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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC402135 1 SC402135

p.1

New Forest Care

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children. According to the statement of purpose, the home specialises in caring for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties and mental health needs, such as deliberate self-harm, depression, anxiety and associated challenges. The age range of children is not specified.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2020.

p.1

This monitoring visit

An assurance visit was undertaken on 12 October 2020 and a number of serious and widespread concerns were identified. A compliance notice was issued under regulation 35 in relation to behaviour management practice and nine further requirements were made. As a result, a restriction of accommodation notice was served on this provider. A restriction of accommodation notice prohibits the provider from admitting any more children to this home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

A further monitoring visit was undertaken on 18 November 2020. This monitoring visit was undertaken to monitor the progress made in response to the regulatory breaches that led to the restriction of accommodation notice. Insufficient progress was made and, therefore, the restriction of accommodation remained in place.

p.1

This monitoring visit

A further monitoring inspection took place on 7 January 2021. Yet again, insufficient progress was made by the provider and a further restriction of accommodation notice was issued on 11 January 2021.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This latest monitoring visit took place to assess the progress that the provider has made in relation to the serious concerns that led to the restriction of accommodation notice. These concerns related to practice, policy and recording in relation to the use of physical interventions. Staff had insufficient training and experience to deliver Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC402135 2 care and support to children with psychiatric disorders. The home’s statement of purpose did not specify the qualifications and experience of the staff team. Poor practice was evident in relation to care planning with regard to a child who was placed in an unregistered premises operated by the provider. There were shortfalls in relation to how the manager acts on and investigates safeguarding concerns. The leadership and management of the home did not demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the regulations or oversight of care practice in the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This inspection was undertaken in line with Ofsted guidance on COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions. The inspector reviewed some documents remotely and also spent time on site interviewing the manager and staff, and also spoke to the child currently living in the home.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff have not used any form of physical intervention since the last inspection on 7 January 2021. An improved behaviour management policy now clarifies that physical intervention will only be used to prevent harm to any person, or serious damage to property. Staff training has been refreshed with regard to behaviour management practice and the impact of this training has been evaluated by the registered manager.

p.2

This monitoring visit

New systems are in place to record behaviour incidents. Staff have had training in using these systems and managers demonstrate better oversight of incident records. This ensures that staff describe the positive interventions that they have used to help de-escalate situations. Staff now record reflective accounts of how incidents are managed and these are reviewed by the manager to explore any learning. The views and experiences of children are also considered, to inform any learning from behaviour incidents.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The home has access to two registered mental health nurses. They now review all individual behaviour management plans to ensure that any health issues are fully considered. This reduces the risk that children suffer harm as a result of the use of physical intervention.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The provider has amended the home’s statement of purpose to list the qualifications and experience of staff. It has also been amended to more clearly define the range of needs that the home caters for in relation to children’s mental health. The registered mental health nurses have delivered training to staff to help them better understand these needs. The nurses are also available around the clock to provide consultation and support to staff if they are concerned about the mental health or well-being of children. The registered nurses are suitably qualified, experienced and have good links to wider health services such as psychiatric and paediatric healthcare specialists. They also undertake direct work with children. This ensures that the staff are able to meet the range of mental health needs of children that are outlined in the home’s statement of purpose.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The registered manager of the home has produced reflective accounts in relation to mistakes regarding the failure to work in partnership with the placing social worker, Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC402135 3 to assess the impact and risks associated with moving a child from the home into unregistered premises. Concerns remain that the registered manager has not yet been able to put this learning into practice. For example, the communication with a placing social worker in respect of safe staffing levels in place to supervise a child was vague. The manager also failed to consider the likely emotional impact of a child’s visit to a new home when considering staffing levels. There was no clear rationale as to how decisions about safe staffing levels are informed by an understanding of changing risk factors.

p.2

This monitoring visit

It is of concern that there was a recent incident where the registered manager failed to act upon information shared by a staff member that warranted further investigation into potential safeguarding concerns.

p.3

This monitoring visit

The new responsible individual has improved oversight of the performance of the registered manager and care practice in relation to behaviour management and safeguarding. The registered manager has a clear development plan with performance targets which is regularly reviewed. This is a work in progress and despite some improvements, the registered manager does not yet demonstrate that he has the knowledge and capacity to manage the home without significant support and senior management oversight.

p.3

This monitoring visit

The staff are positive about the support that they provide to each other and the support that they get from the manager. They talk passionately about their work with children and are able to articulate how they make use of therapeutic approaches to help children make progress.

p.3

This monitoring visit

The child in the home has positive and trusting relationships with staff and he spoke positively about the care he has received.

p.3

This monitoring visit

Despite the continued concerns in relation to practice as outlined in this report, it is deemed that sufficient improvements have been made to lift the restriction of accommodation notice. This is primarily due to improved oversight of the practice of the registered manager by the responsible individual, improved training, monitoring and recording of behaviour management practice, and enhanced support to staff in relation to understanding and managing mental health concerns.

p.3

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 26/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/06/2019 Full Good 13/11/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/01/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC402135 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.4

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, take into account the emotional impact on children leaving the home to inform the level of care and support that they need to help them move on safely and positively. 7 April 2021

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.4

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare.

p.4

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1)(a) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(vi))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the manager of the home acts upon and investigates information of concern to ascertain if there are safeguarding concerns that need to be addressed. 7 April 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC402135 5 A person may only manage a children’s home if—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the person is of integrity and good character;

p.5

Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children.

p.5

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 28 (1)(a)(b)(i)) 7 April 2021

p.5

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.

p.5

Information about this inspection

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

p.5

Children’s home details

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

p.5

Inspector

Lee Kirwin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC402135 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.

p.5

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6