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 Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home provides care for up to four children with learning disabilities and additional needs. The home offers an integrated service that includes therapy, education and care. The home is one of a number operated by this private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since 3 July 2022. A new manager is now in post and has applied to register with Ofsted. The new manager was not present during the inspection. The responsible individual was present throughout the full inspection.

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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: 10 January 2022

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

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requires improvement to be good

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/01/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 27/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/09/2019 Full Good 19/03/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC461781 3

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improvement to be good

Children’s progress is variable. Although some children have made good progress and have good relationships with staff, other children have experienced inconsistencies that have impacted on their overall experiences and progress.

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improvement to be good

Staff encourage children to eat healthily. Staff provide nutritious meals and help children to learn life skills such as how to budget their money, shop for food and how to cook balanced meals.

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improvement to be good

Children’s individual health needs are well understood. Therapeutic support is provided by the organisation, and this has a positive impact on children’s mental health.

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improvement to be good

Children make progress in their education. Individualised education plans help to ensure that each child achieves academic success.

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improvement to be good

Children speak positively about the new manager. They feel that they are listened to, and that the new manager acts in response to their views.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensure that plans are in place so that children can see their families.

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improvement to be good

Staff act when there are safeguarding concerns. Allegations are reported to external safeguarding agencies. When internal investigations take place, the records and decision-making rationale is clearly recorded.

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improvement to be good

There has been a high level of physical intervention with some children. Records of physical interventions are not always detailed, and managers have not always challenged staff when records are poor. Although more recently there has been some reduction in the level of physical interventions, not enough consideration has been given to how staff use de-escalation to avoid the need for more restrictive measures.

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improvement to be good

When children go missing from home, staff take immediate action. This has resulted in children’s swift and safe return.

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good

Leaders and managers have made limited progress since the last inspection. This has resulted in the service still requiring improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: SC461781 4 The statement of purpose has not been revised and fails to adequately address the circumstances in which a child may be moved from the home.

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good

Managerial oversight, including by senior leaders, does not consistently address gaps in records. For example, some records have gaps in information about incidents and restraints. As a result, a previous requirement has been restated.

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good

Staff shortages and gaps in supervision sessions have further impacted on the functioning of this home.

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good

Not all staff demonstrate a good grasp of the home’s ethos in terms of behaviour management. While some staff demonstrate that they are attuned to the children’s needs, other staff lack knowledge and understanding. These differences in understanding have impacted on some children’s experiences.

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good

A new manager is in post. He has already made a positive impact in his first five weeks. The staff speak positively about feeling supported and now having a renewed passion for their work. This is put down to the impact the new manager is having on the home.

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good

The interior of the home has become tired and unloved. Many areas are worn and dated and in some places in a state of disrepair. The new manager is driving forward the home’s development. He has ensured that the children’s bedrooms are redecorated, with their input. For one child, being involved in making the space he lives in his own has been a new experience. 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 10 October 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 promotes their welfare.

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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 specific reference to ensuring that monitoring systems are used to identify and review safeguarding practice.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 10 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 10 October 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC461781 6 keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, 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.

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Requirement Due date

This was a recommendation at the last inspection and has now been raised to a requirement.

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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)) 10 October 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: SC461781 7

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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

Sarah Olliver, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC461781 8 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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