Children's home run by Hampshire County Council

Inspection report children’s home: 1257573 1 SC1257573 Registered provider: Hampshire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children. According to the home’s statement of purpose, it offers residential care with a therapeutic emphasis and multi-agency involvement, to help children recover from experiences which have rendered them vulnerable and disrupted their primary relationships. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 22 June 2017.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 16 January 2019

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1257573 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/01/2019 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1257573 3

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outstanding

The high quality of relationships that the children are able to forge with the staff, with each other, and, where possible, with their families, is the essence of this home. Committed staff provide the children with a secure base from which they can safely explore their feelings. As a result, the children begin to make sense of their experiences with adults who they are comfortable with, and who know them well. Children experience a warm and nurturing environment. A stable staff team provides the children with a sense of security and stability. Small interactions, such as the deputy manager making personalised homemade birthday cakes, affirm to the children that they are valued and cared for. A standout theme running through the home is the care and warmth that the children show to others. For example, one child was happy to give a younger child an expensive football t-shirt he had outgrown. Other children spoke about how

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outstanding

they enjoyed helping younger children. Staff promote an environment which embraces diversity and encourages kindness. As a result, the children experience the value and pleasure of making a difference to people’s lives. Staff’s focus on developing trusting relationships with the children is extended to professionals and families. Positive communication and collaborative partnership working helps to build trust and engagement. The positive role modelling by the staff in building relationships helps the children to develop skills to have positive relationships with others. Staff encourage the children to take part in a large variety of sports, hobbies and clubs. The staff recognise the importance of providing the children with opportunities for fun and play. This helps the children develop self-esteem, as well as building social and group relationships. Staff help the children to develop independent living skills. The routines and

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outstanding

structure in the home help the children to know what is expected of them. Staff support the children at a pace and level that is appropriate to their age and individual needs, to build their confidence. Staff help the children succeed in education. When children find school challenging, staff provide extra support and advocate for them. Staff communicate with school staff, and the virtual school, to review and adapt plans to meet the children’s specific educational needs.

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

Children say that they feel safe in the home, and that staff help them and worry about them. Staff know what to do if they have a concern, or someone tells them Inspection report children’s home: 1257573 4 something that they are worried about. A strong and proactive response from the staff reduces risks to the children. Staff generally encourage and support the children to work towards restorative outcomes after destructive behaviour. However, some records of sanctions do not show a restorative consequence, for example children losing settling time with an adult for a week. A behavioural approach, in some instances, hinders the children’s ability to make reparation and repair relationships. Individual positive behaviour plans guide the adults to individual de-escalation strategies and the methods of physical intervention, if required. However, the plans do not show consideration to the children’s health needs or relevant past

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

experiences, and the action that might be taken as a result.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed exceptionally well by a dedicated registered manager. She leads by example, showing authentic warmth and care for the children. This permeates through the culture in the home. Consequently, the children benefit from living in a well-run home which is strongly led. The registered manager’s practice is innovative. She is involved in a number of initiatives, from improving recruitment to helping produce new LGBT+ guidance. The registered manager is an active member of a children’s home forum for a group of local authorities. Engagement in this group serves to share best practice to improving the lives of the children in her care, and also for a wider benefit to children across the care system. Children’s records are child centred and are recorded in a way that reflects their voice. This ensures that the children have a good understanding of how their needs are planned for and met. The registered manager and leaders ensure that the home is staffed and resourced

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

to meet the needs of the children. The children enjoy a child-centred home that supports group living, allows for privacy as well as shared, common spaces. Staff involve the children in choosing the furnishings and colour schemes at the home. Thoughtful touches around the environment reflect the children’s individuality. This enhances their day-to-day living experiences. Leaders and managers monitor the progress that individual children make and can demonstrate the positive impact that living at the home has on the children’s progress and attainment. Leaders and managers work in close partnership with a range of professionals and specialist services to safeguard the children and meet their holistic needs. Inspection report children’s home: 1257573 5

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Recommendations

 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 47, paragraph 9.38)  Any use of restraint carries risks. These include causing physical injury, psychological trauma or emotional disturbance. When considering whether restraint is warranted, staff in children’s homes need to take into account:  the age and understanding of the child;  the size of the child;  the relevance of any disability, health problem or medication to the

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Recommendations

behaviour in question and the action that might be taken as a result;  the relative risks of not intervening;  the child’s previously sought views on strategies that they considered might de-escalate or calm a situation, if appropriate;  the method of restraint which would be appropriate in the specific circumstances; and  the impact of the restraint on the carer’s future relationship with the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.55)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: 1257573 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hampshire Council, 3rd Floor, Elizabeth II Court North, The Castle, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 8UG

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Maria Calway-Kennedy

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Inspector

Anne-Marie Davies, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1257573 7 to 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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