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

Inspection report children's home: SC068046 1 SC068046 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

This home is owned by a private organisation. The home is registered for one child who has social and emotional difficulties. There is a linked school for this home that is operated by the same organisation. At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children's home

The manager was registered on 14 June 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children are not protected and their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 28 February 2023

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC068046 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2023 Full Good 12/10/2021 Full Outstanding 20/05/2019 Full Good 25/09/2018 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC068046 3

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inadequate

The child is not cared for by a consistent staff team. The progress that had been made by the child has been significantly compromised by the failings in safeguarding and the significant weaknesses of the leadership and management of the home. Fol- lowing this inspection, the provider was issued with a notice restricting accommoda- tion of registration. This means that no other children can move into the home while the notice is in place.

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inadequate

Due to the inconsistencies in staffing, the child is looked after by a wide range of different staff. The child regularly asks who is due to work with them next. This is unsettling and has had a detrimental effect on the child’s well-being, experiences and overall progress. The inconsistencies in staffing do not support the child’s need for consistency, routine and clear boundaries. For instance, new behaviours, such as offensive racist language towards others, are not well managed. This is because staff are not clear on the strategies to use should the child use this language.

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inadequate

The manner in which the child is spoken about in conversation and in records is in- appropriate. The child is aware that there are some staff who do not wish to work with them. This has a negative impact on the child’s self-esteem. Some records sug- gest that the child is choosing to behave a certain way, and this is why staff do not wish to work with them. This does not support the therapeutic model detailed in the home’s statement of purpose and does not help the child in their feelings of shame and remorse. This also does not help the child to build trusting relationships with others.

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inadequate

The presentation of the home is poor. This includes heavily stained toilets, thick limescale on taps, blinds closed throughout and messy and unclean communal ar- eas. The home does not provide a homely and nurturing environment.

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inadequate

Educational progress for the child was a strength. However, this is now in crisis due to a recent school suspension. The child was attending the linked school in the or- ganisation. Following the suspension, the child has not been permitted to return to school and a decision has now been made to end the child’s school placement. Leaders, managers and staff have not informed the child of this. Neither has the child been given an opportunity to restore and repair what happened. They remain in limbo about why they are not currently going to school and when, if at all, they will return. The child is receiving some level of education at the home, from educa- tion staff. However, they are upset about not being able to return school and this has resulted in incidents occurring.

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inadequate

Leaders, managers and staff have failed to advocate for the child, who does not un- derstand why they are unable to return to school. The child has no access to inde- Inspection report children's home: SC068046 4 pendent advocacy, despite having lived at the home for some 16 months. The pro- vider has given notice to end the child’s time at the home. The child’s social worker and important family members have expressed concern about the lack of infor- mation around this decision.

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inadequate

There is a lack of focus for staff regarding the child’s plans and targets. Progress monitoring includes multi-disciplinary reviews. However, there has only been one such review since the child moved into the home. There is a lack of clarity regarding what the child is working towards. This undermines the ability of the child to reach their potential and has resulted in the child not making as much progress as they might have done.

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inadequate

The child has made some, limited, progress from their starting points. This is specifi- cally in relation to some behaviours that were previously displayed. As a result, the number of staff that the child needs to support them has reduced. The child has a meaningful relationship with the assistant manager for the home and is able to spend time with them on a one-to-one basis.

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inadequate

The child enjoys football, truck racing, go-karting and water activities. They have a vital and important relationship with their extended family, who live far from the home. The child enjoys spending time with their family and this is extremely im- portant to them. They are supported by the assistant manager to have regular time with their family. For instance, a routine has been established regarding the journey, to ensure that it is a positive experience and something that the child can look for- ward to.

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

The arrangements for safeguarding are poor. The registered manager confirmed that there are no systems in place to check the training status or experience of staff who are not part of the current core staff team. This compromises the safety of the child and staff. For example, there were two staff members on shift. One staff mem- ber joined the organisation the week before the inspection and had not yet had the required training in restraint practice. The other staff member does not work regu- larly with the child. They are based at a different home in the organisation. The reg- istered manager had assumed that this staff member had had the required training in restraint, but had not checked this. Physical interventions are frequently used to help manage the child’s behaviour when required. Therefore, the manager had not ensured that, should there be a need to use this practice, both staff were suitably

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

Staff do not always know the needs of the child and the safeguarding risks. Risk management plans are in place and are regularly updated. They provide staff with some guidance. However, due to the inconsistent staffing arrangements, staff do not always have opportunity to update themselves prior to working with the child. This means that they do not know all relevant information in terms of meeting the child’s needs and keeping them safe. For example, staff did not know the age of the Inspection report children's home: SC068046 5 child or that there are specific health issues that need to be considered should the child be physically restrained.

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

Staff knew that the child had experienced negative thoughts about their life. How- ever, they were not aware of the most recent comments the child had made. Staff were also not aware of details in the child’s risk management plans relating to liga- tures. Furthermore, staff were not aware of where ligature cutters are stored. This compromised the child’s safety.

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

Safeguarding procedures are not consistently followed when an allegation is made against staff. On one occasion, the child sustained injuries following a physical re- straint. Actions taken by staff were not in line with safeguarding procedures. No im- mediate medical advice was sought, the local authority designated officer was not consulted until four days after the incident, the child’s placing authority was not alerted immediately and Ofsted was not notified of the incident. A further allegation against a member was staff was also not notified to Ofsted.

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

There is a lack of understanding by managers and staff about consequences of behaviour. Three ‘sanctions’ have been recorded since the previous inspection. However, the child has lost access to other activities and privileges due to their behaviours. These are not captured as consequences and lack management oversight. The registered manager is unable to demonstrate what constitutes a consequence or explain the process. As the manager is unclear, there are concerns regarding the understanding of staff and the consistency for the child.

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

There is a lack of clarity between what constitutes a complaint and what is an alle- gation. The child knows how to make an allegation against staff but there is a lack of clarity about how they can raise a complaint about other matters. The manager was not able to demonstrate a clear process for this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager is also the registered manager for another home in the or- ganisation. The registered manager is not in day-to-day charge of this home. In- stead, the assistant manager, who is the previous registered manager for the home, is in daily charge of the home. The registered manager is unable to demonstrate ad- equate oversight or their physical presence in the home. The child commented that the manager didn’t bother to come and see them every day, and needed to visit more consistently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager does not role model positive and therapeutic practice. The registered manager has low aspirations and expectations for the child. The manager has not demonstrated routinely challenging poor practice. Consequently, there is a risk of a closed culture.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The response from leaders and managers regarding the staffing issues is weak. Pre- viously, there was a small core staff team specifically for this home. However, many staff from this team left. The current staff team is based across two homes. There Inspection report children's home: SC068046 6 has been a high turnover of staff for this team and some staff refuse to work with the child. As a result, education staff and staff from other homes in the organisation are brought in to look after the child. Many staff do not work a whole shift and swap with each other. Consequently, staff do not work collaboratively to provide con- sistency and stability for the child. There are no clear responsibilities or accountabili- ties. Staff do not have a sense of shared ownership about practice or the child’s ex- periences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Internal monitoring systems are poor. The quality-of-care report, completed by the manager, fails to consider the views of the child, their family, staff or others in- volved in the home. The registered manager is not in day-to-day charge of the home therefore it is not clear how they can make an accurate assessment of the quality of care. Monitoring systems in place have failed to identify and address the serious and widespread concerns that have been identified during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

External monitoring is poor. There have been several occasions where independent visits to the home have not been carried out in accordance with regulation. On occa- sion, visits have not been sufficiently thorough, as the staff were unable to help fa- cilitate the visit effectively. The independent visitor has not evaluated whether the child living in the home is effectively safeguarded or if their well-being is being pro- moted. Leaders have failed to monitor and identify this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff supervision is not taking place sufficiently regularly. For example, supervision for the assistant manager, who is in day-to-day charge of the home, did not take place for two consecutive months. When it did take place, this was of poor quality. When matters were raised, such as other staff not completing daily tasks in the home or staff not arriving as planned, no actions were raised to address this. A new system is being introduced to better inform and guide supervision, but this is not yet embedded. Inspection report children's home: SC068046 7

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Reg 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vi) (b))* 14 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure — 28 April 2024 Inspection report children's home: SC068046 8 that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health. (12 (1)(2)(d))

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(h)) 28 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that staff— 28 April 2024 Inspection report children's home: SC068046 9 understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child's welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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 develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child's behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(ii)(v)(x)) 28 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. 28 April 2024 Inspection report children's home: SC068046 10 The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child's behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii) (b)(i)(ii) (c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; 28 April 2024 Inspection report children's home: SC068046 11 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e))

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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

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

maintain regular contact with each child's education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child's education and training and to maximise the child's achievement;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child's relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(vi)(viii)(x)) 28 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The children's views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children's care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ensure that each child— 28 April 2024 Inspection report children's home: SC068046 12 is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that an explanation is given to each child as soon as reasonably practicable after the child's arrival about—

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Requirement Due date

how to make a complaint or representations in relation to the home or the care the child receives and how any such complaint or representations will be dealt with; and

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Requirement Due date

what advocacy support or services are available to the child, how the child may access that support or those services and any entitlement the child may have to independent advocacy provision. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b)(i)(iii)(d)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4) (a)(b)) 28 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children's home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)) 28 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person— 28 April 2024 Inspection report children's home: SC068046 13 to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home's records (except for a child's case records, unless the child and the child's placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person's report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being. (Regulation 44 (2)(b)(4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

* This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

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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 children's home: SC068046 14

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Children's home details

Registered provider: New Forest Care Ltd

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Children's home details

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

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Inspector

Kelly Marchmont, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report children's home: SC068046 15 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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