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

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

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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. It is one of a number operated by this private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2015.

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Inspection date: 10 January 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 10 January 2022

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The actions taken by leaders and managers to address the shortfalls identified following the full inspection in July 2021 have not been sufficiently effective. Some of the requirements made after that inspection have not been met. There are still weaknesses in managers’ and staff’s practice, particularly in relation to the management of allegations made against staff. Since the last inspection, staff failed to share information effectively after a child made an allegation and the response from the organisation’s designated safeguarding lead was weak. This resulted in the safety of a child being potentially compromised.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When these shortfalls became apparent, leaders and managers did not use the home’s monitoring and review systems to examine what had gone wrong and what actions could be taken to prevent similar poor practice being repeated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A previous requirement made in respect of consulting with the local authority designated officer prior to investigating an allegation made against a member of staff has also not been met. This means there is the potential for any external investigation that may be required to be compromised. The continuing failure of staff, including leaders, to report and respond to incidents correctly is a strong indicator of the need for targeted training for all staff. As a result of this continuing failure to take effective action in response to concerns about children’s welfare, the previous requirement is now escalated to a compliance notice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a focus on reducing the number of physical interventions to manage children’s behaviour. Although this has resulted in a fall in the number of physical interventions being used, particularly in relation to ground level holds, any use of the ground level method is concerning due to the risks involved. Progress is being made regarding the quality of restraint reports and this can be attributed to the registered manager scrutinising the reports more thoroughly. However, one restraint report was not consistent with the information provided in the associated safeguarding incident report.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality of staff supervision is not consistently good. Although some supervision records indicate that opportunities are provided for staff to reflect on their practice, this is not always the case. Records indicate that, on one occasion, key elements relating to a child’s complaint against a member of staff were not thoroughly explored during the supervision meeting.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers have not ensured that that all serious incidents are notified to Ofsted. On two occasions, allegations made against staff were not notified, and Inspection report for children’s home: SC461781 3 there has been one occasion when the instigation of a child protection enquiry was not notified. This has hindered the regulator’s ability to monitor practice in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers respond effectively when a child makes a complaint. Following the resolution of a complaint, the child is offered a ‘repair and rebuild’ meeting with the staff member who was subject to the complaint. This good practice is not, however, supported by providing a neutral person to facilitate the meeting and to ensure that the child’s voice is heard.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff morale has improved since the full inspection. The staff are enthusiastic about new children moving into the home and about developing their own professional knowledge and skills. A new team leader demonstrates enthusiasm and a commitment to improving practice. However, this new team leader did not have a formal induction to the role. Consequently, leaders have failed to ensure the team leader has a comprehensive understanding of the role and responsibilities associated with the post.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the full inspection, the staff have had the opportunity to reflect on their practice and the challenges that they faced during a disruptive period earlier in the year. Overall, the children have been more settled, and some have made good progress. One child successfully returned home to their family, and another child has made progress in terms of developing their coping mechanisms and engaging in education. One child has moved into the home following the completion of a well- planned admission process.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Six requirements are made from this inspection, including four repeated from the previous inspection, with one escalated to a compliance notice. A recommendation that was made from the last inspection with regards to a shortfall in the statement of purpose is also repeated from this inspection.Ofsted remains concerned about the provider’s ability to safeguard children effectively and will continue to closely monitor the provider’s progress. Inspection report for children’s home: SC461781 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/09/2019 Full Good 19/03/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC461781 5

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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 taking appropriate action when a child makes an allegation against a member of staff. 20 February 2022

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

This is with particular reference to ensuring that monitoring systems are used to identify and review safeguarding practice when errors occur. 20 February 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 20 February 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC461781 6 This is with particular reference to ensuring that staff supervision explores and addresses any weaknesses in the staff member’s practice.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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))

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Requirement Due date

This is with particular reference to ensuring the local authority designated officer is consulted before starting internal investigations into allegations made against staff. 20 February 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure; 20 February 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC461781 7 a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure;

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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")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

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))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry). (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(d)(i)(ii)) 20 February 2022

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Requirement Due date

*This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 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)  The registered person should ensure that the development of safe, stable and secure relationships with staff in the home is central to the ethos of the home and Inspection report for children’s home: SC461781 8 supports the development of secure attachments that, where appropriate, persist over time. This is with particular reference to ensuring that a neutral person facilitates ‘repair and rebuild’ sessions between staff members and children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.11)  The registered person should ensure that the workforce plan details the processes

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Recommendations

and agreed timescales for staff to complete induction. In particular, ensure there is an induction plan for staff who are promoted and take on new roles and responsibilities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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: SC461781 9

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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 for children’s home: SC461781 10 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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