Children's Home run by New Forest Care Limited in Hampshire

Unique reference number SC363268 Inspection date 15/11/2012 Inspector Bridget Goddard Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 10/07/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

A private company owns and operates this children's home. The setting accommodates a maximum of two young people of either gender who have complex emotional, behavioural and educational difficulties. If young people are not able to attend main-stream schooling, they can attend the company's specialist education unit. The company’s working livestock and arable farm provides opportunities for young people to learn new skills. Young people can also access the organisation's therapeutic resources.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress .

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Progress

At the full inspection in July 2012 the home was judged to be good overall. One requirement and one recommendation were made at that inspection. The home has successfully met both of these.

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Progress

The requirement was to ensure regulatory compliance by updating the policy on physical intervention, and the recommendation was to monitor restraint records for patterns and trends. The home has now updated the policy in guidance on physical intervention, and this revision will be included as part of the current update of the Statement of Purpose. The home did an initial, thorough analysis of patterns of physical intervention, and is now including individualised numbers of restraints in the six weekly review of care. This is a very useful initiative which enables both the home and placing authorities to see if any progress is being made in terms of use of physical intervention. Staff have maintained their excellent quality of care in continued challenging circumstances. Some young people still need a high number of interventions to help them manage their behaviour, but the overall pattern is a steady decrease in the

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Progress

number of restraints. The home continues to be very child-centred with staff always focused on what they can do to make it better for young people. Staff are still persistent in trying new ways to positively influence young people's behaviour, for example different bedtime routines or adjusting staffing. Staff have various avenues available to them to seek support as well as supervision, and some have made good use of these.

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Progress

Since the last inspection the home has trained up and established a new day-to-day manager. It is a tribute to the staff team that this change has not adversely affected the quality of care.

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Progress

Young people are making steady progress in the right direction, for example some young people can now put a name to the feelings they experience. This means that they are well on the way to being in charge of their emotions. Young people have continued to have generally good attendance at school, and after school staff have maintained supporting young people with a range of activities. For example, some young people enjoy organised groups and others like working with animals. All young people enjoy opportunities for local relaxed activities shared with staff.

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Progress

The home has a careful approach to safeguarding, for example seeking guidance on allegations. At an individual level young people are learning about road safety to help prepare them for safer, independent living.

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Progress

The home's premises continue to be of a high standard and have been personalised with photos of young people and activities.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011).

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