Children's Home run by Wessex College Limited in Wiltshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC037596 1 SC037596 Registered provider: Wessex College Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Inspection date: 4 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC037596 2

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children 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 improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children in this home receive warm, empathic care. Positive relationships with the staff help children to build self-confidence and resilience. Consequently, the children are safe and continue to make good progress in most areas of their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children told the inspector that they are happy in the home. One child said, ‘I think [the home] is a brilliant place and very inspirational. The staff are so wonderful and really helpful. Whenever I need them, they are always there for me.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff manage the children’s behaviour well. They provide clear boundaries, with appropriate rewards and consequences. As a result, the children’s behaviour has improved. Consequently, there has been a decrease in the number and severity of incidents. There have been no restraints.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been a number of occasions when children have gone missing. The registered manager requested independent return-home interviews, but none of the interviews were carried out within the 72-hour timescale specified in the statutory guidance. A recommendation has been made.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been two safeguarding concerns since the last inspection. In the first instance, there was a delay of 24 hours in staff reporting a historical disclosure to the registered manager, and hence to the local authority.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The second incident involved a situation when a child was not properly supervised by staff. The child was able to purchase clothing which was inappropriate for their age, while out shopping with staff. Both incidents were reported to the designated officer.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is well led and managed. The registered manager is fully involved with the children, which helps to ensure that their voices are heard and that they remain central to plans for the home’s continuing development. The strong attachments between the manager and the children were very clear during this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home had two registered managers until recently, when one person resigned from this role. The prospective registered manager submitted his application to Ofsted on the day of this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The second registered manager has been promoted within the company. She remains registered for this home until a new manager can be appointed. This may provide some continuity to help to reduce the impact of her departure on the children. Inspection report children’s home: SC037596 3 The requirement and three recommendations made at the last inspection have been substantially met. The requirement concerned monthly regulation 44 reports, which, historically, have not always been sent to Ofsted. The regulator now receives regular reports from a new independent visitor. These provide useful insights into the daily life of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The responsible person was asked to continue to improve the physical presentation of the home and garden. Although there is still work to be done, the registered manager and staff have made considerable efforts to update and redecorate the children’s environment. One child has a delightful mural, featuring hand-painted sea creatures, on his bedroom wall. Progress with the remaining works will be monitored at the next inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s records now provide a clear and detailed record of the children’s daily lives and progress. This means that the second recommendation is also met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The third recommendation concerned the need for improved management monitoring. This has also improved. The registered manager provided many examples of how she has monitored and improved practice in the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC037596 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/07/2019 Full Good 06/08/2018 Full Inadequate 03/01/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 11/05/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC037596 5

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Recommendation

 Ensure that the return-home interview is carried out within 72 hours of the child returning to their home or care setting. This should be an in-depth interview and is normally best carried out by an independent person (i.e. someone not involved in caring for the child) who is trained to carry out these interviews and is able to follow-up any actions that emerge. Children sometimes need to build up trust with a person before they will discuss in depth the reasons why they ran away. (‘Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care’, January 2014, page 14, paragraph 32)

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Wessex College Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector(s)

Heather Chaplin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC037596 6 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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

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