Children's Home run by Portsmouth City Council in Portsmouth

Inspection report for children's home: 1239948 1 Registered provider: Portsmouth City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to three children aged eight to 18.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1239948 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/04/2022 Full Inadequate 22/06/2021 Full Good 10/12/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/09/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1239948 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children form positive relationships with staff and can identify a member of staff who they can approach for support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel valued and listened to. The recent introduction of a youth support service has given children a new platform to share their views and any worries with adults outside of the home. Children also benefit from one-to-one time, general discussions and ad hoc meetings with staff, such as at mealtimes. This positive support is instrumental in children feeling safe and well cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have made significant progress in attending school. As a result, for the first time, children are attending school full time. Staff work closely with children’s schools to remove barriers that can impact on children’s learning. Consequently, children are achieving academic success.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the healthcare of each child. Staff support children to understand healthy living and what this means for them. Joint working with child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) is a particular strength, with CAMHS workers being a regular presence in the home. The use of external psychological support services helps to ensure that future planning will meet children’s needs.

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

Staff recognise each child’s vulnerabilities and know how to keep them safe. They know the home’s processes on how to report any safeguarding concerns.

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

There has been significant learning as a result of the safeguarding concerns identified at the last inspection. Managers have ensured that children’s plans are up to date and explain how children should be supervised. Staff are increasingly clear about their responsibilities to safeguard children. Staff talk confidently of how they monitor children and their relationships. Staff have received bespoke training on specific risks, which has helped them to be suitably curious about children’s actions and comments.

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

Despite all the progress, bullying remains a concern. Although staff are more proactive in their response to situations, early warning signs are not always picked up on, especially when children are competing for staff attention. The use of mobile phones is still causing friction between the children. A decision has now been made for staff to no longer have their personal mobile phones on them when children are present.

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

The home is still undergoing modifications to reduce the risk of unauthorised access. The provider is waiting for new windows with tamper-proof restrictors to be fitted. Inspection report for children's home: 1239948 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and senior leaders have taken action in light of the concerns raised at the last inspection and are passionate about improving the service in the best interests of children. Plans to improve the service are detailed and many points have already been actioned. Staff recognise the shortfalls and have adapted their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s plans are now clearer. Staff have updated children’s risk assessments to ensure that all risks are identified and control measures are safely in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff training has significantly improved. Staff now receive training that is more tailored to children’s needs. Staff have received a variety of training, with more scheduled. Staff are now up to date with first-aid training and have benefited from training in non-judgemental language. However, there are still areas that need to be improved. Further work is needed to ensure that records are written in a manner that is clear and does not lead to ambiguity. Staff still need training in harmful sexual behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior managers are not currently seeking to place any new children until they are confident that the home is settled and that they have all the required staff in post and trained. Inspection report for children's home: 1239948 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 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

In particular, the registered person must ensure that records are written in a manner that is clear and does not lead to ambiguity. 29 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33 (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that staff have the training required to meet the needs of the children and to keep children safe from avoidable risk. 29 August 2022

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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: 1239948 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Portsmouth City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Portsmouth City Council Head of Children and Young People’s Services, Civic Offices, Portsmouth PO1 2EA

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1239948 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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