Children's Home run by Wessex College Limited in Wiltshire

Assurance visit report: SC037596 1 SC037596

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is one of five homes operated by a private company. It provides care for up to four children who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home’s registered manager has been in post since 8 June 2020. She was registered with Ofsted on 22 October 2020.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 4 February 2020

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Improved effectiveness

p.1

Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

p.1

Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

p.1

Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

p.1

Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assurance visit report: SC037596 2

p.1

Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

p.2

The care of children

The children in this home receive consistent, nurturing care from a stable staff team. Children benefit from clear, consistent boundaries that help them to feel safe and secure. They are encouraged and supported to express their views and to contribute to the daily life of the home by cooking, choosing decorations and making suggestions for further improvements.

p.2

The care of children

The staff help children to keep in touch with their families and visit them safely, in line with government guidance on COVID-19. Review meetings are currently held remotely to help keep participants safe from the risk of infection. The staff understand that this is not an easy process for some children. They encourage the children to participate so that they can have a say in their future care.

p.2

The care of children

The registered manager and staff work hard to ensure that all the children have access to full-time education. They support the children to attend school. Any children who are not yet ready for school are encouraged to engage with tutors who visit the home. Some children attend the company’s farm, which cares for many different rescued animals. Here, they can learn about animal care and other life skills.

p.2

The care of children

Children say that they are happy and well cared for. They have no concerns and can speak with any of the staff if they have any worries. The children are justifiably proud of the progress they have made. They made good use of the time during the first national COVID-19 lockdown period to create a new flower bed and a bee ‘hotel’ in the garden.

p.2

The care of children

The quality of the environment has improved considerably since the interim inspection. The bedrooms seen on this visit were beautifully decorated. The children have helped to purchase furniture and fittings that complement the decoration. They have also helped to prepare the home for Christmas. They went with a member of staff to choose and purchase the tree, which they then decorated. The home now has a warm, nurturing atmosphere which supports the children’s well-being.

p.2

The care of children

Children’s healthcare needs are met in this home. The company has access to a team of professionals, including a consultant child psychiatrist, to provide additional support when there are concerns about children with specific health needs. Regular consultation with therapeutic professionals provides the staff with a good level of knowledge about the impact of trauma and abuse on children. Assurance visit report: SC037596 3 Over the past few weeks, one child became unwell. The staff took swift action to help and support him during a stay in hospital. Prompt intervention and good collaborative working with healthcare professionals and the local authority have been instrumental in this child’s recovery.

p.2

The safety of children

The children are kept safe in this home. The registered manager ensures that risk assessments and behaviour support plans are detailed and provide clear strategies for the staff to follow. This ensures that children’s identified risks are understood and managed safely.

p.3

The safety of children

The staff manage the children’s behaviour well. The staff’s ability to build trusted relationships with the children has been an important factor in reducing behavioural incidents and risks. Consequently, there have been very few incidents.

p.3

The safety of children

Physical restraint has been required on just one occasion. This incident was well managed and the intervention was proportionate.

p.3

The safety of children

Children rarely go missing. If they do, the staff take all necessary steps to help ensure that they return to the home safely. The children and staff are always debriefed and the manager passes on any learning from the incident to her team. This has helped to improve the staff’s understanding of the children’s needs.

p.3

The safety of children

Some children who had a history of going missing before coming to live in this home have made significant progress. They have gone missing from this home on only one occasion, which is a major improvement.

p.3

The safety of children

The staff receive regularly updated training on safeguarding and physical intervention. They understand how to respond to safeguarding concerns and have done so appropriately when required. The registered manager escalates any safeguarding matters to the relevant agencies, in line with government guidance.

p.3

The safety of children

The company has good measures in place to protect children, staff and visitors from the risk of contracting COVID-19. Staff have a clear understanding of what is expected of them to manage these risks.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Prior to the registration of the present manager on 22 October 2020, the staff team experienced a series of short-term managers, which was unsettling. Consequently, there were times when the home lacked strong and consistent leadership. Some of the staff found this challenging.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Since her arrival in post in June 2020, the registered manager has concentrated on providing stability and a sense of permanence for the staff and the children. The staff now receive regular monthly supervision. This is important in order to provide Assurance visit report: SC037596 4 children with good-quality care and respond consistently to their behaviour. The staff value the registered manager’s leadership and are pleased with the improvements in the environment. They now feel well supported in their work.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The staff team is now complete and, as a result, agency staff are rarely required. The manager’s aim is to cease using agency staff altogether, to provide the children with continuity of care.

p.4

Leaders and managers

The home is well monitored, both internally and externally. The manager maintains effective oversight of the home. Her regulation 45 report gives a thorough overview of the home’s progress and points for development. The report is enhanced with the children’s views and with photographs to show some of the improvements made.

p.4

Leaders and managers

The staff receive good-quality training. This continues to be largely online rather than face-to-face, for COVID-safety reasons. The company encourages staff to undertake their level 3 qualifications as soon as they have completed their probationary period.

p.4

Leaders and managers

The recommendation made at the last inspection concerning return-home interviews has been met. No new requirements or recommendations have been made during this assurance visit.

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Wessex College Limited

p.4

Children’s home details

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

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered manager: Kimberley Adcock-Coombs

p.4

Inspector

Heather Chaplin, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC037596 5 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.

p.4

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 .

p.5

Inspector

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 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.5

Inspector

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

p.5

Inspector

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

p.5