Children's Home run by The Serendipity Centre Limited in Hampshire

Inspection report for children's home: SC485423 1 SC485423 Registered provider: The Serendipity Centre Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to five children. It is privately owned by an organisation which has other registered children’s home and an educational setting in the vicinity.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 15 November 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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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 8 February 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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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: 13 November 2019

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC485423 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/11/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/07/2019 Full Inadequate 08/11/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC485423 3

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improvement to be good

There is a mixed picture with regards to children’s experiences. Some children have experienced settled periods and made progress. However, not all children have left the home in a planned way.

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improvement to be good

Two children went missing and experienced unplanned moves. One child’s risk of self-harm behaviour escalated to an extent that professionals and the manager recognised that they could not keep her safe. An opportunity to attempt a reintegration back to the children’s home was missed. This was due to staff not picking the child up from an extended family contact at the agreed time. The social worker and the child’s parent reported that the child viewed this as a rejection, and she refused to return to the home.

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improvement to be good

The other child’s missing-from-home incidents increased after a period of being settled. The risk for her and the child recently placed increased due to them going missing together and the risks posed to them while they went missing.

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improvement to be good

Another child initially settled well after arriving at the home. The child has previously gone missing in previous placements. The level of risk with regards to child sexual exploitation could not be effectively managed by staff. The placement at the home was ended after a short period of time. This was disruptive to the child and potentially increased their risk of exploitation while they lived at the home.

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improvement to be good

One child had a successful move to semi-independent accommodation. This was a positive move supported by staff. The child currently living in the home is settled and, in general, is progressing well. This child has matured and is learning to become more independent and has positive relationships with staff. He is now engaging well with part-time school and college. However, staff do not encourage him to engage in structured activities when he is not attending school. This does not demonstrate to him the importance of full-time education.

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improvement to be good

Children’s complaints are dealt with sensitively, within appropriate timescales, and reparation work is undertaken. The manager reviews the children’s meetings and acts on the children’s requests. However, this is not consistent. For example, a child reported being bullied. This concern was not followed up by the manager.

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improvement to be good

Effective key-work sessions cover areas that are important to the children. Staff engage with the children and encourage activities outside of the home, such as visits to the cinema and supporting national sporting events. Children also enjoy spending time with staff completing a range of arts and crafts activities in the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC485423 4

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improvement to be good

There have been incidents where staff have not followed the home’s policies and procedures. One incident occurred when the fire alarm was set off due to smoke in a child’s bedroom. The staff successfully dealt with the immediate risk of the fire. However, they did not evacuate the home and call the fire brigade in accordance with their procedures. Risk assessments were reviewed and updated in response to this incident.

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improvement to be good

The medication policy has not been adhered to. There was an incident when a child was able to access the medication room. Procedures were changed to minimise the risk of a reoccurrence. However, another incident occurred a couple of days later. On this occasion, the child was able to take four tablets resulting in paramedics attending the children’s home. On another occasion, the manager was informed that a tablet was found, indicating that the child had not taken it. While action was taken on one of these occasions, the other incident was not formally investigated.

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improvement to be good

When children go missing, staff attempt to locate them, contact them by mobile phone and follow them when it is safe to do so. Due to enhanced risks, staff did not search for one child who was missing in the child’s home area. There is a lack of clear guidance for staff in this situation. The staff are not always given the necessary guidance to ensure that children’s safety is effectively promoted.

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improvement to be good

Effective six-weekly internal professional network meetings equip staff to provide therapeutically informed and consistent care. This has helped the child to increase their confidence socially and when in the community. The inspector observed the child being better able to communicate with staff.

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improvement to be good

Safeguarding issues are, on the whole, effectively managed and reported to external professionals. Procedures for managing risks are reviewed and updated in response to incidents or new information becoming available.

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good

The recording oversight of physical interventions has not been consistent. While some incidents are well recorded, other incidents are not. The lead up to an incident and any measures taken to prevent it are not consistently recorded. The children are not always consulted after serious incidents. On two occasions, the manager has not recorded her comments to evidence that she has read and analysed all of the incidents.

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good

On one occasion, another child intervened in an incident relating to another child. This was not addressed by the staff or the manager, and the child’s view was not sought. This was a missed opportunity to reassure the child and promote positive expectations. This lack of clear boundary in regard to a child being involved in such an incident is a concern. Inspection report for children's home: SC485423 5 Children’s social workers are generally positive about the communication following incidents. However, two social workers reported that they do not routinely receive incident and monthly reports. They are not able to fully analyse incidents or monitor their child’s care. In addition, social workers reported they were not informed when new children come into the home. They are not aware of any potential increases in risk to their child.

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good

The requirements and recommendation made at the last inspection have been met. Team meeting records have significantly improved and are now thorough and informative with evidence of guidance and development for the staff.

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good

The policy for the home’s mobile phone use has been updated. An occasion when this has not been adhered to was addressed with the staff member.

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good

Managers provide a comprehensive induction that is well thought out and at the right pace. Staff spoken to state they are well supported. Regular supervision and annual appraisals ensure that staff are clear about their goals. Staff have opportunities to reflect on their practice and the impact this has on the children. Inspection report for children's home: SC485423 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that social workers receive incident and monthly reports and are informed when a new child is placed. 31 March 2022

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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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vii)) 31 March 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)) 31 March 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC485423 7 The registered person must ensure that—

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(ii)(v)(vii)(c)) 31 March 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children can see the results of their views being listened to and acted on, particularly relating to children raising concerns in children’s meetings. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  The registered person should ensure that children are supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. This refers to staff ensuring that they encourage a structured routine for children when not attending education. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

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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: SC485423 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Serendipity Centre Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1ST Floor, Goodlands House, St. Lukes Close, Hedge End, Southampton SO30 2US

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Inspector

Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC485423 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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