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

Inspection report children’s home: SC485529 1 SC485529 Registered provider: New Forest Care Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home accommodates a maximum of three children and young people who have complex emotional, behavioural and educational difficulties. The home is privately owned and includes a local educational establishment. All children and young people have access to the organisation’s therapeutic services.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 18 July 2019.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC485529 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/03/2019 Full Good 21/03/2018 Full Good 15/11/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 25/05/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC485529 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people benefit from the highly personalised care they receive from the skilled staff team. This nurturing care enables all young people to have positive experiences of being cared for, and to make progress in key areas of their lives. The levels of progress made are different for each young person, with some making exceptional strides and others taking slower steps.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although staff are skilled at creating a positive environment that promotes young people’s overall development, they are less adept at driving forward young people’s individual life goals. For example, some young people require a sustained focus on healthy living and others need more staff time on particular skills. Staff have not been able to systematically spend time on these areas, which means that young people’s progress may not have been as rapid as possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Generally, staff have excellent relationships with young people. They demonstrate their interest in them, and their pride in their achievements. They can have fun with them while being clear and consistent over boundaries.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people recognise the high-quality care they receive. One said, ‘Staff look after me, they care and talk to me about things.’ Another young person said, ‘They are best at everything; it’s 10 out of 10 for me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people also recognise that staff will listen to their views and try to meet their preferences as much as possible. For example, one young person expressed his pleasure at staff getting the decorations he wanted for his bedroom. Another young person said, ‘If I want chicken nuggets, staff will get me them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All young people are doing very well in attending education and, crucially, are enjoying their educational experience. With therapeutic support, some young people have been able to stop taking powerful medication, and this has improved their daily functioning. Other young people are better able to regulate their own emotions, and this has resulted in fewer violent incidents and a reduction in physical restraint.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

On non-education days, activities are carefully planned, and in school holidays young people have access to a wide range of creative and innovative activities, such as catapult-making, run by the wider organisation. On other days, staff take young people shopping or play games with them. On all these occasions there is a good staff to young people ratio, which means that young people have valuable opportunities to share important things.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a structured programme for young people, to assist them in developing life skills, and most young people are appropriately competent in core skills. The wider organisation presents useful opportunities for young people to extend their knowledge and learning. For example, one young person has spent productive time with the maintenance team, learning practical skills. Inspection report children’s home: SC485529 4

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

Some young people are becoming safer because of a significant reduction in the frequency and level of violent incidents they are involved in. However, other young people, who are assessed as being high risk in certain ways, are not receiving the knowledge and practical skills they need to keep as safe as possible. This means that the risks of harm to them are not being sufficiently targeted to give the best chance of reducing them.

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

Generally, young people are kept safe by careful planning, good staff ratios and routine checks on phones. For some young people, the balance between age- appropriate risks and harmful risks is managed well. For example, young people are given appropriate support and properly monitored when forging intense relationships with other young people. Formal risk assessments are clear, reflect the young person well, and are routinely updated.

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

Missing-from-home episodes are not currently a problem, but staff are very aware of the necessary procedures to be followed. Each young person has an individualised missing-from-home protocol, and staff are clear about their role in minimising the risk for each young person. There is a good relationship with the local police, and they have made informal visits to the home to have purposeful discussions with some young people.

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

Staff have good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and know who to contact in particular situations. Allegations are well dealt with, and there are effective working relationships with the designated officer in the local authority. Restraint is used with good care and thought, and is well monitored.

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

The atmosphere in the home is usually relaxed, because staff know young people well and understand both their stress points and what they enjoy. Conflicts are usually quickly resolved and are generally followed by appropriate natural consequences; for example, if you throw food, you clear it up.

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

Staff are safely recruited, and the home environment is kept safe by appropriate health and safety checks. There are positive relationships with neighbours, and young people enjoy their homely and comfortable home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager of this home is currently on sick leave. In the interim, the home is being ably run by the coordinated efforts of the operations manager and the team leader. It is anticipated that the registered manager will return to her post once her health improves.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The possible adverse impact of this absence on young people and the staff has been reduced by these well-known faces ensuring that at least one of them is always present in the home. This has enabled staff to continue to receive a good level of Inspection report children’s home: SC485529 5 support and regular supervision. A small minority of staff feel that the support they have received at times has been insufficient, but most staff still feel well supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The high-quality, regular training that staff receive has continued to be available. Staff spoke particularly highly of the quality of training offered and are clear that this has enhanced their practice with young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The current management arrangements have not negatively affected the high standards of individualised care that are offered in this home. This has continued, and young people’s plans have been further progressed. Where appropriate, the local authority’s plans for young people have been effectively challenged and positive strategies have been initiated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This home has had some staffing shortfalls over the last year. Where possible, these have been effectively addressed by the management team, and staff cover has been kept in-house. This has led to weaker practice in some detailed aspects of care, although, overall, the level of care given has remained good. Most of these staffing issues will be resolved shortly, and this puts the home in a strong position for future development and growth. Inspection report children’s home: SC485529 6

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)) 21/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(ii) 21/04/2020

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. Professionally qualified staff employed by the home, e.g. teachers or social workers, should be provided with relevant professional or clinical supervision by an appropriately qualified and experienced professional. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2) In particular, ensure that supervisees feel they have had sufficient opportunities to reflect on their practice. Inspection report children’s home: SC485529 7

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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: SC485529 8

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Bridget Goddard, Ofsted Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC485529 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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