Children's Home run by Wessex College Limited in Wiltshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC407430 1 SC407430 Registered provider: Wessex College Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a large, private provider. It provides care for up to four children who may experience emotional or social difficulties. At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since December 2024 and recently registered with Ofsted.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC407430 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/08/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/08/2023 Full Good 20/10/2022 Full Good 12/01/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC407430 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child told the inspector that they would have rated their home a ‘three or four out of 10’ a few months ago but would now give it a ‘solid eight’. This is the child’s testament to the improvements made.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has been through a significant amount of change, with changes of provider, staff and managers. This has had a detrimental impact on the child that lives here, causing them to be concerned about the number of staff leaving.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The number of staff changes has reduced since the current manager has been in post, and the child now knows who is coming into the home each day. The manager has ensured that there is a consistent core team of staff so that the child always has one adult they know. Attempts have also been made to use the same agency staff to provide consistency for the child. The child said that they feel listened to by the manager.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At times, the child has close relationships with the staff and feels that they can talk to them if they are worried. Positive relationships were observed, with the child and staff laughing and joking together. At times, staff gave mixed responses about the boundaries in place and how to respond to the child’s needs or requests. Some staff and written plans lacked clarity on the goals and targets set to help the child to achieve.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has moved on from the home since the last inspection. While this was a planned move, the child moved sooner than expected. Staff supported the child well during this period and encouraged them to stay in touch.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living at the home attends alternative education and has a tutor. The manager has advocated for more hours of education for this child. However, there is little structure for the staff to provide informal educational activities, and it is left for the child to choose an activity. Staff encourage the child to develop their interests and hobbies, and there has been a strong focus on developing wider family relationships.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has healthy and varied meals. The child is involved in choosing and preparing meals, which supports their independence. Staff also encourage the child to understand budgeting for clothing and activities, helping them to understand and manage money.

p.3

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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC407430 4 The most significant change for the child is that they now feel safe in terms of knowing which members of staff are coming into the home. Having consistent and familiar staff has helped the child to develop nurturing relationships with the team. The child now has trusted adults they can talk to and who understand the risks to them.

p.4

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

Safeguarding incidents have significantly reduced since the last inspection. There have been no incidents of physical intervention or going missing from home. Staff have supported the child well to understand their feelings and manage their behaviours.

p.4

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

When a concern was raised between two children, this was reported to other professionals quickly and appropriately. There was a discussion with one of the children about the outcome of this, but it is not clear that an explanation was given to the other child. This means that children are not always clear about what happens as a result of a concern they raise or incidents that happen.

p.4

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

Staff are clear about safeguarding processes. They report that they contact managers quickly and know who to contact when there is a problem.

p.4

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

When children have self-harmed, there is a quick and supportive response from staff. Children’s plans are clear about what staff need to do in these situations. Positive behaviours are encouraged and praised. However, there is no clear guidance to staff about types of rewards for certain behaviours.

p.4

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

Safer recruitment processes are in place for employed staff. In respect of agency staff, the checks are completed by the agency. These checks are relied on without leaders and managers assuring themselves fully or having sight of the actual recruitment documents.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home now has a registered manager who is dedicated and determined. Staff morale has increased, and the turnover of staff has started to decline. Recruitment is ongoing, with three members about to join the team and further vacancies being advertised.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have high aspirations for children, and the staff have confidence in their manager. The manager acts quickly and responds carefully, being sure not to make promises lightly. Action plans have been in place since the last inspection, which have been updated and reviewed regularly. This shows that leaders and managers strive for improvements. They are also keen to take advice on board.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak of being able to access managers and describe them as approachable and easy to contact. Management oversight of care has improved, although new systems are proving difficult to get used to. Learning has taken place from the staff leaving, and managers have been keen to listen to their views. While supervision is in Inspection report for children’s home: SC407430 5 place, it does not always take place on time. However, staff feel able to report concerns quickly without waiting for formal supervision for this.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s records contain some out-of-date information and are often written from the child’s perspective when the child has not been involved in writing them. This is not accurate or meaningful to the child and does not provide staff with the most relevant information to support the child. Inspection report for children’s home: SC407430 6

p.5

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.

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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.6

Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

p.6

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

p.6

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably; 30 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC407430 7 provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is an agreed plan and for each child to have goals that they can achieve. Staff should be provided with clear guidance as to how to help each child to achieve their goals and have consistent boundaries and approaches to support each child.

p.7

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure records of incidents and restraint are clear and do not contain vague, institutionalised or emotive language. In addition, meaningful conversations should be carried out with any child or member of staff involved so as to enable them to reflect and learn from the event. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  The registered person should ensure that when children are not in education, they work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the meantime, the child should be supported to regain their confidence in education and be engaged in structured, educational activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  The registered person should ensure that the necessary recruitment information

p.7

Recommendations

required under Schedule 2 is obtained for all staff who work in the home, including agency staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that systems are in place so that all staff receive regular supervision of their practice, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children in their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)  The registered person should ensure that children’s records are ‘living documents’ and that staff are recording information in a way that is meaningful to children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19) Inspection report for children’s home: SC407430 8

p.7

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: SC407430 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Wessex College Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Maybrook House, Third Floor, Queensway, Halesowen B63 4AH

p.9

Inspector

Nickie Doney, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC407430 10 and inspects 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.

p.9

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 . 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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10