Children's Home run by Solent Child Care Limited in Hampshire

Inspection report children's home: 1247384 1 Registered provider: Solent Child Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a private organisation. The home provides care and accommodation for up to two children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The staff are referred to as ‘adults’ in this report.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in May 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 1247384 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/03/2020 Full Outstanding 03/12/2018 Full Outstanding 19/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 31/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 1247384 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager and staff are known collectively as adults. They are exceptionally skilled, and they provide outstanding care to children. Adults understand the impact of early childhood experiences on children’s lives and how these experiences affect children’s ability to develop and maintain healthy relationships. This knowledge informs adult practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have secure relationships with the adults that care for them. There is a strong sense of belonging which helps children to care and take pride in their home and achievements. When talking about the adults one child said, ‘They are like my other family.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make excellent progress, taking into consideration their past experiences. Children benefit from a stable team of adults who understand the importance of building and maintaining positive relationships. The use of therapy and a parenting model of practice help children to develop secure relationships with the adults. This helps children approach adults and confidently discuss their concerns. Children enjoy play and share this fulfilment with adults.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Adults use creative, child-centred methods to plan children’s daily educational activities. These encourage children to engage and enjoy school. As a result, children have made outstanding achievements in their education. One child has made remarkable progress by increasing his attendance and settling into school. Another child has been without an educational placement. Adults have maintained continuity in ensuring that an extensive amount of the child’s educational curriculum has been successfully studied.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There is excellent attention given to children’s health needs. Adults ensure that children are given emotional and psychological help when needed. Adults use the PACE (playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy) parenting model to help children deal with their emotional and psychological needs. Children have access to mental health practitioners. When needed, they also benefit from support from adults who receive guidance from qualified practitioners.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Adults acknowledge the importance of capturing children’s voices and they help children express their views and ideas. Children feel listened to. Children engage in ‘family meetings’ and are confident in having individual discussions with adults outside of scheduled sessions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children take part in a variety of enriching and exciting activities. These encourage them to develop confidence, an awareness of their surroundings and give them opportunities to develop new social skills. A child said, ‘The best thing about being here is that I get to do many different activities.’ Inspection report children's home: 1247384 4 The adults are motivated and encourage a sense of pride in the children. This helps children to progress and achieve their goals. Adults successfully support children to develop their independence skills and prepare them for different stages of development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Adults recognise the value of continued family relationships. Children are sensitively supported in having time with family and other individuals who are important to them.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Adults create and consistently implement high-quality risk assessments and risk- management processes. Adults have well-developed knowledge about how to safeguard children. They apply this excellent understanding when reviewing children’s risk assessments and plans. This enables adults to remain vigilant and reduces potential risks for children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Children do not go missing. This is due to the trusting relationships adults and children share. Children access their local community with adults most of the time. Some children follow clearly laid out steps towards independence, including accessing the local area by themselves in a planned and safe way. This approach helps children build their confidence and keep themselves safe. One child said, ‘I feel safe. When I go running alone, I always come back on time.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Adults maintain clear boundaries and consistency in their approach. This brings a sense of security to the children. Children know the house rules, routines and expectations. Any sanctions used remain appropriate and proportionate. Any incidents are skilfully managed and reviewed by adults and training facilitators. After incidents, excellent debriefs are held with adults and children. The depth of these promotes learning and change of practice if needed.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

The organisation uses safer recruitment procedures effectively when employing adults. Individuals who work in the home have been suitably checked. This promotes the safety of children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Professionals from other agencies are consistently positive about their relationships with the adults and about the progress that the children make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is passionate and motivational. She knows the children and the adult team well. Her enthusiasm and support inspire the adults, who appreciate her role modelling of good practice and care. One adult team member said, ‘I like my manager because she cares.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has ensured that effective processes are in place to monitor the progress of children. Children’s successes and achievements are shared with social workers. The registered manager has high expectations of the children and challenges any decisions that might have a negative impact on children’s Inspection report children's home: 1247384 5 development. She takes action if children are not receiving the services they require. This ensures the care of children is not hindered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders and the registered manager share a clear vision. They have a plan in place that shows how high standards of practice will be achieved and maintained. However, some areas of the interior of the home require redecoration. In addition, a greenhouse structure within the garden, which is in direct view from a child’s bedroom, requires maintenance and repair. Some doorways in the home show cracks and need reinforcing due to damage from the heavy fire doors which are in place. These shortfalls detract from an otherwise homely environment for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The workforce development plan is exceptional, and adults are devoted to their continued professional development. High-quality training is provided. Leaders and managers ensure that the knowledge gained by adults is embedded in their daily practice and children’s experiences. This helps adults to develop excellent skills to support children manage their complex needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Adults, including the registered manager, receive regular and effective supervision. New adult team members receive frequent supervision sessions which provide guidance that is tailored to develop their skills. Supervision sessions are supplemented by adult team meetings and clinical supervision. These focus on recognising good practice and exploring the use of models of practice to improve children’s lives. One adult team member said, ‘These sessions help us not to just focus on the behaviour presented by the child, but to think of what the child is communicating through the behaviour.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers gather feedback from a variety of sources. This helps them to address any issues raised and identify areas of development. On one occasion, information was written about the organisation and adults on a public forum. Although this matter was investigated by the provider, the complaint policy was not followed in full.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager maintains very good communication with other agencies to ensure that plans are implemented. Advocates are made available to address issues on behalf of children. This ensures children have access to help and support from independent adults. Inspection report children's home: 1247384 6

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii)) 31 August 2021

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the procedure must provide that no person who is the subject of a complaint takes any part in its consideration or investigation, except at the informal resolution stage if the registered person considers it appropriate.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (1) (2) (3)) 31 August 2021 Inspection report children's home: 1247384 7

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children's home: 1247384 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Solent Child Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 9 St Georges Yard, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7LW

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Charlotte Tanner

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Inspectors

Alphie Khumalo, Social Care Inspector Anna Williams, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report children's home: 1247384 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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