Children's home run by New Forest Care Limited in New Forest

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are supported by staff who know them extremely well. Staff have an excellent knowledge of the young people they care for including their personalities, needs and risk factors. Staff tailor their strategies to the individual and as a result, young people make good progress. All young people have good attendance and are making progress at school and at college. There has been a significant reduction in incidents requiring physical interventions. This is because staff and managers have reviewed their strategies and focus on de-escalation and providing space to young people whilst supporting them to regulate their emotions and express themselves more constructively. Recordings of restraints have improved and now clearly detail why the use of physical intervention was necessary. All records are overseen by the manager who evaluates their effectiveness. There have been no new admissions since the previous inspection. This has meant

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

that a recommendation made at the previous inspection could not be tested at this inspection and remains in place. However, it is evident that managers and staff put the interest of each young person first. There has been one discharge since the previous inspection. This happened as a result of the manager identifying that a young person’s needs would be better met in a home within the organisation who supported young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. To ensure this young person’s transition to his new home was successful the staff group with whom he had become familiar with were able to transition to the new home with him. This provided the young person with excellent consistency during a time of change, helping to reduce any anxieties caused by the move. Staff support young people to have contact with their families and to maintain relationships with those who are important to them. They are also able to develop

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

relationships with their peers. This provides them with a sense of belonging and builds of their self-esteem. Staff have an excellent understanding of the risks to young people. This is supported by a comprehensive risk assessments which identifies the risks to young people, how to minimise them and what to do if they occur. There are high levels of supervision of young people within the home which promotes their safety. Some young people have struggle to reduce their harmful behaviours. The manager and staff are working with the placing authority and other professionals to ensure that safeguards are put in place to support this young person to refrain from resorting to these behaviours. Managers and staff take their duty to safeguard individuals seriously and work effectively with other organisations to keep young people safe. Staff report all concerns appropriately to the police and local authority and inform the regulator

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

when necessary. There have been no incidents of young people going missing since the previous inspection however there are clear policies and procedures in place should this occur. As there have been, no missing incidents a recommendation made at the previous inspection in regards to return interviews could not be tested. However, this highlights that staff are successfully reducing this risk of young people going missing. Staff and managers actively challenge other agencies to ensure young people receive the support they require. For instance, managers have challenged the local authority to ensure a young person has access to an advocate so he is able to share his views regarding future plans. Another example is the manager raising concerns around delays by a young person’s placing authority to begin planning for their care once they turn 18 years old. The registered manager has taken action to improve monitoring systems and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

increase his oversight of the service. This means that areas requiring improvement are identified resulting in positive developments in staff practice and their recordings. The manager has taken action to address three requirements and three recommendations made at the previous inspection. Three recommendations made at the previous inspection remain outstanding, as they could not be tested during this inspection. The manager has developed an action to plan to improve the quality of environment for young people and it is hoped this will be achieved by April 2016 as a result the corresponding recommendation made at the previous inspection will remain in place until this has been achieved.

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Information about this children's home

The children’s home provides residential care and accommodation for four young people with autistic spectrum disorders. The home offers an integrated service that includes therapy, education and care. The home is one of a number operated by a private provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

24/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets 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 with the given timescales.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  ensure the children's home provides a homely, domestic environment. In particular, ensuring, all areas are of a good standard of decoration and cleanliness (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards, April 2015, page 15 paragraph 3.9)  ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards, April 2015, page 45 paragraph 9.30)  consider the impact that a new placement will have on the existing group of children and evidence their judgement supporting compatibility with existing residents (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality

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Recommendations

standards, April 2015, page 56 paragraph 11.4)  ensure that recruitment procedures safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. In particular ensuring all the required checks as specified in schedule two are completed. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards, April 2015, page 62 paragraph 13.1)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This 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 Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, 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,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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