Children's Home run by Hampshire County Council in Hampshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1254782 1 Registered provider: Hampshire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to four children aged between 10 and 17, 16 being the maximum age on admission. The home’s statement of purpose states that it offers residential care with therapeutic emphasis and multi-agency involvement, to help children recover from experiences which have rendered them vulnerable and disrupted from their primary relationships.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2023.

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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: not judged

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1254782 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/03/2022 Interim Not judged 19/10/2021 Full Inadequate 26/11/2019 Full Good 13/11/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 1254782 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has recently reopened after having been closed since December 2021. The reopening of the home was well planned by leaders. They involved children and partner agencies in the arrangements for moving back. Staff helped one child to keep their friendship group from the previous local area they lived in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have built good relationships with staff, including agency staff. These relationships mean children feel safe and are listened to. Staff celebrate achievements and reward children’s progress. Staff write to children and leave notes on their bedroom doors to celebrate their achievements. As a result, children feel proud and have made progress with their emotional and social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s education. They help children to access alternative education provisions when they are not in education. Leaders work with the local authority to review plans for children. One of the children who attends school is being well prepared to undertake their GCSEs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have busy lives. Staff help children see friends and family regularly. Staff take children to activities after school. Staff have captured children’s experiences with beautiful memory books for the children to keep.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care plans are child-focused and detailed. Children contribute to writing their own plans. Staff keep the plans up to date. These plans help the staff care for children in a consistent manner.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child moved into the home in an emergency. This was well planned and managed. This move had no impact on the other children living in the home. The child has since moved out of the home. The child’s short placement was in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

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

Staff review risk assessments with children and have regular conversations about risks. Staff help children with their relationships, sexual health and substance misuse. Staff help children to access specialist support when needed. As a result, children are developing an insight into these topics and are learning how to keep themselves safe.

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

Staff help children understand the rules of the home and reward children for positive behaviour. Staff are trained in positive behaviour support and there are clear plans in place for staff to follow. Children have made progress with learning how to calm themselves when they are upset. Inspection report for children’s home: 1254782 4 Consequences are used by staff. Staff use these alongside restorative discussions with the children. The manager checks the use of consequences with children. As a result, they feel involved in the process.

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

Staff understand how to raise safeguarding concerns and respond well to safeguarding incidents. They involve the relevant agencies and provide support to children.

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

Children rarely go missing from home. There has been one occasion since the last inspection when a child went missing from the home and staff responded appropriately.

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

The use of physical intervention is decreasing. However, the manager does not scrutinise staff practice in their review of physical interventions. Additionally, a manager reviewed one record when they were involved in the incident. This is a missed opportunity to review practice and identify lessons learned.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is newly registered with Ofsted. They are experienced and qualified to undertake the role. They are supported by an experienced deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have good oversight of the home. Managers have well-developed audits in place to monitor the quality of care to children. There are systems in place for monitoring the progress made by the children. The manager uses the reports from the independent person effectively to identify areas of practice to improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision and practice-based feedback constitute a strength of the managers. Staff have regular supervision where safeguarding and the children are discussed. There are clear actions for staff following every supervision session. Managers complete regular observations of the staff and provide them with feedback. Managers encourage staff to develop reflective skills to improve their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work together well. New staff have been supported well in their induction. Managers give staff clear roles and responsibilities and have delegated lead roles to the staff, which link to the quality standards. This helps staff to develop their practice and take responsibility for their work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Agency staff supplement the team. The manager carries out the appropriate checks before they start work. Agency staff are well inducted and trained and know how to raise a safeguarding concern. The manager includes them in the team, providing regular supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well trained to carry out their roles. The manager monitors the training of staff. There is a workforce development plan. However, the plan does not include how the manager will address poor staff performance. Inspection report for children’s home: 1254782 5 The manager has reviewed the location risk assessment. This review does not include the views of other professionals. This is a missed opportunity to gather further information about the local area. Inspection report for children’s home: 1254782 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

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the review should enable the registered person to identify effective practice, respond to issues of concern and amend practice to meet the needs of the child. 13 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 46 (1) (2)) 13 April 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1254782 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce-related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should detail the process for managing and improving poor performance. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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: 1254782 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hampshire County Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Mark Dawkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1254782 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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