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

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

children and young people since the most recent full inspection. This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . At the last full inspection in December 2015, three recommendations were made to further improve practice. Action has been taken to address each of these. Young people are consulted collectively and on an individual basis, to ensure their views inform the care planning process. Key-work sessions are used to discuss and agree individual targets with young people. Young people are encouraged to express their views on their progress to meeting the targets, and these views are recorded. Group discussions take place daily, enabling young people to plan activities and resolve any issues pertaining to peer relationships. In addition, regular young people’s house meetings ensure that they have opportunities to influence the day-

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

to-day running of the home. House meetings are also used to generate discussions on issues such as bullying and keeping safe. This approach helps young people to feel valued and respected. Effective communication is maintained with placing authority social workers. Since the full inspection, social workers have been consulted whenever the home has notified the regulator of a significant event. This demonstrates good partnership working, and ensures that there is a consistent response across agencies to meeting the needs of young people. Within the home’s development plan, the registered manager keeps a record of all actions taken to address potential weaknesses in the care being delivered. This information is then used to inform each review of the quality of care. The registered manager acknowledges that the quality of care reports do not always analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of actions taken to improve the home, and

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

is committed to developing this area of practice. Overall, a high standard of safeguarding practice is maintained. Young people report feeling safe in the home, and positive working relationships with the staff ensure that they feel confident to discuss any worries or concerns that they may have. There is a robust response to any complaints from young people. They are kept fully informed of the outcomes of complaints and any necessary actions taken to resolve their concerns. Child protection matters are referred to the appropriate authorities in a timely manner. Leaders and managers work in partnership with other professionals to ensure that young people are kept safe and are sensitively supported during child protection investigations. The designated officer is consulted whenever an allegation is made against a member of staff, and all subsequent recommendations are implemented. Good multi-agency planning has ensured that allegations are

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

dealt with promptly, and in a way that protects the young person and supports the staff member concerned. Young people are supported to manage their behaviour, and their progress is recognised and praised by staff. Clear behaviour management plans for each young person ensure that there is a consistent response from staff to any challenging behaviour. Physical restraint of young people is only used in accordance with the legislative framework. However, the recording of physical restraint incidents sometimes lacks detail. Consequently, it is not always possible to determine how de-escalation techniques were implemented, where the restraint took place or which staff might have been the victim of an assault. One record seen during the inspection also failed to record when the relevant social worker was informed or when the young person was given the opportunity to be medically examined. This shortfall in the standard of recording has the potential to impact negatively on

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

monitoring processes. Evaluations of the effectiveness of physical restraint and the identification of particular trends are likely to be more robust if they are based on the evidence contained in detailed records of restraint incidents. The needs and vulnerabilities of young people are clearly identified in their care and placement plans. These are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect young people’s changing circumstances. In one case, the placement plan of a young person who does not have ‘child looked after’ status has not been completed. This has not had a negative impact on the standard of care provided to the young person, but has the potential to do so if plans are not formally agreed with all professionals responsible for the welfare of the young person. The registered manager ensures that young people have access to specialist services to meet their individual needs. Good partnership working with the child

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

and adolescent mental health service has ensured that the views and recommendations of mental health practitioners have informed the care planning process for one young person. This has resulted in detailed risk assessments being undertaken and implemented in day-to-day practice. The consistently high level of care provided results in young people developing a sense of security and belonging. They make excellent progress across many aspects of their lives. All young people maintain excellent attendance at the organisation’s school. This is a significant achievement for some young people who have previously struggled in a formal education setting. Young people learn age- appropriate independence skills, and are encouraged to engage in a range of activities that broadens their experience and social interactions. Some young people have made excellent progress in developing their personal care skills. The home provides a spacious, comfortable environment. It is well managed and

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

provides young people with the opportunity to feel at ease and begin to overcome the impact of past negative experiences.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately operated children's home, registered to provide care for up to four children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Children and young people have access to the organisation’s school.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

14/07/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that records of restraint enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge, specifically, ensure that records are sufficiently detailed to enable the review and evaluation of all incidents resulting in the physical restraint of a child or young person (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59).  Implement effective care planning to ensure the success of placements, specifically, ensure that young people who do not have child looked after status have up-to-date, detailed placement plans (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.2).

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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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