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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 1 Registered provider: Dorset Council-Social Care, Children’s Homes

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is run by the local authority. It can provide care for one child. There is no child living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager post has been vacant since October 2022.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspectors evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 2

p.1

The care of children

The child who moved on from the home received support from staff. As a result, the child had a positive move from the home. Staff continue to support the child in their new home on an outreach basis to provide continuity of relationships.

p.2

The care of children

The property is in a good state of repair, but is in need of decorative attention before a child moves in. In particular, the child’s bedroom needs to be painted and a bed purchased.

p.2

The safety of children

Property safety is maintained, with regular health and safety checks completed. This includes the fire alarm system. Leaders and managers recognise that policies for the home would need to be updated ahead of a child moving in.

p.2

The safety of children

Leaders and managers facilitated learning and reflection sessions for staff following the end of the placement. This helped them to review some of the situations of concern.

p.2

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have been unable to recruit a manager for the home. As such, they have taken the decision to not admit a child. Leaders and managers are evaluating the ongoing suitability of the environment and location to best meet the needs of children and young people in the local authority.

p.2

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers are considering the future use of the home. If it continues to operate as a children’s home, a manager needs to be appointed and the home staffed and furnished. Requirements have been made to reflect this. The previous requirements remain; the inspector was not able to assess the actions to address these requirements as there is no child living in the home.

p.2

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Following the inspection the local authority submitted an application to cancel the registration of the home which was accepted by Ofsted. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.4

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

p.4

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;

p.4

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))

p.4

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last full inspection. 17 June 2022

p.4

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. 17 June 2022 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 5 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.4

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

p.5

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last full inspection. The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

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;

p.5

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))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that systems are in place to ensure that monitoring and review is 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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last full inspection. 24 June 2022 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 6 The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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,

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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))

p.6

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last full inspection. 10 June 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child; and 31 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 7 enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure there is a suitable staff team in place, and that the property is appropriately furnished and decorated for a child.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

p.7

Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home (Regulation 27 (1)(a)) 31 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 8

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Inspector

Clare Nixson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673201 9 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.8

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.9

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.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9