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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC461781 1 SC461781

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New Forest Care

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home provides residential care and accommodation for up to four children who have a learning disability and may have additional needs. The home offers an integrated service that includes therapy, education and care. The home is one of a number operated by this private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2015.

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This monitoring inspection

This inspection was conducted remotely because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The inspector reviewed documentary evidence submitted by the registered manager. In addition, telephone interviews were conducted with the registered manager, the responsible individual and two members of staff. One young adult and a child at the home were also spoken to, and two social workers provided their professional views about the quality of care provided.

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This monitoring inspection

The purpose of this monitoring inspection was to examine the effectiveness of the care and to evaluate practice regarding the physical restraint of children. This followed a notification from the provider and from information contained in the April 2020 independent visitor’s report. In addition, a key focus of this visit was to evaluate the care being provided to a young adult who is living in a connected annex to the home.

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This monitoring inspection

Managers and staff have shown great commitment to caring for a young adult who turned 18 in recent months. However, the complexity of the young adult’s needs means that the home is no longer a suitable environment. This is acknowledged by the registered manager, who recognises the negative impact the situation is having on staff and, to a lesser extent, the children living at the home. The registered manager has been proactive in trying to ensure that suitable transition arrangements Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC461781 2 are made for the young adult, but frequent delays attributable to the placing authority have resulted in the young adult’s needs not being met for an extended period.

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This monitoring inspection

Despite being fully aware of the circumstances, senior managers in the organisation have not escalated the concerns to a higher level within the young adult’s placing authority.

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This monitoring inspection

The staff have shown resilience despite facing a range of challenges. They feel well supported and said that they benefit from being able to discuss strategies for caring for the children and young people with other childcare professionals working for the organisation.

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This monitoring inspection

The plans and strategies for caring for the young adult are kept under review according to the changing level of need. A protocol has been agreed with relevant agencies for responding to allegations made against staff. This protocol gives the provider some guidance in deciding on the next steps following an allegation. However, this approach has contributed towards a diminishing lack of professional curiosity, and internal investigations sometimes lack rigour. Furthermore, internal investigations are not adequately recorded or suitably scrutinised by senior managers within the organisation.

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This monitoring inspection

The organisation provides a comprehensive range of training opportunities for staff, but this does not consistently include specific training related to the individual needs of children and young adults. The training records provided to the inspector did not indicate that staff receive specific training focused on the care of children with learning disabilities. Other shortfalls in the delivery and completion of specific training include formalised training related to developing staff awareness of foetal alcohol syndrome and working with children with a diagnosis of epilepsy.

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This monitoring inspection

The home’s independent visitor report for April 2020 references significant shortfalls in the quality of physical intervention reports. In recent weeks, the registered manager has begun to address this issue through discussions at team meetings. However, this approach has not resulted in improved standards of recording. Physical intervention reports completed during June 2020 do not consistently describe the child’s behaviour at the point at which physical intervention was initiated. Clear descriptions of how staff were trying to de-escalate the situation are not recorded. The physical intervention reports do not indicate that staff have always demonstrated a sense of urgency in responding to injuries children may have received during a physical intervention.

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This monitoring inspection

There has been a consistently high number of physical restraints, including ground- level holds, of children at the home in recent weeks. The registered manager partly attributes this to children’s increasing anxiety resulting from restrictions implemented in response to COVID-19. The current standard of reporting does not allow for detailed scrutiny and analysis of staff practice in relation to physical intervention. There is the potential for poor practice to go unchallenged in these circumstances. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC461781 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/09/2019 Full Good 19/03/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC461781 4

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, senior managers should escalate their concerns regarding placing authority transition planning if the registered manager’s intervention has not resolved matters. 21/07/2020

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. (Regulation 13(1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that internal investigations into allegations made against staff are comprehensive and have been quality assured by the senior leadership team. 21/07/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33(4)(a)) 21/07/2020

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Requirement Due date

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—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; 21/07/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC461781 5 details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 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. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(ii)(v)(vii)(viii))

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: New Forest Care Ltd, West Shore House, West Street, Hythe, Southampton, Hampshire SO45 6AA

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Inspector

Stephen Collett, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC461781 6 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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