Children's home run by New Forest Care Limited in Southampton

Inspection report for children's home: SC063767 1 SC063767 Registered provider: New Forest Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately operated children’s home is one of a group of homes and educational premises located in the south of England. The inspector only inspected the social care provision. It is registered to provide care for up to four children who have had adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and complex behaviours. Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC063767 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2023 Full Good 15/02/2022 Full Outstanding 25/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 29/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC063767 3

p.2

outstanding

Children are provided with an exceptional quality of care and highly individualised support. This enables them to build strong and trusting relationships with staff and make positive progress from their starting points.

p.3

outstanding

The home environment is immaculate and has a homely feel. There are several communal areas, including a cinema room and a music room, which the children enjoy spending time in. The newly built social skills kitchen provides children with a place where they can practise their independent living skills and enjoy fun cooking activities.

p.3

outstanding

Children’s bedrooms are personalised, and they have been encouraged to decorate them how they wish. Staff talk proudly about making the home as welcoming as possible, and any repairs are completed swiftly.

p.3

outstanding

Staff ensure that children can access a wide range of activities that support their talents and interests. Children are encouraged to do as much as they can for themselves and learn important life skills that will help them to live as independently as possible.

p.3

outstanding

All children benefit from attending full-time education. School attendance is promoted, and as a result, children have learned new skills, gained new friendships and grown in confidence. One child previously struggled to attend school, but because of the support that they have received, their attendance is now over 90%.

p.3

outstanding

Work experience is arranged and facilitated by the staff team. This has motivated one child to pursue their chosen career and given them the confidence to do so.

p.3

outstanding

Key-work sessions are meaningful and cover important issues. These discussions further strengthen the relationships between the children and the staff and help to tackle pertinent issues.

p.3

outstanding

Children’s healthcare needs are managed well, and any medication is administered safely. Staff work closely with healthcare professionals and ensure that children receive the best healthcare available.

p.3

outstanding

Staff help children to stay in touch with their family when this is appropriate. Seeing their family more often has had a positive impact on children’s relationships and their feelings of belonging. One child’s family time has been extended successfully, allowing the child to enjoy a family Christmas and some extended stays during school holidays. Inspection report for children's home: SC063767 4 Staff work collaboratively with a range of other professionals to inform young people’s care planning. Staff are committed to the children and ensure that their best interests are at the forefront of all decision-making.

p.3

outstanding

The registered manager and staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and ensure that they work together with other professionals when required. Incidents are managed extremely well, and necessary actions are taken to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively.

p.4

outstanding

Children identify trusted adults that they can talk to about any concerns. They report that they are happy in the home and have no worries about living there.

p.4

outstanding

Safer recruitment processes are thorough. This ensures that only the most suitable candidates work in the home. New staff are closely monitored and supervised by managers. This ensures that the children and staff are never put at unnecessary risk. This also helps staff to feel valued and well supported by the management team. The staff induction programme is thorough and regularly monitored by managers.

p.4

outstanding

Staff know the children well. The positive relationships between staff and children promote an open culture where children can share any worries or concerns. Children know how to make a complaint. When they do, staff support them well. Staff proactively raise formal complaints about other professionals on behalf of the children when they feel it is necessary. These are then followed up by staff until they receive a satisfactory conclusion.

p.4

outstanding

Children receive excellent help and support to manage their behaviour and feel safe. Staff understand children’s past experiences and respond in a child-friendly way. Consequently, children learn about what is safe and acceptable and seek to understand the triggers for their behaviour.

p.4

outstanding

Children are supported extremely well and are encouraged to learn from any incidents. Debriefs are child-focused and enable positive conversations with children after any incidents. This helps them to reflect and try to identify things that may make things better in the future. This approach is effective and has resulted in a major reduction in incidents and the need for physical intervention.

p.4

outstanding

Staff encourage children to take risks appropriate to their age and level of understanding. For example, one child has been supported to ride a bike to school independently.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by an extremely ambitious registered manager who strives to provide children with top-quality care. The manager is well supported by senior Inspection report for children's home: SC063767 5 leaders and models an open, transparent and learning culture. As a result, staff feel able to challenge each other and report any practice concerns openly and professionally. This helps to keep children safe and ensures that learning is quickly identified and acted on. Staff have a genuine commitment to achieving the best outcomes for children and supporting them to flourish.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children are cared for consistently in line with the home’s ethos and statement of purpose. The manager recognises the importance of working in partnership with health, education and social care professionals to meet the children’s needs. Other professionals report good relationships with the staff and feel that staff communicate with them well. Professionals also highlight how well the team supports children and the considerable amount of progress that each child has made.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from regular supervision, which provides opportunities for managers to ensure that staff know how to care for children in line with their plans. The supervision sessions also provide an opportunity for staff to reflect on their practice and discuss their own development. Induction and probation processes for new staff are thorough and thoughtful.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager proactively researches subjects relevant to looked after children and uses this research to develop staff skills. Independent experts in trauma-informed practice have provided specialist guidance to the staff team. This has resulted in the children receiving a bespoke model of therapeutic parenting.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager ensures that children are always held in mind when staff are completing records. Consequently, documents are child-friendly and will be easy to understand should the children wish to look at them later in life. This is a real strength of this home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers relentlessly advocate for children. They are inspirational, confident and ambitious for children, and they are influential in changing the lives of those in their care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager models excellent practice with the children and the staff team. His approach encourages and empowers the staff team to practise in a similar way. Children continue to thrive as a result.

p.5

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: SC063767 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Forest Care Ltd

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: West Shore House, West Street, Hythe, Southampton, Hampshire SO45 6AA

p.6

Inspector

Emma Haskell, Social Care Regulator Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC063767 7 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.

p.6

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7