Swanwick Lodge

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 1 SC038719

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Registered provider: Hampshire County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this secure children’s home

This secure home is managed by a local authority. It is approved by the Department for Education to restrict children’s liberty. The home provides care for up to 10 children aged between 10 and 17 years.

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Information about this secure children’s home

There were five children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this secure children’s home

The home provides accommodation for children placed by local authorities under section 25 of the Children Act 1989.

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Information about this secure children’s home

Admission of any child under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 who is under 13 years of age requires the approval of the Secretary of State.

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Information about this secure children’s home

The commissioning of health services in this home is the statutory responsibility of NHS England under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Education is provided on site.

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Information about this secure children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2022.

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Information about this secure children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 2

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 3

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Children are relaxed and happy with staff. There are a range of activities for children to engage in, including an enrichment programme during school holidays. This includes children being able to participate in arts and a drama performance. The staff have captured these events on video to help children have positive memories.

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The care of children

Children are prepared well for leaving the home. Staff help children to develop skills for adulthood and in line with their plans. For example, children are supported to go out into the community with staff as they prepare for leaving the home.

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The care of children

Staff are looking after children to the best of their ability. They mainly keep them safe from harm as the children’s needs are significant and complex.

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The safety of children

When safeguarding concerns arise, staff and managers respond appropriately in line with the home’s policy and procedures. There is good liaison and oversight by the local authority children’s services. Records clarify the actions taken to help keep children safe. They show that concerns are reviewed quickly and concluded with appropriate actions being taken.

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The safety of children

On a significant number of occasions, staff have physically restrained children. On some of these occasions, children have been placed in the prone position, which can increase risk. Although there is no evidence of significant concerns about practice, there is some risk due to the lack of effective management monitoring.

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The safety of children

A notification was sent to Ofsted about an incident in August 2022. This involved the use of extreme measures with a child. Ofsted raised queries at the time and requested further information. The response lacked rigour and Ofsted requested that senior local authority managers carried out a review. The subsequent report was unsatisfactory and did not clearly identify areas for improvement and actions to be taken with timescales. As a result, inspectors reviewed this incident further during this inspection. Inspectors concluded that, although managers and staff had the best intentions in attempting to keep a child safe under difficult circumstances, the actions taken lacked key considerations that could have impacted on the child’s safety. The manager recognised and agreed with the inspector’s findings and is committed to carrying out a further urgent reflective review, which will be provided to Ofsted within a week.

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The safety of children

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There were three statutory requirements and two recommendations made at the last inspection. The two recommendations related to education, and these will be reviewed at the next full inspection. The arrangements with the GP have been reviewed and actions are being taken to improve the service provided to children. The home’s statement of purpose has been updated and sent to Ofsted. It accurately describes what the home provides for children. One requirement has not been fully met. Although staff are now receiving an annual appraisal, challenges remain in staff recruitment, which is impacting on the frequency of supervision. Although efforts have been made to improve this, shortfalls remain.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager does not carry out any analysis of trends, themes and patterns relating to restraint practices, and the monitoring records are weak. They do not show that where the narrative indicates queries about practice, including the use of prone restraint, that managers have explored this and drawn conclusions about the care of children, whether prone restraint was justified, and whether there is any learning.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/04/2022 Full Good 22/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/10/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 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 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)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 March 2023

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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

Specifically, ensure that reports about the physical restraint of children are reviewed and that the record reflects a manager’s evaluative conclusions about their review of the incident, identifies any actions to improve the care and safety of children and how any learning has been taken forward.

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Requirement Due date

Carry out a regular analysis of trends, themes and patterns relating to restraint practices that draws evaluative conclusions, identifies actions to improve the care and safety of children and how any learning has been taken forward. When complete, send the first report to Ofsted. 16 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they more fully integrate life skills, independent living skills and digital skills into the wider curriculum and the work of the home, expanding their accredited qualification offer to include these subjects. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)  The registered person should ensure that the incremental steps, made by those children who have the greatest distance to travel, are captured and celebrated to reflect the progress they are making in their social, personal and academic development. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 7

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Secure children’s home details

Registered provider: Hampshire County Council

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Secure children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Shaun Common, His Majesty’s Inspector James Tallis, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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