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

Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 1 SC480502 Registered provider: New Forest Care Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to four children aged up to 18 years old. The home is operated by a private organisation. According to the statement of purpose, the home caters for children who have complex emotional, behavioural and educational difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2014. He has handed in his notice and will leave the post in November 2021.

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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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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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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.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 11 February 2020

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/02/2020 Full Outstanding 12/03/2019 Full Outstanding 07/03/2018 Full Outstanding 28/02/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 3

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improvement to be good

Children have had variable experiences. Many of the long-standing staff have left. This has negatively impacted on the children who had built relationships with them.

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improvement to be good

The use of ‘banter’ as a prominent form of communication between the staff and children has eroded the boundaries between them. There is a lack of clear communication, and a social worker shared concerns that one child has started to use sarcasm and jokes as a form of communication since living at this home. Furthermore, the regulator has received anonymous complaints regarding the conduct and communication of the staff. The children do not receive consistent or appropriate communication from the staff.

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improvement to be good

The staff overshare personal information with the children. The absence of professional boundaries has resulted in a staff team that lacks professional awareness. This has impacted on the children, who have been burdened with personal information about the staff. Although leaders have raised this with the staff, the oversharing of personal information continued in front of the inspectors.

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improvement to be good

The children have attended the nearby school which is run by the organisation. They are making plans for their future education and have been supported to think about their future careers. They are encouraged to take steps towards independence. This begins with budgeting and cooking meals and, for one child, managing medical appointments. However, there is no suitably agreed process for the child to feed back the results from health appointments, which results in staff not always having the most accurate information about the child’s health.

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improvement to be good

The children maintain relationships with people who are important to them. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they have used a combination of video calls and face-to- face meetings, when restrictions have allowed. As a result, the children’s identity needs have been supported during the difficult lockdown periods.

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improvement to be good

One child feels that he has made progress. He describes feeling more able to manage strong feelings and talk about his emotions. Inspectors also found some examples where the staff have helped the children to tackle challenges through key- work sessions. However, these direct work sessions tend to be reactive rather than proactive.

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improvement to be good

The safeguarding culture is poor. One child was given unsupervised access to online gaming by a staff member during the night. Another child was provided with alcohol from staff members during a holiday. Furthermore, an incident occurred where one Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 4 child harmed another. Although the provider took appropriate action when each of these incidents happened, the fact that these serious incidents occurred is indicative of a weak safeguarding culture.

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improvement to be good

Insular practice has resulted in a culture where concerns which children or staff try to raise are not initially responded to appropriately. In one example, a child told the registered manager about concerns that they had. The registered manager’s response was punitive, and the child was not initially listened to. The child went on to tell a different senior member of staff, who listened and took the appropriate action.

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improvement to be good

Although the staff have received safeguarding training, they do not all recognise the poor practice within the team. Relationships between the staff have become overfamiliar. Furthermore, leaders and managers have not taken immediate action when some staff raised concerns. This further impacted on the insular practice, and more staff left the home.

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improvement to be good

The provider has been reviewing its approach towards the use of physical interventions. At this home, there has been a clear reduction in the use of restraint. The staff have gained greater skills in de-escalating behaviour without resorting to physical intervention. The children are also learning to manage their behaviour more effectively, which stands to better equip them for their future.

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improvement to be good

The provider’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been good. The children have relevant understanding of the restrictions. Staff and children alike have been provided with personal protective equipment and the home has been cleaned with a specialist machine. This has reduced the risk of infection.

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improvement to be good

The children currently have their belongings spread between two bedrooms each. Bedrooms are in a poor state and do not reflect a nurturing space for the children to relax in. Many areas of the home are dirty and require maintenance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager speaks passionately about working with the children. However, he has failed to lead his team effectively. A lack of good leadership and direction, along with inconsistent practice, has led to a reduction in the quality of the care that children receive. This has impacted negatively on the day-to-day running of the home and, consequently, the experiences of the children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff supervision is frequent. However, records are brief and do not include clear decisions or actions. This fails to provide the staff with opportunities for learning and it inhibits their development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Personal relationships have occurred between some of the staff, which has impacted poorly on the quality of care. The staff team became divided. Staff raised concerns during supervision sessions, or by directly writing to the registered manager and Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 5 responsible individual. However, these leaders did not respond to the information shared by staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

At least eight staff have left since the previous inspection. This has resulted in additional pressure and increased workloads for staff and managers. New staff have left during their probation, having only worked at the home for very short periods of time. Although recruitment is underway, there remains a significant number of staffing vacancies. This impacts on the staff, who are relied on to work overtime to fill gaps in the rotas.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Records about the children are not always updated. For example, a child’s health needs have changed several times over a nine-month period. The changes are not reflected in their records. As a result, the records fail to accurately describe the child’s needs and risk, which results in the staff being unaware of key changes to the child’s health.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

External monitoring is regular. However, the independent visitor frequently visits the home when the children are not there. This is a missed opportunity to regularly gain the views of the children. Furthermore, the actions made by the independent visitor are not swiftly addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager’s monitoring is insufficient. His reports lack reflection and analysis and fail to include feedback from the children or other key linked professionals. The reports are poorly written and include inappropriate language that blames the children and contains personal information about the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The shortfalls raised during this inspection were discussed with the provider. The responsible individual took immediate action to place himself regularly at the home to ensure that the shortfalls are addressed. This provided inspectors with reassurance that the provider is taking immediate action to ensure that the day-to- day running of the home is supported while the necessary changes are made. Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 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

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

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that children are helped to keep their bedrooms clean and tidy and that staff maintain a clean environment for the children to live in. Any maintenance issues must be swiftly addressed. 17 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b)(i)) 17 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— 17 October 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 7 mutual respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 8 the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x))

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)) 17 October 2021

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; 17 October 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 9 ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that children’s records are updated regularly to reflect accurate changes in their needs and how to meet them. 17 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the independent person must regularly speak to the staff and children living at the home. 17 October 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 10 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

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the language used in the report is of a professional standard and that the views of children, parents and professionals are included. 17 October 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. Specifically, write professionally, factually and avoid terms that blame children, such as ‘deliberate self-harm’. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC480502 11

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Sarah Olliver, Social Care Inspector Anne-Marie Davies, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC480502 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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