Children's Home run by The Serendipity Centre Limited in Hampshire

Assurance visit report: SC485423 1 SC485423

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to five children. It is privately owned by an organisation which has other homes and an educational setting in the vicinity.

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Information about this children’s home

This home has not had a registered manager since 13 March 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Visit dates: 30 September to 1 October 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 13 November 2019

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during COVID-19. Assurance visit report: SC485423 2

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

Children are making good progress due to the nurturing support and guidance staff provide. A change in the reward system to promote the children’s self-esteem has been effective.

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The care of children

The children have enjoyed a range of activities, which has reduced the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions. The children enjoyed a sports day in the home’s grounds and a ‘prom’ to celebrate a child leaving the school. The staff also helped the children to support their neighbours during the pandemic.

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The care of children

The children attend the organisation’s school and make good progress in their education. One child now attends college one day a week, which is a significant achievement for her. She has formed positive relationships with her peers.

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The care of children

A strength of the home is the therapy team, which provides consultation to the staff team and responds to any issues identified by the staff. This support, along with the direct work with the children, enables staff to help the children manage their emotions more effectively.

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The care of children

The staff support children when they move on from the home by working closely with professionals and services to provide the necessary information about the child’s needs. The staff continued to support a child after he moved on from the home with visits and calls. This helped him to achieve a positive move.

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The safety of children

Leaders and managers respond to safeguarding concerns and take immediate action to safeguard the children. They respond appropriately to allegations made by children and cooperate with external professionals, implementing any agreed actions.

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The safety of children

Discussions between staff and children are effective in teaching children to learn important messages, such as internet safety and how to keep themselves safe in the community. The staff are vigilant in monitoring the safe use of social media and acting to protect children from any risks.

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The safety of children

The staff discuss children’s behaviour at team meetings. They complete a daily record of the children’s behaviour and their responses; this is shared at team meetings with the wider staff team and assistant psychologist. However, this information is not analysed. This is a missed opportunity for senior managers to evaluate and review behaviour strategies. Assurance visit report: SC485423 3 The staff adhere to children’s risk assessments and care plans. Incidents are generally recorded well but this is not consistent. Following one incident, a staff member did not detail the child’s behaviour leading up to the incident. In addition, the debrief with the child failed to consider all aspects of this event. This meant that leaders and managers were unable to evaluate fully any lessons learned. This is an area that senior managers have recognised and are addressing in their training plan.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has addressed the requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection. The staff receive relevant training prior to a child moving in. The potential impact on the children already living in the home of any child moving in is considered. Any difficulties are addressed with staff and are included in the children’s plans and risk assessments.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is well respected and valued by the staff. Those spoken to were positive about the changes she has implemented. Social workers also reported positively about the improvements in communication and professional relationships.

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Leaders and managers

There have been few complaints since the last inspection. When they do occur, children are able to express their views and any concerns are taken seriously, investigated and the child informed of the outcome. Any issues are shared with the staff team.

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Leaders and managers

A core team of regular staff is in place. This means that agency staff are rarely used. The level of staffing is such that the children’s needs can be met and they are able to access necessary appointments and activities. The staff have been creative in ensuring that children have been able to enjoy activities at the home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and once restrictions eased, they introduced safe, more-usual activities.

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Leaders and managers

Team meetings and supervision discussions are child focused as well as opportunities to address staff development. However, not all staff have had regular supervision in line with the organisation’s policy. This means that staff are not provided with formal, protected time to share essential information and reflect on their practice. Assurance visit report: SC485423 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

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience

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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;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35 (3)(a)(ii)(v)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 30/12/2020 Assurance visit report: SC485423 5

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’ page 62, paragraph 14.4), in particular ensure strategies are clearly recorded with analysis and review.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Serendipity Centre Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1ST Floor, Goodlands House, St. Lukes Close, Hedge End, Southampton SO30 2US

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Inspector

Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC485423 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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Inspector

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