Children's Home run by Priory Education Services Limited in Hampshire

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home. Its statement of purpose states that the home can provide care and accommodation for up to three children or young people aged five to 17 (18 if in education) with emotional and behavioural difficulties, where associated moderate learning difficulties and low-risk mental health concerns may be contributors.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: Not previously inspected

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Not previously inspected

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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. 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: 2585129 2

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The care of children

This home was registered in May 2020. The registered manager took time to carefully consider referrals so that good placement matches were made. The first child arrived in September 2020 and the second child arrived in November 2020. Individual impact risk assessments are highly detailed and provide a clear rationale around decision-making, including individual risks, age differences and the impact of the children on each other.

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The care of children

Taking both children’s individual challenges and personalities into account, neither is deemed by the admission process to pose significant risk to the other or likely to encourage peer-to-peer risk-taking behaviours. Although it is early days, this can already be seen in the absence of missing incidents and a decrease in self-harm incidents.

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The care of children

Both children are fully engaged in their education and attend appropriate educational establishments. Attendance levels are excellent. Feedback from schools is very positive, with one child now being more focused and engaged than they were before and earning a student of the week award.

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The care of children

The staff and the children enjoy meaningful and trusting relationships. The children have quickly learned to trust the staff and enjoy the time they spend together. The children benefit from consistent boundaries and a staff team that understands their needs.

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The care of children

The children say they can talk freely and openly with staff about any concerns or issues. The children can share their views about their care, the staff and the home. These conversations often happen in a relaxed and informal way, for example around the dinner table or when out on an activity. More formal sessions also take place, such as key-working meetings, where individual goals are reviewed.

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The care of children

In the short time that the children have been at this home, the staff have helped them to understand the current COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and how to keep safe and healthy. The registered manager has ensured that there is a Covid-19 site- secure risk assessment and compliance procedure in place, that supports both staff and visitor practice.

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The safety of children

The staff understand how to manage risk and keep children safe. They have up-to- date knowledge of a broad and relevant range of safeguarding matters. Risk assessments and management plans are dynamic and offer clear guidance to the staff in response to the needs of the children.

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The safety of children

The registered manager, deputy manager and staff team have all received child- protection and safeguarding training. They have developed good relationships with external safeguarding agencies to ensure that all concerns and allegations are reported and managed in accordance with local safeguarding procedures. If Assurance visit report: 2585129 3 required, individual protocols agreed with safeguarding agencies have been put in place, such as managing allegations made by a child.

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The safety of children

Personalised plans and approaches address specific vulnerabilities and guide the staff on what to do. The staff set appropriate boundaries that are warm and supportive, and they have clear expectations. As a result, the children are beginning to learn to self-regulate their emotions and behaviours.

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The safety of children

The recording of all incidents including restraint is well organised and detailed and shows effective monitoring. There is consistent practice in ensuring that the child and the staff members involved all have time to reflect, following an incident. The registered manager has systems in place to analyse and evaluate all incidents monthly. This enables the registered manager to look at patterns and trends and to implement change in managing behaviours, if the need is identified.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager is suitably qualified, skilled and experienced. He is supported by a deputy manager who has a great amount of knowledge and experience in supporting managers and leaders. Together, they are a strong and effective leadership team.

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Leaders and managers

Contingency planning and risk assessment in response to COVID-19 are excellent. The staff clearly understand these plans and apply them appropriately.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager and leaders promote an inclusive culture in the home. This supports the children to start exploring their individuality and develop a positive self- view.

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Leaders and managers

Accessing training has proved a challenge for the registered manager. Online training has replaced much face-to-face training. Additional training support can be seen in staff meetings when whole-group discussions take place.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager and the provider have ensured that there are robust internal and external monitoring processes in place. The registered manager responds to recommendations made, such as ensuring that records of restraints are written more descriptively. The registered manager took immediate action to address this recommendation.

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Leaders and managers

Both the registered manager and the deputy manager have clear development goals for the home. These include embedding the staff team, streamlining some records and commencing strong ‘life’ and ‘journey’ journals with the children.

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Leaders and managers

This visit resulted in no requirements or recommendations. Assurance visit report: 2585129 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Priory Education Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Priory Group, 80 Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UD

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Inspector

Liz Driver, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2585129 5 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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