Children's Home run by Hampshire County Council in Hampshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1259734 1 Registered provider: Hampshire County Council

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a local authority and, in accordance with its statement of purpose, provides care for children who may have social, emotional, or behavioural difficulties. The maximum number of children who can stay at the home at any time is four.

p.1

This monitoring visit

On 20 and 21 July 2022, Ofsted carried out a full inspection. At the inspection, serious shortfalls were identified and the home was judged inadequate. As a result, seven requirements were made and three of these requirements were subject to compliance notices.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Following the inspection, Ofsted issued a notice restricting accommodation to the children’s home on 25 July 2022. This was due to concerns for the safety of children and the stability of the home should more children move in.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of the visit was to monitor the provider’s progress in relation to the compliance notices and to ensure compliance of the notice restricting accommodation.

p.1

This monitoring visit

At the time of the monitoring visit, one child remained living in the home. This is due to another child moving out of the home following the last full inspection. This means the provider is compliant with the notice restricting accommodation.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The manager has reviewed the workforce development plan to clearly demonstrate what training staff have received, and to identify where gaps arise. Managers have informed individual staff of their training needs, and staff are clear on the expectations of completing this. The manager has identified suitable time frames for staff to complete their online training, and this work has now started. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1259734 2 Agency staff who regularly work in the home are trained in child protection and first aid, and have recently attended fire marshal and anti-ligature training with the core staff team. There are plans for these regularly used agency staff to attend the upcoming physical de-escalation and intervention training later this year. This means children are being supported consistently by staff who have the required skills and knowledge in meeting their needs.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The manager invites agency staff to regular team meetings, and they are provided with opportunities to reflect on their working practices through formal supervision. When children display emotions and behaviours that are difficult to manage, all staff, including agency staff, are provided with space and time to discuss how they are feeling. Agency staff are always involved in staff handovers and are asked, where necessary, to read children’s current risk assessments and care plans. This approach unites the workforce and means staff work better as a team.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager has reviewed how new agency staff are inducted into the home. This induction now ensures that new agency staff are aware of the local authorities’ policies and procedures, fire management, risk assessments and all plans that keep children safe. This means all agency staff are clear on their roles and responsibilities.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager has reviewed and updated the information held in the home regarding the agency staff who work there. This includes their training history and identification checks. The manager and responsible individual are effectively working with the agency provider to ensure that all relevant and necessary checks are completed before a new agency worker starts work in the home. This includes their working history and references. In addition to this, the responsible individual meets the agency provider monthly to review the quality of work, and to discuss any continued improvements. This provides senior managers with assurances that agency staff who work in the home provide safe care to children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Since the last full inspection, a newly commissioned fire audit in the home has been completed. Following this, the manager completed an action plan, and all outstanding actions are now complete. This includes electrical wiring safety, staff training and fire signage. Staff complete regular fire safety and compliance checks, and all staff have recently attended fire marshal training. Staff are clear on where to find firefighting equipment, evacuation procedures and how to respond to children’s personal evacuation plans. All staff have attended a team meeting to discuss fire risk and management.

p.2

This monitoring visit

There is no registered manager in the home. The temporary manager has been supporting this home since March 2022. They intend to return to another home, operated by this local authority, once a new manager is appointed. Senior leaders are actively recruiting to this post and continue to use new initiatives to employ the right candidate. A new deputy manager has been employed and is due to start. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1259734 3 All actions raised in the compliance notices, that were issued following the full inspection, have been met. Following the inspection, the notice restricting accommodation was lifted. The requirements raised at the full inspection, not subject to compliance notices, were not considered at this visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1259734 4

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/07/2022 Full Inadequate 16/08/2021 Full Good 06/08/2019 Full Good 25/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1259734 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.5

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.5

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.5

Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

p.5

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)) 28 September

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

that staff— 28 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1259734 6 assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

and that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular the registered manager must ensure that:

p.6

Requirement Due date

There is a record in the form of a register showing in respect of each child—

p.6

Requirement Due date

(a) the date of the child’s admission to the children’s home; (b) the date on which the child ceased to be accommodated in the home; (c) the child’s address immediately before being accommodated in the home; (d) the child’s address on leaving the home; (e) the child’s placing authority; (f) the statutory provision (if any) under which the child is accommodated. 28 September

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if— 28 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1259734 7 there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a))

p.6

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.7

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1259734 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hampshire County Council

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Inspector

Kelly Monniot, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1259734 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9