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 Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider of social care. It provides care for up to two children with emotional and/or social difficulties.

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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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Inspection date: 22 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 22 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2579887 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. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, two children moved into the home. However, staff could not meet their needs and both children subsequently moved out. Prior to the children moving in, senior leaders and managers assessed the children’s compatibility. However, they did not consider whether the care staff had the skills and experience to meet the children’s complex needs. As a result, both children experienced a placement move that could have been avoided.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Senior leaders and managers have since reflected and have learned from their assessment error. When asked if a new child could move into the home, they first checked whether the staff had the right skills to meet the child’s needs and assessed if the new child’s needs were compatible with the child already living in the home. This assessment was effective. Both children who currently live in the home say that they enjoy living with each other and that they like and trust the adults who care for them. Staff confirm that, from their starting points, both children are making steady progress socially, emotionally and in their learning.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Senior leaders and managers have recognised that the home is not looking as warm and welcoming as they would like it to be, and one child is not always receiving the support they need to maintain a clutter-free bedroom. All outstanding maintenance repairs and a redecoration programme are planned, and regular room checks will be carried out. Children’s bedrooms are personalised, and children have been asked for their views on the replacement of soft furnishings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In the main, children are cared for by a team of adults who have completed basic mandatory training, receive regular formal supervision and who attend regular team meetings. Opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice and share lessons learned have improved. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities for staff to attend face-to-face specialist training courses have been limited. Since the lifting of restrictions, leaders and managers have put in place plans for this training to resume.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and staff take part in regular fire evacuation drills, and staff attend refresher fire safety courses. Despite this, staff do not always apply their learning from this training in practice. For example, staff routinely use door wedges to keep fire doors open, and fire safety checks have not identified two faulty fire doors. This has the potential to place children and staff at risk in the event of a fire. Inspection report children’s home: 2579887 3 Children and staff are provided with an opportunity to discuss incidents that have resulted in a child being held. Records of these discussions are limited and do not confirm the children’s views about being held.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Missing-from-home incidents are rare. On the two occasions when children have been missing, staff took appropriate action. Missing-from-home protocols are used effectively. Independent interviews are requested and take place. Senior leaders appropriately escalate their concerns when placing authorities do not complete an independent return home interview within the required time frame. Inspection report children’s home: 2579887 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 2579887 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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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

that the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that faulty fire doors are repaired without delay and that fire doors are used in accordance with fire risk assessments.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that compatibility assessments always consider whether staff have the skills and experience to meet children’s needs. 27 May 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that debriefs of children and staff following incidents consistently include opportunities for them to talk about how they felt during the incident and explore what support is needed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.60)

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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 children’s home: 2579887 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Dorset Emergency Placement Services Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Sharron Escott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2579887 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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