Children's Home run by Knightwood Oaks Residential Care Ltd in Hampshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2744118 1 Registered provider: Knightwood Oaks Residential Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to two children aged eight to 18 years old with social and emotional difficulties. There were two children living in the home at the time of inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in October 2023.

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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 outstanding

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2744118 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are loved and cared for. They benefit from the staff’s warm and nurturing approach. They feel safe and describe the staff as ‘kind’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress in their emotional and social skills. Staff have regular supportive conversations with the children about their lives. These conversations help the children to identify and talk about their feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend education and are doing well. One child receives additional tuition after school to support their development. Staff help children when they find transitions difficult. One child has a planned activity every day after school to help them adjust to coming home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children’s interests and promote their independence. Children take part in after school activities, go shopping independently and are supported to spend time away from the home with friends. Staff help children to lead active lifestyles. They have busy lives and enjoy going fishing and go karting. They also enjoy beach walks and go swimming regularly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff put children at the centre of their care and creatively involve them in decisions about their lives. Staff use visual resources to help children to make decisions. They help children to personalise their rooms, and children are proud of the results.

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

Staff respond effectively when children go missing. They identify risks when children are involved in gangs or at risk of exploitation. These risks are explored with the child and shared promptly with the wider professional network.

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

Staff carefully assess risks for children. When greater protections or actions are needed to keep children safe, these are discussed with children’s social workers. The manager regularly reviews any restrictions to ensure that they are still needed and in the child’s, best interests.

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

Staff recognise when children follow rules and boundaries and celebrate good behaviour. Sanctions are not used with children, instead staff speak with the children about the risks and the impact of not following the rules.

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

Staff use physical intervention with children only when this is needed to keep them and others safe. Managers ensure that children and staff are spoken to following any incidents. Effective staff debriefs identify learning to reduce the likelihood of incidents happening again. Managers encourage staff to explore the underlying reasons for children’s behaviours and scrutinise practice to ensure it is of a high standard. These Inspection report for children’s home: 2744118 3 reviews are not always recorded in the child’s records. However, this has not had a negative impact on the quality of care provided to children.

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

Safer recruitment practices are highly effective. Managers ensure that staff, including agency staff, are properly vetted before working in the home.

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

The manager carefully assesses the local area for risks. The location risk assessment has been kept up to date since the home opened and includes any emerging concerns. The manager takes appropriate action to reduce any known risks and regularly reviews them.

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

There has been one allegation against a staff member. This was managed well by the manager and information was shared with key professionals including the local authority designated officer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by an experienced registered manager. She is responsive to the children and staff and ensures that the children feel valued and safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and responsible individual work closely together and share the same vision for the home. They have extremely high expectations and are ambitious for children. Their approach to care has created a nurturing environment and they ensure that staff offer highly effective support to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders are extremely involved in the children’s care. They are visible figures in the home and work alongside the staff team to care for children. This enables them to have excellent relationships with the children and a deep understanding of their progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders have sophisticated systems for monitoring the care that children receive. They regularly review all the children’s records and use this oversight to inform training for the staff. Leaders know their areas for development and continuously plan to sustain high quality care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff describe the manager as ‘amazing’. The manager is always available to provide support and guidance to staff and children. They use regular supervision to support staff well-being and aid their development. Leaders provide feedback to staff on their performance and use staff meetings to drive good practice. New staff are inducted into the home with a highly comprehensive induction and training package. Staff are trained to meet the specific needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders advocate for the children. They work tirelessly to form effective working relationships with key partner agencies. Excellent communication ensures positive outcomes for the children. Parents describe the leaders as ‘very helpful’ and ‘supportive’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders carefully assess and effectively plan children’s moves into the home. They make sure that staff are extremely well prepared to care for new children. Detailed assessments ensure that children have clear plans from the moment that they move in. Inspection report for children’s home: 2744118 4 Professionals report that staff quickly understand the complex needs of children. As a result, children have a positive experience moving into the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders promote a learning culture. They promptly identify learning following incidents and when children move out of the home. Leaders have regular conversations with staff about their practice to ensure it is of high quality. When children complain, effective action is taken by leaders. Inspection report for children’s home: 2744118 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the records of restraint contain a review of the use of control and restraint. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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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: 2744118 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Knightwood Oaks Residential Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 31 to 33 Commercial Road, Poole BH14 0HU

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Inspector

Mark Dawkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2744118 7 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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