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

Inspection report children’s home: SC485529 1 SC485529 Registered provider: New Forest Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who experience complex emotional, social and educational difficulties. All children have access to the organisation’s therapeutic services. There were three children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2023.

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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: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC485529 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/03/2024 Full Outstanding 21/03/2023 Full Good 02/03/2022 Full Good 17/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC485529 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There are excellent relationships between the children and staff. The staff provide warmth and nurture in all areas of the children’s care. Staff prioritise spending time with the children to develop these trusting relationships. As a result, children are making excellent progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff celebrate the children’s achievements. They use the children’s care plans to ensure that their care is effective, and that the children are developing skills. Staff diligently review the care plans and carefully track the children’s goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff help the children to develop their identity. They encourage children to develop their interests and to take part in activities in the local area. The children attend groups such as youth clubs and Girl Guides, and enjoy holidays abroad and various outdoor activities throughout the year. Photos displayed around the home reflect the children’s individual interests as well as activities that they have enjoyed together. As a result, the children have developed a strong sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff help the children to develop their social skills. Staff organise activities with the children, they play games together and spend mealtimes together. This gives a real sense of a family home and helps the children to share memories with each other. This support means that the children have developed positive relationships with each other. One child described their relationship with their peer as like having a brother.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to achieve their educational milestones. The children’s school staff attribute the progress made by the children to the care and support that they receive from staff at the home. Staff establish good routines with the children to help them to attend school. The children are supported to develop their independence skills so that they can travel to and from school by themselves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to lead healthy lifestyles. Staff help the children to follow a balanced diet, go to the gym and go out for walks. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle helps the children to develop resilience and a positive outlook on life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff help the children to develop life skills. The children are supported to complete household chores, as well as travelling to school and going to the local shops independently. These skills support the children to build self-esteem as well as gain a better understanding of teamwork and co-operation, preparing them for adult life.

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

Staff are highly skilled in understanding the children’s vulnerabilities and risks. There is a sharp focus on keeping the children safe online. The staff manage the children’s understanding of online safety through individual and creative risk assessments. The Inspection report children’s home: SC485529 4 staff have excellent relationships with the children, which enable open discussions about risks. Staff are proactive in their risk management and involve the children in the development of plans to reduce risks. Staff protect the children from risks by excellent collaborative planning with the organisation’s therapeutic team and external agencies.

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

Physical interventions are very rare and are used as a last resort to keep the children safe. The manager is diligent in ensuring that safe practice is used by having a clear oversight of the incident records. The manager seeks support, when necessary, from the organisation’s instructor to enhance staff practice. Staff are always focused on helping the children calm by using de-escalation techniques.

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

Staff help the children to understand the rules of the home through effective use of consequences. These are individualised and managed according to the child’s age. Staff consider the views and feelings of the children and share these with the wider network if appropriate. Records of concerns are clear and shared promptly to help the children to become safer. Staff speak regularly at handovers and team meetings to reflect on their practice to ensure that it is in line with the therapeutic model of care.

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

The manager has effective oversight of safeguarding concerns. These concerns are rare. The actions taken by staff are well recorded and are shared with external agencies. There was one missed opportunity to notify Ofsted of a serious incident. This had not placed the children at risk of harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is inspirational, confident and ambitious for the children, influencing positive change in their lives. They are an excellent role model to the staff and children. One staff member described the manager as ‘hands on’. Staff say that they are always learning new strategies from observing the manager’s practice to safeguard the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children benefit from care provided by the stable staff team. Staff say that they feel valued and respected and that the manager provides support in everyday practice. The staff enjoy their roles and have built up secure and trusting relationships with the children. One child said their key worker is a ‘father figure’ to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager understands the team’s strengths and weaknesses. The manager has a strong focus on developing staff skills, and they use monitoring systems to identify appropriate training to match staff’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff have excellent working relationships with external agencies. One child’s education professional described the staff as ‘amazing’. The staff are strong advocates for the children. This ensures that the children’s needs remain central to the decision- making process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has instilled a learning culture. They use supervisions, team meetings and handovers to reflect on what can be improved. These discussions are used effectively to Inspection report children’s home: SC485529 5 inform the children’s care plans. Staff keep the children’s best interests at the heart of care planning and decision-making. Inspection report children’s home: SC485529 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)-(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (40)(4)(e). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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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: SC485529 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: West Shore House, West Street, Hythe, Southampton Hampshire SO45 6AA

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Inspector

Shaheda Dhandia, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC485529 8 and inspects 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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