Children's Home run by New Forest Care Limited in Hampshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC068046 1 SC068046 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

A private company owns the home. Its statement of purpose states that it provides care for one child with social and/or emotional difficulties. The young person living at the home is able to attend the organisation’s school. The home is located within easy reach of community resources and services.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted on 23 April 2017.

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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 good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC068046 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2019 Full Good 25/09/2018 Full Good 28/11/2017 Full Good 20/03/2017 Interim Not judged Inspection report children’s home: SC068046 3

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outstanding

The child currently living at this home has made exceptional progress across all aspects or their life. This can be attributed to the high standard of care being delivered and the quality of the trusting relationships that have developed between the staff and the child. The child has been able to form a strong bond with the staff and consequently develop a sense of stability, security and belonging. One professional commented ‘the staff have enabled [name] to become the child I knew they always could be’.

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outstanding

A sensitive and caring approach has been taken to helping the child manage any anxieties that may have developed prior to moving to the home. Consequently, the child has made excellent progress in terms of school attendance and learning. The staff liaise effectively with teaching staff to ensure that appropriate levels of support are given whenever there are changes in the school routine.

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outstanding

The excellent care being provided has also ensured that the child has benefited from adopting a healthy lifestyle. The child has made excellent progress in terms of maintaining a healthy diet, taking exercise and developing new interests. The staff are acutely aware of the potential for the child to become isolated from other children and have, therefore, encouraged friendships with children from other homes run by the organisation. This has provided opportunities for the child to develop social skills and engage in a range of recreational activities.

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outstanding

The organisation provides access to a range of childcare professionals, including a team of therapists and mental health specialists. The child has engaged with some of these services, but it is the standard of care provided by the care staff that has had the greatest impact on the child’s emotional well-being.

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outstanding

There is a strong commitment to ensuring that the child’s voice is heard in terms of how the home is run and in decisions affecting the day-to-day care being provided. The child is consulted regarding care planning decisions and the registered manager has taken steps to ensure that the child could be supported by an independent advocate in more formal care planning processes.

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outstanding

The importance of enabling children to gain independence skills is recognised at this home. The child is making good progress in terms of acquiring domestic and life skills in preparation for adulthood. The staff are focused on how they can assist the child to become more confident when not in the company of a staff member. As a result, staff are now implementing a range of creative solutions to support this aspect of promoting the child’s independence.

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outstanding

The staff are familiar with the model of care provided at the home, and they can give examples of how their training has enabled them to implement the model to Inspection report children’s home: SC068046 4 support the child. This approach ensures that the staff maintain well-established boundaries and expectations of positive behaviour. The excellent progress made by the child can be largely attributed to there being a consistent staff team that knows the child exceptionally well.

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

The staff have used their knowledge and skills to build a strong, trusting relationship with the child. They have a clear understanding of the child’s vulnerabilities and associated risks. The child feels safe and secure at the home and has the confidence to speak about some of the difficulties experienced in the past.

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

There is a well-developed safeguarding culture established in the home. Staff demonstrate professional curiosity and question how changing circumstances, such as contact with adults outside the home, could impact on the child’s well-being. The child’s safety is central to the care being provided.

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

Overall, risk management processes are clear and effective. Risk assessments succinctly describe the concerns that could result in the child coming to harm. They contain detailed strategies for the staff to follow to mitigate against the risk. One shortfall was identified in respect of the lone working risk assessment, which did not take into account how the child would manage if the lone working member of staff became incapacitated.

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

The child has received very good support to maintain positive behaviour and manage frustration and anger effectively. The key to this has been involving the child in developing guidance for the staff to follow in the event of challenging situations occurring. As a result, there has been a significant reduction in the number of serious incidents resulting in the staff using physical intervention to support the child. On the few occasions where physical intervention has been used over the last year, steps were taken to ensure that the staff and child were subsequently able to reflect and learn from the incident.

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

Since the last inspection in May 2019, there was one isolated occasion when managers did not take quick and decisive action when it became apparent a child was placing themselves and others at risk of harm. Once the concern had been addressed, the registered manager undertook a review of how the situation was managed. This review did not reflect on one of the underlying causes of the subsequent safeguarding concern. It is not yet apparent whether senior managers have concluded a review of one of the company policies related to this matter.

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

The staff have a clear understanding of the actions they should take if they have concerns for the child’s welfare. When child protection concerns are identified, effective communication with the relevant safeguarding agencies takes place. The registered manager is proactive in ensuring that external professionals are kept informed of all potential safeguarding matters. Records pertaining to safeguarding concerns are maintained to an exceptionally high standard. Inspection report children’s home: SC068046 5 The child is being supported to develop an awareness of how to keep safe online and recognise the characteristics of healthy relationships. Many of these issues are addressed during lessons at the organisation’s school, where the child attends full time. The staff regularly consult teaching staff to ensure that a consistent approach is taken so that the child has the knowledge and skills needed to keep safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by a highly competent and skilled registered manager. He leads a stable and experienced staff team that is committed to maintaining high standards of care. The registered manager prioritises the professional development of his staff, who take pride in their work and are motivated by seeing the child make good progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a strong emphasis on ensuring that the staff have the required knowledge and skills to meet the specific needs of the child. Prior to the child being admitted, the registered manager identified any gaps in the collective knowledge of the team and ensured that training was provided to address this. This meant that the staff were able to support the child effectively from the day of admission.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager keeps himself informed of the latest research and practice developments related to the child’s developmental needs. This is then shared with the staff in team meetings and consensus is reached around adaptations that can be made to their day-to-day practice. This learning culture is a key factor underpinning the child’s progress at this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The quality of care monitoring systems is strong and effective. The registered manager reviews all serious incidents and key areas of practice, such as the quality of key-work sessions undertaken with the child. This good practice has filtered down to staff members, with the team leader undertaking reviews of case records. Management monitoring is enhanced by using observed practice sessions. This enables the staff to receive feedback on their practice and interactions with the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The child’s progress is also subject to effective monitoring. Six-monthly multi- disciplinary reports on the child’s progress clearly identify how the aims of the placement are being met, and how the child has progressed towards meeting the targets set at the end of the last period. The tone of these reports indicates that the child is highly valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The standard of care planning is high. Exceptional care was taken when planning how the child would move to the home and what the priorities would be in terms of helping the child to settle. The home’s care plans take into account the actions agreed at looked after child review meetings, and this minimises the potential for delay in meeting the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff receive regular, high-quality supervision. During these meetings, the staff member’s relationship with the child is explored and there is always an opportunity Inspection report children’s home: SC068046 6 to reflect on any emerging safeguarding issues. Supervision meetings also provide an appropriate level of professional challenge to the staff member. The approach is indicative of a home where the need to continuously improve is embedded in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager takes ownership of the home and has a clear vision of how children will be supported to achieve the best possible outcomes. He has the experience and skills to challenge other professionals effectively, including those within his own organisation, when decisions are being made that could have a negative impact on the child. The registered manager’s strong leadership skills mean that his team feels well supported and works collaboratively to meet the needs of the child. Inspection report children’s home: SC068046 7

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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 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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This is with particular reference to ensuring that there is no delay in taking action when it becomes known a child is putting themselves or others at risk of harm, fully evaluating serious incidents and reviewing whether suitable guidance is in place for staff to follow. 29 November

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. In particular, ensure lone working risk assessments consider how a child will be supported if the staff member becomes incapacitated. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: SC068046 8

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Stephen Collett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC068046 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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