Children's Home run by Dorset Emergency Placement Services Ltd in Dorset

Inspection report children’s home: 2579887 1 Registered provider: Dorset Emergency Placement Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to two children with emotional and/or behavioural needs. At the time of this inspection two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider of social care.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in June 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 25 January 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: At the assurance visit in December 2020, Ofsted was not assured that children were being kept safe. Statutory Inspection report children’s home: 2579887 2 requirements were issued. At the monitoring visit in January 2021, the majority of requirements had been met and improvements had been made. Inspection report children’s home: 2579887 3

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report children’s home: 2579887 4

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improvement to be good

Notice has recently been given to the local authority on one child’s placement as the manager has recognised that their needs cannot be met in the home. Staff have been unable to manage the child’s behaviour effectively and the number of serious incidents has increased.

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improvement to be good

However, children have made progress since living in this home. They have been encouraged to attend school, sometimes after long periods of being out of education or formal schooling. One child’s attendance is now 97%. Children are encouraged to enjoy a range of age-appropriate and stimulating activities, including spending time at the beach, cycling, fitness classes and ballet classes. They are encouraged to increase their independence safely, for example by using public transport on their own. One child spoke very positively about staff and said that they are kind, they listen to the children and understand their feelings.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to keep in touch with the people who are important to them and to develop friendships with other children. Children’s health needs are well managed, and specialist support for medical and mental health needs is used appropriately.

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improvement to be good

One parent spoke very positively about the way staff support their child in relation to their education and health. The parent recognised that staff clearly care about their child. However, they considered that communication between them and the staff team could be improved so that they work better as a team in relation to their child’s care.

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improvement to be good

Social workers report having regular communication with staff in the home. They are informed of any relevant incidents promptly. They reported that their children have made progress since moving to the home. One social worker welcomed the fact that staff have recently completed training in a therapeutic approach to care and considers that it now needs to be embedded into staff practice.

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improvement to be good

While all staff have been trained in the home’s behaviour management techniques, they have been unable to manage the children’s behaviour consistently and effectively. This has led to the police being called to the home on a number of occasions since the last inspection, when staff have been hurt or property damaged. Although for one child this practice was agreed with their social worker, it has led to the child being criminalised. At times, one child has left the house with staff to minimise the impact of the situation on them. Despite this, both children said that Inspection report children’s home: 2579887 5 they feel safe living in the home and can talk to staff about their problems.

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improvement to be good

Children have not gone missing from the home since the last visit. Medication is safely stored and administered.

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improvement to be good

Relevant checks are made when new staff are recruited, and a sensitive safeguarding matter was properly referred to the designated officer.

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good

The registered manager is experienced and suitably qualified. Staff commented positively on the range of training available to them. All staff have either achieved or are working towards the level 3 residential childcare diploma. The recently promoted assistant manager is also working towards completing the level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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good

The manager has recently completed recruitment into the staffing vacancies and new staff will be joining the team once recruitment checks are completed. No agency staff have been used to cover the current vacancies.

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good

Systems introduced shortly before the last visit have now been embedded, and records are completed and updated promptly. Risk assessments are completed for a range of activities. However, although risks are listed in the assessments, most of the documents fail to provide staff with detailed guidance on how to respond if a situation occurs. Management oversight has not identified this shortfall or led to these documents being improved so that they are a helpful tool for staff.

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good

Team meetings and supervisions occur regularly, and suitable arrangements are in place for the supervision of the assistant manager. Records show discussions which include the needs of children, practice, and personal matters.

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good

The home is clean and well presented. Most of the damage done to the home during recent incidents has been repaired. Inspection report children’s home: 2579887 6

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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

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

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

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to 9 September 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2579887 7 understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(ix)(x)(xiii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff have the skills and confidence to manage children’s behaviour without calling the police unnecessarily.

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Requirement Due date

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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that there are clear and helpful strategies in place to enable staff to manage children’s risks and behaviour effectively. 19 August 2021

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 1 September 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2579887 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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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;

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(h))

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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’. Inspection report children’s home: 2579887 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Dorset Emergency Placement Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5 Lorton Gardens, Weymouth DT3 5FB

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Inspector

Janet Fraser, Senior Her Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2579887 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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