Children's Home run by Serenity Care Homes Ltd in Hampshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC487165 1 SC487165 Registered provider: Serenity Care Homes Ltd 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 run by a private organisation. The staff at this home care for up to two children who have attachment, behavioural, emotional and social needs because of their childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 21 February 2022.

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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

Date of last inspection: 30 November 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC487165 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/11/2021 Full Good 08/08/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/11/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/04/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC487165 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the child currently living in the home well and have a good understanding of their individual needs and vulnerabilities. Staff work hard to form positive relationships and provide the child with the appropriate level of support to help them to know that people care about them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child feels safe and secure and has developed open and trusting relationships with staff, which helps them to talk about difficult matters and to share any worries or concerns. The child is listened to and says that they feel respected by the staff who care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s progress is celebrated through monthly reports and newsletters, which are shared with family and professionals. Photo books beautifully capture the activities and memories that are made. This gives an understanding of the child’s time in the home and opportunities to reflect on the progress that they made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has engaged in a variety of activities, such as going to theme parks, quad biking and playing golf. They are supported to engage in activities that keep them busy, such as taking apart lawnmowers and bicycles in order to mend them. Much fun is had in taking them apart but not so much the mending!

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and is designed and furnished to a good standard. However, some rooms that are not in use have been used for storage, and some areas of the home are in need of a tidy and refresh. There is a stale smell and some holes in a carpet, which detracts from some areas of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child who has left the home was supported sensitively by staff. A social worker said, ‘Staff were so amazing and supportive, they knew them [the child] inside and out and they are really fabulous people. I was really sad that the child had to leave.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with all health professionals to ensure that children’s health needs are managed effectively, including accessing specialist support where necessary.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to maintain family connections and arrange activities for them to have enjoyable family time. A parent said, ‘The staff are so thoughtful.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work in partnership with the child’s education placements. However, the child’s attendance and engagement are often poor. Staff could do more to ensure that the child accesses their online learning more consistently. Inspection report for children’s home: SC487165 4

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

Staff work closely with external agencies to ensure children’s safety. Incidents are well managed, and necessary actions are taken to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively.

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

There has been an excellent response to a child who goes missing from the home. Staff have been persistent in trying to locate them at the earliest opportunity. There has been a coordinated response from the registered manager and staff, which has ensured effective multi-agency planning. This helped to reduce the risks.

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

Staff have a good understanding of children’s past experiences and how these can affect a child’s ability to keep themselves safe. Consequently, work is carried out with children to raise their awareness of risks that they may be exposed to in the local community. Staff are alert to indicators that a child could be being exploited. The staff are professionally curious when needed regarding the children’s friends and associates and any changes they detect in a child’s behaviour and presentation.

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

Responses to child protection concerns are effective. Good communication takes place with the relevant safeguarding professionals when there are concerns for a child’s welfare. A high standard of recording in child protection files ensures that there are clear audit trails of the actions taken.

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

Leaders and managers make sure that staff are safely recruited. The registered manager and staff are aware of their responsibilities to ensure that effective health and safety processes are in place. Consequently, children, staff and visitors are protected, and the home is safe.

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

Children move to the home following a carefully considered matching process. The registered manager and staff review the needs of the child moving in alongside the needs of the child already living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She is passionate and understands the needs of children. She has a clear vision and empowers staff to develop their knowledge and understanding to support children within the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management arrangements in place provide a supportive, collaborative and caring culture within the home for everyone. There is a real sense of teamwork and strong working relationships by staff, who acknowledge difficulties and support each other. This provides a stable team for children. One member of staff said, ‘I love the diversity in the team, how inclusive it all is and how my opinion is heard and does matter. We strive to help children in the best way possible.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC487165 5 Staff feel positive about the support provided by the manager and the deputy manager. The staff benefit from receiving regular, good-quality supervision, which provides them with space to reflect on their own individual practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are knowledgeable and receive a range of training to meet the specific needs of children. The home has staff who are trained to deliver behaviour management training. They attend meetings if specific support is required for a child who is displaying challenging behaviour. This supports staff to work positively with children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC487165 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

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)) 12 June 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should provide a children’s home that is a nurturing and supportive environment that meet the needs of their young people. They will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislation. However, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic impression. This is in relation to the lounge carpet, the stale smell within the upstairs of the home and ensuring that there is enough storage space. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: SC487165 7

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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: SC487165 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Serenity Care Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Wild at Heart, Forest Road, Thorney Hill, Bransgore, Christchurch BH23 8DZ

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Inspector

Hannah Cox, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC487165 9 inspects 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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