Children's Home run by Dorset Council-Social Care, Children’s Homes in Dorset

Inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 1 Registered provider: Dorset Council-Social Care, Children’s Homes Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care for one child. The home is run by the local authority.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since 17 March 2022. This is when the home opened.

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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: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 3

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improvement to be good

The child’s experiences and progress are mixed due to the weaknesses identified in help and protection.

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improvement to be good

The child enjoys living in the home and feels staff are supportive. Staff show genuine affection for the child. Pictures of the child are on display around the home, and the child has chosen how to decorate their room. The child’s memory book from a previous home is on display and the child enjoys sharing these memories with trusted adults. The child is closely supported in their daily life, and staff ensure that they are active outside of the home. Staff always ensure that the child has the right footwear to play football, which the child particularly enjoys. Leaders and managers planned the child’s transition to the home, with the child getting to know staff in advance of moving in.

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improvement to be good

The child is now re-engaged with an education provider. This is in the early stages; however, it gives the child an opportunity to spend time with people outside of the home. Staff support the child to engage with a range of other professionals, working as a team to deliver the support needed. Staff recognise that the child’s world is small, despite significant professional involvement. The child has started to spend time with other children in the local area and staff are exploring groups linked to the child’s interests. The manager works closely with the social worker to explore how to support the child to spend positive time with family.

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improvement to be good

The child says they feel safe in the home, and could identify staff they would speak to if they had any worries. Staff identified support needed by the child to help with their emotional and mental health. Through working with health services, the child now has new medication that they feel is helpful to them in their day-to-day life.

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improvement to be good

Staff report that as a result, the child is more able to engage in reflective conversations, and participate in the restorative model of the home. However, this remains to be embedded. Staff remain vigilant to the risk of the child going missing. Staff took prompt action on the one occasion the child went missing. Staff support the child to safely access the community and internet through application of the inherent jurisdiction order.

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improvement to be good

A number of serious incidents have occurred in the home. Several incidents have been reported to the police by staff and managers. Leaders and managers work closely with multi-agency partners and have reached a shared agreement around reporting to the police incidents of damage made to the home. However, as a result Inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 4 of this reporting, the child is criminalised for actions in their home. The impact of this on the child is not yet understood.

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improvement to be good

Management oversight following incidents identifies clear actions to take to keep the child and others safe. However, it lacks sufficient reflection or learning. As such, it is not clear that there is consideration of alternative strategies to use in the home instead of reporting to the police. Additionally, the manager does not always comment on concerns about self-harm raised during incidents. These concerns are not tracked and so understanding of risk remains under-developed. However, when the child made a statement of intent to harm, a clear plan to support was put in place with input from mental health professionals.

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improvement to be good

The behaviour support plan does not provide staff with clear guidance about the actions they should take to support the child. As such, the document does not guide staff in how to manage situations safely. The quality of information in the risk assessment is inconsistent. Some sections clearly outline the risks and indicators. However, in other parts, the language is unclear. The risk assessment does not make it clear why the child is subject to an inherent jurisdiction order to deprive them of their liberty. As such, staff cannot assess or understand how to safely manage that risk and explore the reduction of restrictions.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers do not complete suitability checks in line with regulatory requirements in respect of agency workers employed to work in the home. As such, they cannot be satisfied that agency workers are safe to work with the child. Use of agency staff has been minimal and they always work with a permanent member of staff, mitigating the potential impact on the child.

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good

The home is run by a qualified and suitably experienced manager. The manager plays a vital role in the professional network, sharing information and working collaboratively towards improving outcomes for the child. The manager attends regular stability meetings that helps the professional network to understand the home environment for the child and staff. Feedback from professionals is positive. They value the good working relationships and the collaborative working to develop and progress plans.

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good

Although the staff have experience of working with children, they have minimal experience of working in a children’s home. Staff report that the high level of support required for the child is at times challenging and exhausting. This has resulted in some staff moving on from the home within a short space of time. Staff report feeling well supported by leaders and managers. Leaders and managers are aware of staff morale and are working alongside staff to role model and build confidence. As a consequence of this, the time leaders and managers have for monitoring and oversight is compromised. Inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 5 Staff receive regular supervision, and have the opportunity to share concerns about the home and to reflect on the support provided to the child. Staff have opportunities for group and clinical supervision. Staff receive essential training. However, some staff have not received training in de-escalation and understanding

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good

self-harm. This training is booked in over the coming weeks. The manager considers outstanding training when deciding on shift partners. This ensures that someone with the necessary training is working with the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 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.

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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

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

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(b) (2)(a)(i)(ix)(xi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the behaviour support plan clearly identifies how staff should support the child. The registered person should also ensure that a clear understanding of the impact of trauma on decision-making is reflected within the ways staff help the child to develop positive relationships. In addition, the registered person should give due consideration to local and national protocols regarding the criminalisation of children in care to provide an environment in which positive relationships can be built. 17 June 2022

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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— 17 June 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 7 that staff—

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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

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the risk assessment contains a clear outline of the risks posed, using clear language. The registered person should also ensure that the risk assessment references the specific risks which have led to the deprivation of liberty through the making of an order under inherent jurisdiction of the court.

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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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that systems are in place to ensure monitoring and reviews are undertaken of incidents, to inform the care provided in the home. The registered person should also ensure that staff have the necessary skills needed to support the child. 24 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. 10 June 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 8 The registered person may only—

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that they satisfy themselves that the required checks have been completed for agency members of staff and record this.

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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: 2673201 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Dorset Council-Social Care, Children’s Homes

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Dorset Council, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester DT1 1XJ

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Inspector

Clare Nixson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 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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