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

Inspection report children's home: SC461781 1 SC461781 Registered provider: New Forest Care Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

The children’s home provides residential care and accommodation for up to four children who have a learning disability and may have additional needs. The home offers an integrated service that includes therapy, education and care. The home is one of a number operated by this private provider.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2015.

p.1

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.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 4 September 2019

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC461781 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/09/2019 Full Good 19/03/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC461781 3

p.2

improvement to be good

Children generally build positive relationships with the staff. During this inspection, staff were observed to be attentive and nurturing in their interactions with the children. One social worker said that a child’s key worker was ‘very invested in him [the child] and he feels safe around her’. However, one member of staff spoke to the inspector in negative terms about a child and indicated that they did not have a positive relationship.

p.3

improvement to be good

The children are making good progress in their education. Some who have struggled with school attendance for prolonged periods are now overcoming their anxieties and engaging enthusiastically with their educational provision. The older children are supported to make college applications and given the support and encouragement they need to pursue their interests and career aspirations.

p.3

improvement to be good

The children’s progress in other aspects of their lives is mixed. In recent months, two children have left the home because managers and staff concluded that the children could no longer be kept safe at the home. The home’s statement of purpose indicates that children will not be excluded from the home, but during this inspection the responsible individual confirmed that there are exceptions to this rule.

p.3

improvement to be good

There are opportunities for children to express their views on how the home operates and children were observed to be fully engaged in planning activities for the school summer holidays. Children know about, and have made use of, the complaints process. A recent concern expressed by a child was treated as a complaint, but not investigated effectively. The complaint investigation report indicates that a member of staff, who may have known relevant information, was not interviewed as part of the investigation process. This was a missed opportunity for ensuring that the child’s concerns were fully addressed.

p.3

improvement to be good

The organisation provides access to a range of in-house professionals to support children’s well-being. These include therapists and a registered mental health nurse. The children engage in therapy to varying degrees.

p.3

improvement to be good

The home’s semi-independence annexe is a valuable resource. Some children, who have remained at the home for long periods of time, have developed valuable life skills while residing in the annexe and continuing to access support from the staff when needed.

p.3

improvement to be good

The staff and children have faced many challenges in recent months. This is partly due to the highly complex needs of some children and the disruption resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout this period, the staff have demonstrated resilience and a commitment to supporting the children to cope with the many restrictions imposed on them during the national lockdowns. Inspection report children's home: SC461781 4

p.3

improvement to be good

Practice relating to the protection of children has not been consistently good. On two occasions, one member of staff failed to implement the strategies in children’s placement plans and this resulted in the safety of two children being compromised. Managers within the organisation took action to address these shortfalls when they became apparent.

p.4

improvement to be good

There are some weaknesses in how managers respond to children making allegations about staff members. In one incident, an on-call manager did not take effective action when an allegation was made by a child. This shortfall was compounded by the failure of a staff member to make a written record of the incident, and there was a delay in senior managers becoming aware of the incident. There was also a delay in making a referral to the designated officer when an allegation was made, and the child was interviewed about the incident before consultation with the LADO took place.

p.4

improvement to be good

Despite these shortfalls, children say that they feel safe at the home and those children spoken to during this inspection said that they felt confident in talking to staff about any worries or concerns they may have. One member of staff took a creative approach to engaging a child in discussion about the risk he faced when going missing and experimenting with illegal substances.

p.4

improvement to be good

There has been a consistently good response to children who go missing from the home. Staff have taken a proactive approach to locating missing children, sometimes looking for one child in a location that could have compromised their own safety. Managers and staff have also taken a proactive approach to engaging other agencies when concerns for the safety and welfare of missing children begin to escalate.

p.4

improvement to be good

Since Ofsted undertook a monitoring visit to the home in May 2021, managers and staff have reflected further on the use of physical restraint to manage children’s behaviour. There is now greater consideration given to using de-escalation techniques when a child’s behaviour could result in harm to themselves or others. More consideration is also being given to the potential harm of restraining children at ground level.

p.4

improvement to be good

Despite these improvements, the recording of physical intervention is still not thorough. Records do not always detail the child’s behaviour or how the member of staff was holding a child. There is sometimes no description of the de-escalation attempts being made. Some restraint reports reviewed during this inspection did not demonstrate that the registered manager had spoken to the staff involved in the restraint incident within 48 hours. This is a missed opportunity to learn from the Inspection report children's home: SC461781 5 incident and explore more effective ways of supporting children during times of crisis.

p.4

good

The registered manager demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting vulnerable children and helping them overcome the trauma of negative childhood experiences. However, the complex needs of some of the children recently placed at the home have presented challenges that have not always been managed effectively. This has had a negative impact on staff morale and there have been times when tension in the staff team has hindered their ability to work collaboratively.

p.5

good

These difficulties have been acknowledged by senior managers in the organisation and there are now measures in place to raise the standard of practice. The responsible individual has stated that there will be no further admissions to the home until the home is fully staffed and staff have had the opportunity to reflect and recover from recent challenging circumstances.

p.5

good

The admissions process has not been entirely effective in ensuring children’s needs will be met. Despite there being an established staff team at the home, their individual and collective experience, knowledge and skills were not considered prior to a highly vulnerable child, with complex needs, being admitted. Over time, it became apparent that this was an unsuitable placement, and the child could not be kept safe. In one case, the assessment for a child’s suitability for admission to the home contained generic statements rather than focusing on how the specific needs of the child would be met.

p.5

good

The registered manager keeps the home’s location assessment under review. However, information known to some staff, regarding substance misuse and criminal activity in the area, has not been incorporated into the assessment. This has hindered the process for making safe decisions about which children come to live at the home.

p.5

good

Three of the requirements made at the monitoring visit in May 2021 have not been fully met. They are therefore repeated in this report. Not meeting these requirements can be partly attributed to not having strong quality of care monitoring systems at the home. For example, it had not been identified by senior managers that staff were not consistently being de-briefed following an incident involving the physical restraint of a child.

p.5

good

Although some staff say that they have not always been listened to by senior managers, all of those spoken to at this inspection said that the situation was improving. The staff welcome the responsible individual spending more time at the home and are positive about the appointment of one of their colleagues as a new team leader. This appointment will strengthen management accountability in the Inspection report children's home: SC461781 6 home. The registered manager also feels that he is receiving appropriate levels of support.

p.5

good

The quality of staff supervision has improved and is taking place regularly. Staff have been given the opportunity to reflect on recent difficulties and are encouraged to share their thoughts on how children can be safeguarded.

p.6

good

Some areas of the home are in need of new furniture and redecoration. This has been identified by the registered manager, and the responsible individual gave assurances that maintenance issues are now being addressed. Some areas of the home, particularly the bathrooms, were not clean. These shortfalls mean that at the time of this inspection, in places, the home did not provide a homely and welcoming environment. Inspection report children's home: SC461781 7

p.6

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.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 24/09/2021

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which— is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children's home from abuse or neglect; and sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

p.7

Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located; provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(d))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This is with particular reference to ensuring the local authority designated officer is consulted prior to commencing internal investigations into allegations made against staff and ensuring records are kept of discussions with social workers regarding safeguarding matters. 24/09/2021

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out— 24/09/2021 Inspection report children's home: SC461781 8 how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children's home; and the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.7

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—

p.8

Requirement Due date

details of the child's behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure;

p.8

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")— has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35(1)(a)(b)(3)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand how children's previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(ix)) 24/09/2021

p.8

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. 24/09/2021 Inspection report children's home: SC461781 9 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff—

p.8

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; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare.

p.9

Requirement Due date

This is with particular reference to ensuring that strategies for keeping children safe, specified in their plans and risk assessments, are implemented in practice, and taking appropriate action when a child makes an allegation against a member of staff.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children's home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

p.9

Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46(1)(2))

p.9

Requirement Due date

This is with particular reference to ensuring that staff are consulted when the appropriateness of the home’s location is reviewed. 24/09/2021

p.9

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home provides a homely, domestic environment which complies with relevant health and safety legislation. In particular, ensure that all areas of the home are kept clean. (Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards, page 15 paragraph 3.9) Inspection report children's home: SC461781 10  The registered person should ensure that the information set out in the statement of purpose provides clarity regarding the circumstances in which a child may be excluded from the home. (Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards, page 15 paragraph 3.6)

p.9

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when children share concerns or make a complaint the issue is fully investigated. (Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards, page 22 paragraph 4.13)

p.10

Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child's assessed needs and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. This is with particular reference to assessing whether the staff have the appropriate experience and skills to meet the needs of children being referred and that suitability assessments are specific to the child being referred. (Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards, page 56 paragraph 11.4)

p.10

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: SC461781 11

p.10

Children's home details

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

p.11

Inspector

Stephen Collett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC461781 12 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.11

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.12

Inspector

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

p.12

Inspector

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

p.12