Children's home run by New Forest Care Limited

Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264282 1 Registered provider: New Forest Care Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children. The statement of purpose for the home says that it offers long- term care for children.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager at this home. The post has been vacant since March 2018.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers have not reported and referred allegations to other safeguarding agencies as required as detailed within the home‟s policies and procedures or in line with statutory guidance. They have instigated initial enquiries prior to a referral to the designated officer. In one case, they did not refer an allegation to others and records do not detail their reasons for this. Internal investigations completed do not provide detail of what is explored, reviewed or how the investigator reached their conclusion.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments continue to not provide basic information for staff. They do not include all practical strategies used to manage and minimise risk. Plans viewed do not provide individual strategies for staff to follow to ensure that staff respond consistently to high Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264282 2 risk-taking behaviours, e.g. self-harm. Staff have improved the quality of records following a physical intervention, but managers do not explore how effective the measure is. Staff apply consequences to young people, but they do not record these, evaluate their effectiveness or discuss with the young person how they feel about them. Staff conduct weekly checks of the home‟s fire systems and fire doors. Staff noted in November 2018 that some „fire doors do not close fully‟. Managers did not ensure that the faulty doors were repaired, and they are still faulty. The home‟s development plan has been amended and updated but it does not detail all

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

the home‟s weaknesses or state when actions will be addressed. Leaders and managers have not responded or acted on all of the previous requirements and recommendations. The current systems for monitoring and evaluating the quality of care in the home are not effective. The home has recently amended its statement of purpose to reflect the change in the service the home now provides. The young person who now resides in the home has settled into the home and is now attending and engaging in regular education. Staff support him well to maintain contact with his family and friends. The manager has recently made an application to register with Ofsted.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264282 3

p.2

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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 within the given timescales.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child‟s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child‟s welfare; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home‟s child protection policies; that the effectiveness of the home‟s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(e)) * a compliance notice has been issued in relation to Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(vi) 17/02/2019

p.3

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the home that— helps children aspire to their full potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the 17/02/2019 Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264282 4 quality of care provided in the home; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(2)(f)(h))

p.3

Requirement Due date

Behaviour management policies and records The registered person must ensure that— within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— the name of the child; details of the child‟s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person

p.4

Requirement Due date

to do so (“the authorised person”)— has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 17/02/2019 Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264282 5 Fire precautions If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home— paragraph (1) does not apply; and the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(a)(b)) 17/02/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

* This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

p.5

Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day to day basis. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  Each local authority should have clear arrangements in place for the management and oversight of allegations against people that work with children. The relevant officer or teams within the local authority should be informed promptly of all allegations that come to an employer‟s attention or that are made directly to the police. For further information, including about the role of a local authority designated officer see „Working together to safeguard children‟. („Guide to the

p.5

Recommendations

children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 44, paragraph 9.18) Specifically, ensure that investigations detail the reason, rationale, analysis and judgement reached regarding the matter; specifically, to ensure that all records pertinent are collated.  Regulation 19(2) details sanctions that are prohibited in behaviour management. Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 46, paragraph 9.38) Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264282 6

p.5

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

p.6

Information about this inspection

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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

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‟.

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Forest Care Ltd

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: West Shore House, West Street, Hythe, Southampton SO45 6AA

p.6

Inspector

Amanda Maxwell, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264282 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

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 http://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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7