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

Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 1 SC480502 Registered provider: New Forest Care Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children aged up to 18 years old. The home is operated by a private organisation. According to the statement of purpose, the home caters for children who have complex emotional, behavioural and educational difficulties. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 30 June 2014.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/03/2018 Full Outstanding 28/02/2017 Full Good 03/05/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/12/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 3

p.2

Recommendations

 Under regulation 46, the registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. Providers should refer to the non-statutory advice about the location assessment process. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1) In particular, the location assessment should contain local agency intelligence, such hotspot areas and emerging trends, such as young people being targeted for sexual exploitation or drawn into gang crime or anti-social behaviour.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

High-quality and individualised care results in sustained improvement to the lives of the young people, who have complex needs. Staff use an attachment-based parenting approach to nurture sensitive and responsive relationships with the young people. One young person said, ‘The staff are the best.’ Staff are knowledgeable about the developmental effects of disrupted attachments, neglect and trauma. Young people feel that their progress is important to the staff, who hold their well-being at the centre of their practice. As a result, young people experience empathetic and meaningful relationships with staff. Staff encourage the young people to access a good range of leisure activities. They can pursue their individual interests and take part in group activities. Young people particularly enjoyed an activity-based summer holiday. Each young person has a photograph album which charts their time in the home. This acts as a visual aid to help

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

them recognise and celebrate their achievements. Staff are proactive in working in partnership with professionals and families. The good links help ensure all-round support for the young people. One parent spoken to was complimentary about the support she received from staff, which helped build up family visits to overnight stays. Staff recognise that family connections assist the young people to understand where they come from, and help develop their sense of belonging and identity. Young people attend a school run by the organisation. There is excellent liaison between the home and school staff. Young people benefit from personalised education packages to support their academic abilities and aspirations. For the young people approaching their last year at school, staff’s close links with local colleges are an added advantage, helping the young people make informed decisions about their further education choices

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

and the options available to them. Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 4

p.3

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

Young people are safe at the home. They rarely go missing. Staff inspire a culture of openness and the young people are comfortable to share their thought and feelings. Staff balance the young people’s desire for independence with their need for care, support and protection. As a result, young people develop skills and strategies to manage their own conflicts and difficult feelings. Staff follow procedures for responding to concerns about the young people with appropriate agencies in accordance to statutory guidance. Records of referrals form part of a detailed chronology. The registered manager follows up the outcome of referrals quickly. He ensures that appropriate actions are taken to ensure the safety and well- being of the young people. Risk assessments are comprehensive and detailed, as are risk management strategies. These plans set out what the staff need to do to help reduce risks for the young people.

p.4

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

There are good systems in place to ensure internet and social media safety. However, the staff are mindful that the strongest protection involves equipping the young people with the skills to recognise and identify inappropriate or unsafe content. Staff manage the young people’s behaviours well. Routines and structure in the home help the young people to know what is expected of them. There is a strong ethos of de- escalating situations, and emphasis is on positive reinforcement. Young people develop insight and accept responsibility for their behaviour without experiencing this as shameful. This approach is effective as incidents leading to physical interventions have significantly reduced for all the young people. Staff support the young people to participate in decisions that affect their lives. Young people have positive relationships with staff and are confident to raise any concerns that they may have. The registered manager and the staff take an active role in advocating

p.4

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

for the needs of the young people and ensure that their voice is heard and acted upon. In addition, the staff ensure that young people have access to independent advocacy. The home’s location risk assessment is up to date and demonstrates a broad understanding of the characteristics of the area where the home is located. However, it is not maximised in relation to wider contextual safeguarding. For example, it does not contain local agency intelligence showing hotspot areas and emerging trends, such as young people being targeted for sexual exploitation or drawn into gang crime or anti- social behaviour.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is run by a passionate registered manager with many years of experience working with young people. He is a hands-on and visible presence at the home, ensuring high standards of care, centred on the needs of the young people. Leaders and managers are confident to challenge other professionals to ensure that young people receive the services that they need to move forward in their lives. Staff are provided with an excellent level of resources and support. Training and development of staff are of paramount importance and are supported by the therapy Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 5 and mental health team delivering workshops throughout the year. New staff receive a well thought-out induction and probation process, alongside a good range of core training. As a result, staff perform their roles with diligence and confidence. The registered manager and leaders actively and regularly monitor the quality of care,

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

including direct testimony from the young people. Safer recruitment procedures are excellent, as is strong performance management of the staff. This demonstrates a robust commitment to safeguarding and minimises potential risks to the young people. The culture of the home is characterised by the registered manager’s high aspirations, and sense of pride in all the young people’s achievements. The home is warm, welcoming and maintained to an extremely high standard. The investment and care in the home provide a strong message to the young people that they matter, and that they are cared for by adults who will go the extra mile to help them succeed.

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.5

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 within the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 6

p.5

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

Anne-Marie Davies, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 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 looked after children, 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