Children's Home run by New Forest Care Limited in Hampshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1246449 1 Registered provider: New Forest Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in February 2017. It can provide care for up to five children. The home usually offers short stays of around three months for children in crisis, or longer at times when needed. The home is based in a semi-rural location and uses a variety of settings, such as cottages and a lodge, in which children may stay or move between during their time in the home. Four children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Staff are referred to as adults throughout this report.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2023 and is suitably qualified.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1246449 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/03/2023 Full Good 08/09/2021 Full Good 07/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/08/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 1246449 3

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outstanding

The quality of care afforded to children at this home is exceptional. All children are making progress from their starting points. Adults are incredibly skilled and committed to providing the children with the best possible care and experiences.

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outstanding

Adults are trained to provide children with a wide range of adventurous activities including, but not limited to, climbing, kayaking, bike building, bush craft and mountain biking. Children enjoy the activities that are tailored to their interests and quickly develop a consistent routine and learn new skills. This has a positive impact on children’s self-esteem, confidence and health, and directly links to the trusting relationships between the children and adults.

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outstanding

The quality of relationships between the children and adults is excellent. One child said, ‘Staff want me to do well and support me.’ While living in the home, children gain accredited education awards that prepare them for their future, increase their independence and help them to develop specialist skills. The education certificates gained and awarded to children are put in a high-quality presentation pack for children to treasure and refer to in the future.

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outstanding

Children’s health needs are met to a high standard. Children are quickly registered with primary health services and attend dental appointments within weeks of moving into the home. This is a significant achievement for some children, who have previously struggled to access the dentist. Adults encourage children to take responsibility for their health appointments and support them to cancel appointments that they cannot attend.

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outstanding

Adults promote and support children to keep in touch with their families regardless of the how far away they live. As a result, children benefit from maintaining and improving positive links with their family, and some children have returned to live with their families. Adults also provide ongoing support to children and families once they leave the home, if needed. This is invaluable and helps children to transfer the skills and routines they have developed once away from the home.

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outstanding

The children’s voice is embedded in practice throughout the home. Adults listen to the children, advocate for them and work with them to help them to achieve their goals.

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outstanding

Research informed practice is embedded in all areas of practice throughout the home. The model of care is promoted effortlessly by the highly skilled adults. There is continued reflection across all aspects of the service; the adults continually strive to improve and develop the quality of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 1246449 4

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outstanding

Adults keep children safe from risks associated with exploitation, gangs, community crimes and going missing from home. With only a short period of time to work with children, the adults act swiftly to reduce and mitigate risk. Children are supported to be able to make more informed choices in the future, when they no longer live in the home.

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outstanding

Managers have exceptional oversight of safeguarding practice. This supports the adults to have an excellent knowledge and understanding of each child’s needs and how to manage any potential risks. Adults are guided by individualised risk assessments and support plans for children. These are consistently reviewed and updated regularly. Safeguarding practice is discussed and reflected upon at every opportunity to identify how to best support children and is embedded in practice.

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outstanding

Children rarely go missing from the home, despite being a previous risk for some children. When children have gone missing from home, the response from the adults has been well coordinated, and all actions are taken to safely find the children and inform the relevant professionals and family members.

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outstanding

Physical intervention is only used as a last resort to keep children safe. The adults are trained and skilled in the method adopted by the provider. The recording of physical interventions is detailed and well monitored. The management oversight of physical interventions is reflective, timely and feeds into future learning for the team.

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outstanding

Children know how to complain. When children do not feel able to complain about other services, the registered manager advocates on their behalf. All complaints are dealt with sensitively and are child centred. Complaints are explored in detail with excellent management oversight. There is good analysis and learning from complaints; reparative work is undertaken and the child’s voice is heard.

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outstanding

Allegations against staff are rare. When allegations have occurred, the registered manager follows all relevant procedures to a high standard. This includes consistently referring to the local authority designated officer. The child is always updated following the outcome of any allegation, with reparative work undertaken. Children are listened to and treated respectfully when concerns are raised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has an excellent knowledge of the children and demonstrates a child centred approach. His commitment and dedication to improve outcomes for children is very evident. His confidence and positivity are disseminated throughout the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager goes above and beyond to support children. Every decision made is for the children and what is best for them. The manager has allowed Inspection report for children’s home: 1246449 5 children to stay longer term in the home when this is in the child’s best interests. His ability to continually adapt the service demonstrates a child led approach that improves outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is supported by equally passionate deputies and senior support workers. The management team works cohesively and shares the same vision to ensure the best possible care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from adults is consistently positive about the unwavering support the registered manager provides. The team morale is extremely high. The registered manager develops the adults to ensure that they are confident in their role and have the skills to deliver the model of care set out in the home’s statement of purpose. Supervision and training opportunities for adults are excellent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager continually strives to improve practice. He develops and adapts practice, which is often informed by research, to ensure that children have positive experiences. The registered manager has worked with the adults to stop the use of institutional language used in the home. This has been effective; records are written in a child friendly way and discussions with the adults confirm that this is embedded in daily practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager’s monitoring and oversight of all aspects of the service are to a high standard. He understands the strengths of the service. The home’s development plan supports his plans to continually improve the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from all professionals is unanimously positive about their relationships with the adults and the progress children make. One social worker said that the adults are ‘…brilliant and really come across as advocating on behalf of the child’. Communication and collaborative working to support the children are key strengths. Inspection report for children’s home: 1246449 6

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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: 1246449 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Forest Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: New Forest Care Limited, West Shore House, West Street, Hythe, Southampton SO45 6AA

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Inspectors

Lisa O’Donovan, Social Care Inspector Skye Frain, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1246449 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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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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