as frequently at night.

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This monitoring visit

There have been improvements made to the physical environment. Basic repairs have been carried out and further refurbishment is planned. Hazards have been removed from the extensive gardens and outbuildings, and oil tanks have been removed, if not in use, or made safe so that children cannot access the oil.

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This monitoring visit

Improvements have been made to address many of the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. However, further work is required to develop and embed the changes in order to ensure that children receive positive and safe care.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted will continue to monitor the performance of the home and will review the remaining requirements from the previous inspection at the next full inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/10/2019 Full Inadequate 25/06/2019 Full Inadequate 30/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/12/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: 1253583 3

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— 31/10/2019 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: 1253583 4 meet the needs of each child; and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(iv)(vii)(c)(i)(ii)) 11: The positive relationships standard The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive 31/10/2019 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: 1253583 5 relationships with others.

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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; and

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)) 31/10/2019 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: 1253583 6 13: The leadership and management standard person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

20: Restraint and deprivation of liberty Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

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

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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration; 31/10/2019 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: 1253583 7 details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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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”)—

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has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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: 1253583 8

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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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Inspectors

Norma Welsby, social care inspector Ms Oxley, social care inspection manager Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: 1253583 9 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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