Children's Home run by Serenity Care Homes Ltd in Hampshire

Assurance visit report: SC487165 1 SC487165

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Information about this children’s home

The staff at this home care for children who have experienced trauma and dysfunction within their family environments, have difficulty regulating their emotions and behaviours and have experienced several care placements.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since August 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 the COVID-19 pandemic.

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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. Assurance visit report: SC487165 2

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The care of children

Since the last inspection, in May 2020, a decision was taken by the home’s leaders to amalgamate the two homes within the organisation in response to insufficient staffing. As a result, the children moved to the sister home located nearby. This was in line with the organisation’s COVID-19 contingency plan.

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The care of children

In July 2020 Ofsted made a variation to the home’s conditions of registration under section 13 of the Care Standards Act 2000. This was because there were no children living in the home and the home did not have a registered manager or full staff team.

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The care of children

The condition of the variation of registration is that the home ‘must inform Ofsted of their intention to admit children and young people three months before a child or young person will commence living at the home’. Leaders informed Ofsted of their intention to reopen the home in September 2020. Subsequently, one child has moved back to the home. This is a breach of the condition, although the guidance does make some allowance for exceptional circumstances.

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The care of children

Staff are currently providing care for one child. Since the last inspection, other children have also lived in the home. Therefore, this report will refer to the child and the children.

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The care of children

Some staff and the child have recently self-isolated for a period of two weeks because of COVID-19. Contingency planning and risk management in response to this were effective and well managed. The actions of the staff who moved into the home for the self-isolation period demonstrated their dedication and commitment to providing high-quality and child-centred care during this period.

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The care of children

The staff have encouraged and supported one child to follow his individual interests and maintain good day-to-day structure. Through the encouragement of staff, he continued to engage well with education, using online resources and work provided by the school. He has returned to school and his confidence in learning continues to grow.

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The care of children

The staff show a strong interest in children’s daily experiences and overall well- being. One child has been particularly active in helping the staff with general maintenance. This is building his confidence and providing him with useful skills that he can take into his adult life.

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The care of children

A child spoke about how much he values his relationships with the staff, which has helped him to adapt to the COVID-19 restrictions. However, children have said that they had been upset by not having a chance to say goodbye to staff who have left the home. A lack of attention by the staff and leaders to ensuring positive endings evidences insufficient insight into the importance of saying goodbye well. Assurance visit report: SC487165 3

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The safety of children

Staff place a strong emphasis on kindness, tolerance and respect. They use restorative measures to help to de-escalate tensions. Rewards and praise are routinely used by staff to promote positive behaviour. Consequently, the children are better equipped to understand and manage their emotions.

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The safety of children

The team sets boundaries that are warm and supportive. The child helps in the planning of his meals and decides with the staff what he will have for dinner. There are no set menus and meals are often home-cooked, promoting a home-like feel. Staff take time to teach cooking and food preparation skills. The informal teaching of cooking, budgeting and planning has helped the child to learn responsibility and self- reliance.

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The safety of children

A child said that he enjoyed living at this home and that the supportive approach that staff take when he is feeling angry has helped him. As a result, he feels more likely to make positive choices and talk to staff, rather than let tensions build. Staff have been open and honest about risks, including those created by the virus. This has promoted his understanding and has had a positive impact on his behaviour.

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The safety of children

Staff and the children have moved between the two homes in the organisation, creating consistency in approach. Staff know how to identify and report safeguarding concerns. Current child-related plans and assessments identify individual risks and vulnerabilities, and there are clear strategies in place to help reduce them. This includes a sufficient level of staff supervision, which is used effectively and positively to reduce risk.

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The safety of children

Pre-admission assessments reviewed by the inspector did not show robust consideration of children’s compatibility, and of the similar behaviours presented by the children. Concerns raised by a social worker did not form part of the evaluation. Managers did not explore in depth all the children’s known needs and risks. This shortfall contributed to instability for the other children in the home and disrupted endings for some children.

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The safety of children

The quality of care review has not been supplied to Ofsted. The requirement made at the last inspection relating to the use of monitoring and review systems has not been fully met. This is a repeated requirement alongside the additional requirements made.

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Leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, the previous registered manager has left and the home temporarily closed. This has led to a period of insecurity for the children and the staff. However, the hands-on approach by the newly appointed manager has helped the children and staff to adapt and settle. Assurance visit report: SC487165 4 Staff and the managers promote an inclusive culture in the home. This helps the children to safely explore their individuality and to develop a positive self-view.

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Leaders and managers

There is adequate staffing to meet the needs of the child within the solo model of care the organisation is working to. Recruitment is ongoing, and some strong candidates have been identified as potentially good fits for the organisation as it expands. Staff who spoke to the inspector said they receive regular supervision and that managers are approachable. However, not all the supervision records requested were available to view.

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Leaders and managers

The manager’s system for monitoring staff training is ineffective. Records are not kept up to date and show that some staff have not completed the organisation’s required training within the expected timescales. No evidence was provided to show that staff are first-aid trained.

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Leaders and managers

Staff spoke of feeling especially well supported by each other and by the managers during the uncertainties of COVID-19. The registered individual and newly appointed manager show enthusiasm and ambition to deliver sustained progress and to continue to develop the service in the best interests of children.

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) Repeat requirement 01/12/2020

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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. 01/12/2020 Assurance visit report: SC487165 5 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i))

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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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to ensuring that the manager has an up-to-date system for monitoring staff training and that staff have completed the organisation’s required training within the expected timescale. 01/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification. (Regulation 31 (2)(a)) 01/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. 01/12/2020 Assurance visit report: SC487165 6 After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

the system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(4)(a)(5))

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Recommendations

 A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)  Many children placed in homes may undergo a difficult transition and what should be simple aspects of their care take on a substantial significance in this context. Staff should provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming, supportive, and which provides appropriate boundaries in relation to their behaviour. Homes must also meet children’s basic day to day needs and physical necessities. Staff should seek to meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met – doing so is an important

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Recommendations

aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) In particular, ensure that when staff leave the home, their endings are planned, and that children have an opportunity to say goodbye. On the rare occasions when this may not be possible, the manager should ensure a letter or some form of outreach contact is provided to minimise the impact of abrupt departures on the children. Assurance visit report: SC487165 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Serenity Care Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Conkers Cottage, Brockhills Farm, Sway Road, Tiptoe, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 6FQ

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Inspector

Anne-Marie Davies, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC487165 8 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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