Children's home run by Wessex College Limited in Dorset

Inspection report for children’s home: SC043245 1 SC043245 Registered provider: Wessex College Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider and offers care for up to four children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that care is provided for children with social, emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 12 December 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 26 October 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report for children’s home: SC043245 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/05/2021 Full Inadequate 21/11/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC043245 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy living at the home and are making good progress. Children get on well with the staff and feel that staff really care about them. Staff have built strong, nurturing relationships with the children. They are proud of the children and celebrate their achievements. This positive approach has helped to build children’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During this inspection period, two children moved from the home as it was felt their needs could not be met safely alongside the other residents. These decisions were carefully considered and deliberated. Leaders, managers and staff have subsequently reflected on each child’s time in the home to look at lessons learned.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, one new child had moved into the home. This move was well planned and carefully considered to assess whether this was the right home for the child and whether their needs could be met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s engagement in education and employment is an improving picture. However, further work is needed to ensure that all children are engaged in full-time education or work.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are developing their independence skills with staff support and guidance. This is done at a pace that suits the individual child. For some children, there has been a great improvement in this since the previous inspection. Others are just at the beginning of this process.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s plans are of a good quality. These are clear and reflect the child’s current needs. Plans are consistently reviewed and updated in light of events.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The healthcare needs of children are met. Children have access to in-house therapists, as well as support from external professionals such as child and adolescent mental health services and a substance misuse service for young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of the environment is of a good standard. Staff provide children with a comfortable and spacious home which is furnished to a good standard. Children’s rooms are personalised and reflect their interests and tastes. During the inspection, one child was working with staff to wallpaper their room. He and the staff were rightly very proud of the results. There is ample communal space and children benefit from having a spacious garden. Inspection report for children’s home: SC043245 4

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children feel safe at the home. Safeguarding concerns are appropriately addressed and swiftly referred to child protection agencies. However, three safeguarding events were not reported to Ofsted as required. Leaders and managers have been requested to make retrospective notifications for these events. Despite this omission, leaders and managers took appropriate actions to keep the children concerned safe in line with guidance from the local authority. Notifications that are made to Ofsted are suitably detailed and clearly recorded.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Behaviour is consistently well managed and restraint has not been used since the last inspection. Children are given good support during and after times when they feel unsettled or angry. Meaningful conversations take place that help children to develop an understanding of their behaviour and to identify skills to manage this more positively moving forward. Behaviour support plans and incident records are of a good quality.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Missing from home incidents are appropriately managed with the focus on the safety and well-being of the child. Missing persons plans provide clear guidance for staff, and records regarding these events reflect the actions taken and meaningful conversations with children after the event. These conversations help staff with children to look at why they went missing and what is needed to prevent this happening again.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Risk is managed effectively. Staff work with children to develop their understanding of risk and how to keep themselves safe. The staff work well with external professionals, involving them to provide additional support for children who need more specialist help, for example in substance misuse. Risk assessments are detailed and provide clear guidance for staff.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Prior to this inspection, leaders and managers had identified that improvements were needed in the staff recruitment process. These improvements are in relation to the clear recording of interviews and the identification of conflicting information across records. Leaders and managers are taking action to address this including a full audit of personnel files.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced registered manager is in post and is currently undertaking their level 5 qualification. This manager is due to take a career break. Appropriate action is being taken to ensure that suitable management plans are in place during this period. The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and areas for development of the home. She is aspirational for the children and inspires the staff. The registered manager has ensured that the requirement and recommendations from the previous inspection have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is sufficient staff to care for the children. The majority of these staff have worked together for some time. This helps with communication and the continuity of Inspection report for children’s home: SC043245 5 care. Staff note that staff morale has greatly improved under the manager’s leadership. They feel valued, heard and respected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about the support they receive from the manager and the responsible individual. They find them very approachable. The quality of staff supervision sessions is good. They provide space for staff to reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Parents are very positive about the care their child receives and the progress they are making. They feel the staff keep them well informed and involved in their child’s care. Inspection report for children’s home: SC043245 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, the 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 30 June 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are in full-time education while they are of compulsory school age or in full-time further education or work if above this age. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.14)

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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, Inspection report for children’s home: SC043245 7 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: SC043245 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Wessex College Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Westdrove House, Sutton Veny, Warminster, BA12 7AH

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Samantha Choules

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Inspector

Wendy Anderson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC043245 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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