Children's Home run by The Serendipity Centre Limited in Hampshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2605336 1 Registered provider: The Serendipity Centre Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. The home is owned by a private organisation that also operates two other children’s homes and a registered school in the local area. Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2022.

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This monitoring visit

On 26 and 27 February 2024 a full inspection was carried out at the home. Serious and widespread failures were identified, and the home was judged to be inadequate. Following the inspection, the provider was issued a compliance notice to address significant concerns in relation to how children’s risks were being managed. Specifically, this related to the arrangements to keep children safe online. The purpose of the monitoring visit was to consider the provider’s response to the compliance notice, along with the progress made since the full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The home is more settled, and the same two children who were present during the full inspection remain living in the home. Their relationships with staff and each other have also improved. Both children continue to attend education and make progress.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has responded positively to the compliance notice. They have undertaken a full review of the online safety arrangements that were in place and identified how they can be improved. Children’s phones continue to be monitored in terms of what apps can be downloaded, and there is software in place to block inappropriate websites from being accessed. Staff and managers have completed additional online safety training. The registered manager has also completed a more Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2605336 2 specific course relating to child exploitation and online protection. The registered manager has shared learning from this with the wider staff team.

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This monitoring visit

Children have been provided with some online safety resources that have been used in key-worker sessions. They have also completed some training themselves about how to be safe online. Furthermore, online safety is discussed in children’s meetings, which have been reinstated since the full inspection. Online safety now features consistently in staff team meetings.

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This monitoring visit

In one instance, a child received an online message with inappropriate content from a peer. The response to this by staff and managers was extensive. The child was able to share their experience immediately and swift and appropriate action was taken to support them. External agencies were informed appropriately of the incident. The support for the child included praise for sharing their experience and reassurance regarding next steps. Records relating to the incident are child-centred and not blaming of the child. Furthermore, the incident was explored during a staff team meeting to ensure a consistent response for the child.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed the use of consequences for children. Following this, new behavioural response guidance was devised and shared with staff. This guidance has been developed with the theraputic model used in the home at the core. The guidance is child-focused and provides staff with clear responses that should be considered when a child’s behaviour may be challenging. There have been no consequences for children since the full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no incidents when children have gone missing since the full inspection. This is a significant improvement.

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This monitoring visit

The presentation of the home has improved. Children’s artwork is displayed throughout and there are photographs that show some of the children’s experiences. Children can now access all areas of the home and the temperature of the home can be easily controlled.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection, children’s meetings have been reintroduced. This has enabled children to have the opportunity to share what matters most to them. Children have enjoyed these meetings and have benefited from the actions identified during the meetings. For example, changes have been made to snacks, activities and some decor in the home. Children have also commented that they have not experienced further bullying in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has devised a comprehensive action plan to address the shortfalls identified at the full inspection. Not all requirements raised at the full inspection were considered during the monitoring visit. Therefore, these remain. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2605336 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 26/02/2024 Full Inadequate 01/12/2022 Full Good 15/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2605336 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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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 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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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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)(c)(d)(f)(h)) 6 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 6 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2605336 5 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(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)) 6 June 2024

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2605336 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Serendipity Centre Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1ST Floor, Goodlands House, St. Lukes Close, Hedge End, Southampton SO30 2US

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Inspector

Kelly Marchmont, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2605336 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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