Children's Home run by Wessex College Limited in Bath and North East Somerset

Inspection report for children’s home: 1241840 1 Registered provider: Wessex College Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The provider states in their statement of purpose that they provide care for up to four children who have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

A suitably experienced manager has been appointed and has submitted her application for registration, following the resignation of the registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Inspection date: 12 January 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 12 January 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1241840 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent 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

The children in the home are settled and are making progress. They now have a sense of belonging and pride in their home and benefit from trusting and nurturing relationships with the adults. Routines run smoothly and calmly in the home. Boundaries, rules and expectations of behaviour are now clear and consistent. For example, children now eat meals with the adults in the dining room and not in their bedrooms. All the children are placed in appropriate educational placements, have good attendance and are making progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child moved to the home recently following a careful matching process. He is beginning to settle and is making positive relationships with the other three children, due to a calm, nurturing approach by the adults. Leaders and managers carefully considered many referrals and completed a comprehensive impact risk assessment prior to the child’s arrival, to ensure a positive match.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The health needs of the children are met in the home. Healthcare plans have been updated and now provide comprehensive information and guidance to the adults about the most effective way to support the children who have complex health needs. The company psychologist provides support and guidance to the adults to ensure that they know how best to support the children in their care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The adults in the home are vigilant and curious. They work effectively with safeguarding agencies and professionals to ensure the safety of the children and others. Incidents of missing are reduced. Children are encouraged to learn from their mistakes and are praised for their achievements. Children report they feel safe living in the home and able to speak to all of the adults if they feel worried or upset.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children benefit from receiving support from a consistent and stable team of adults that are nurturing and well trained. Staff recruitment processes are now overseen by the head office using a new recruitment system. This ensures that recruitment checks are comprehensive and only suitable adults are employed in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager provides strong leadership and is implementing a comprehensive development plan for the home. Improvements to the home are continuing as documented in the development plan. The children’s bedrooms are clean, tidy and personalised. A new carpet has been laid throughout the home, the home has been decorated and work continues to install a new bathroom. The gardens are now tidy Inspection report for children’s home: 1241840 3 and well maintained and the institutional signage and dustbins have been removed from the entrance of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1241840 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/09/2019 Full Good 22/01/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1241840 5

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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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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home seeks, as far as possible, to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. In particular, that the work being undertaken to refurbish the bathroom is completed as soon as possible. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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’. Inspection report for children’s home: 1241840 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Wessex College Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Atria, Spa Road, Bolton BL1 4AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Samantha Choules

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Inspector

Tina Maddison, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1241840 7 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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