Children's Home run by Hampshire County Council in Hampshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1257065 1 Registered provider: Hampshire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and run by a local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children who have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 14 July 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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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 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

Date of last inspection: 14 January 2020

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1257065 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/01/2020 Full Good 20/03/2019 Full Outstanding 21/12/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 1257065 3

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outstanding

The children flourish and thrive in this home. Children describe a caring environment where they can explore their emotions openly. Children say that staff listen to them. As a result, the children and staff have secure, supportive and respectful relationships.

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outstanding

Children make excellent progress because the dedicated and skilled staff provide stability in a nurturing and homely environment. Children have personalised their own bedrooms. There are many photos of children, both past and current residents, displayed throughout the home. Children know that they belong, and they feel a real sense of attachment to each other and the staff. Children told the inspector that it feels like a family home.

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outstanding

Children are succeeding in education because staff have high aspirations for them. Staff provide realistic and insightful support. Effective and regular contact with schools and colleges ensures that the children have consistent responses and continuous planning. As a result, all children have ambitions for their future, for example attending college and completing their qualifications. Children are motivated and keen to learn and, as a result, are making significant progress in relation to their starting points.

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outstanding

Staff engage in regular activities with all the children. Committed staff ensure that children attend various hobbies and clubs which are based on the interests and choices of the children. One child continues to be an outstanding football player, wishing to continue this into adulthood. Other children have successfully completed a three-day sailing trip. These experiences enhance children’s life chances and this has increased each child’s self-esteem.

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outstanding

Children benefit from consistent boundaries, expectations and responses from staff. This supports the model of care and the ethos of the home. Research-based practice and problem-solving, rather than consequence-based care, encourages children to make positive choices. As a result, children have made exceptional progress in developing effective strategies to manage their emotions. One child now spends more time with their family. The excellent progress of other children has been commented on by professionals. For example, children now successfully attend review meetings and fully contribute to the plans for their care.

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outstanding

Staff prioritise the safety of children at all times and encourage children to take age- appropriate risks, for example travelling on public transport or when using electronic devices. Consequently, children have made significant progress towards Inspection report for children’s home: 1257065 4 independence and there has been a significant reduction in risk-taking behaviour in relation to children’s starting points. Staff quickly recognise children’s vulnerabilities when they arrive at the home and ensure that clear and consistent care is delivered at all times. Children are safe, and feel safe, at the home. A child told the inspector that in their previous placement they felt like a young child but in this home, they feel listened to and respected.

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outstanding

Children want to spend time with each other and staff. Because of this, children do not go missing. However, if children are late, staff are proactive and ensure that children’s safety is always promoted. This minimises the risk to children from exploitation and harm. Children told the inspector that staff have talked to them about the dangers associated with going missing and how staff want to make sure they are safe.

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outstanding

When children have grumbles with each other, excellent interventions and de- escalation by staff mean that there are minimal incidents in the home. Staff speak with children and offer reassurance, providing an opportunity for children to rebuild relationships quickly and to learn how to manage their emotions and responses in the future.

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outstanding

The transitions involved when children move into or leave the home are exceptionally well managed. Optimum consideration is given by the manager and staff regarding the impact on the other children in the home. As a result, children experience positive new relationships and ongoing stability.

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outstanding

Children’s risk assessments and other necessary documents are updated to reflect any change in dynamics or behaviour. The registered manager has thorough oversight of these and shares updates with all staff verbally and in writing. This ensures that children receive well-informed care and support from staff.

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outstanding

Excellent risk assessments and highly effective planning with the children minimise risk outside of the home when attending events such as concerts or outdoor activities. As a result, children have experienced exciting and new opportunities.

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outstanding

Children know how to complain and confidently said that they would talk to staff and managers if they wanted to make a complaint. They would also use the information in the children’s guide or contact their social worker if needing additional help to do so. Staff know the children extremely well, recognising body language and triggers that may cause them distress.

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outstanding

When children raise concerns about their mental health, staff are quick to react and obtain support and access to the appropriate services. Staff have undertaken additional training to better understand the experiences of children. Staff have also invested in research-based theories to better understand their own behaviours and traits. This has helped staff to recognise strengths and use these in daily practice, for example identifying the member of staff best skilled to manage certain situations or go to for advice. Inspection report for children’s home: 1257065 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home benefits from an exceptionally well-skilled and knowledgeable registered manager, who is supported by an enthusiastic, forward-thinking deputy. The staff team is dependable, highly competent and reliable. This offers consistency, routine and stability to the children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has excellent monitoring systems and quality assurance processes in place to identify any shortfalls. These are addressed quickly and meticulously by the registered manager and leaders. The manager’s own review of the quality of care offers reflection on the home’s strengths and weaknesses. In addition, the independent visitor offers an additional layer of scrutiny. Any recommendations from these visits are swiftly addressed by the registered manager. The responsible individual has full oversight of the home’s operation and quality.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The inclusive relationship between staff and management results in a dynamic and effective delivery of service. Professionals have commented on the positive communication from the whole staff team, adding that they go above and beyond to improve the outcomes for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Reflective supervision is the foundation of staff’s excellent practice. Staff value supervision and invest in the process, saying that they feel empowered and listened to by managers and leaders. Innovation is threaded throughout practice. As a result, staff problem-solve for themselves and this is mirrored to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings are dynamic and agreed actions are implemented quickly by staff, managers and senior leaders. Training for staff is accessible and well organised. A highly effective system highlights timescales and attendance required for a broad range of training and development opportunities. Therefore, staff remain up to date to meet the needs of children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The responsible individual and other senior managers are visible in the home. They know the children well and maintain ongoing dialogue with the registered manager and staff to remain up to date with care planning and decision-making oversight. This highlights the positive impact that living in the home has on children’s progress and permanence.

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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 for children’s home: 1257065 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hampshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3rd Floor, Elizabeth II Court North, The Castle, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 8UG

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Inspector

Jill Sephton-Wright, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1257065 7 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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