Children's home run by Solent Child Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2671361 1 Registered provider: Solent Child 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 provider and offers care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home. No children have moved into or out of the home since the last inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

The term ‘adults’ is used throughout this report as an alternative to ‘staff’ or ‘carers’, as this is the preference of the organisation and the children living in the home.

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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

Date of last inspection: 20 February 2024

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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: 2671361 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/02/2024 Full Good 08/06/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2671361 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The inspector spent time with both children, who were excited to show them their highly personalised home and bedrooms. Both children talked about being very happy in their home, and this was also reflected in the observations made by the inspector. Adults were incredibly attuned to the children, noticing any slight change in their demeanour and acting quickly on it.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Adults provide exceptional care for the children, and the children are thriving due to this. Adults understand the children and tailor the care they provide to their specific needs while considering their previous lived experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Adults and the manager have extremely effective working relationships with both external professionals and family members, which has resulted in sustained and clear progress for the children. An independent reviewing officer advised that they are ‘in awe’ of the care provided by the home. Parents comment on how happy their children are and say that communication with staff is excellent. One parent said that the manager also offers them general emotional support on occasion, which they really appreciate. Adults have ensured that extended family members are also involved in the children’s lives, which has enhanced children’s ability to maintain meaningful, sustained relationships with their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Adults have supported both children to make significant progress in terms of education. One child is now successfully attending full-time school for the first time. Adults and the manager parent the children using a therapeutic approach, which has been key in supporting their development of emotional resilience. Adults help children to understand why they experience certain difficult emotions, how to overcome them and how they can link back to past experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Adults and the manager ensure that the children understand the long-term plans for them and have also supported them to develop some areas of independence, despite their young ages. There is a clear focus on providing care that enhances the future progress of children, and the work and support provided for one child around their life story and identity have been extremely impactful.

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

Adults and the manager understand the children and any risks associated with them and have a planned approach to reducing future potential risks. For example, adults are supporting children to understand the risks related to social media and internet use, despite their young ages. The manager is acutely aware of the children’s vulnerabilities, and the overall planning for them reflects a clear focus on addressing this. Inspection report for children’s home: 2671361 4 The manager has developed a clear working protocol alongside partner agencies, to support one child in relation to them raising multiple concerns about staff practice, which ensures that they are always taken seriously regardless of the circumstances. Adults understand this protocol, although the recording of incidents is not always detailed enough.

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

Adults respond to children’s behaviour in a therapeutic and nurturing way to ensure that the children feel safe, while ensuring that boundaries are clear and consistent. This consistency and the nurturing approach have been key factors in a significant reduction in the use of restraint for one child.

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

There is a clear focus on children feeling safe, and adults are highly attuned to both children in respect of this. Children themselves say that they feel safe in their home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is inspirational in her approach to providing ambitious, nurturing and individual care for children. Leaders’ and managers’ expectations of the adults are high, and the manager models this in her approach with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are highly skilled in understanding how trauma can impact on future behaviour and have passed this learning on to the adults in the home. This has supported the children’s overall progress, as the planning for them includes consideration for their past experiences. Alongside this, the manager also ensures that these experiences do not limit children’s progress and the adults’ aspirations for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Adults are happy in their work, referring to the home as being a second family, and talk about how supportive leaders and managers are. Adults also comment on the support provided, including helpful guidance and constructive criticism to help them improve their practice. Training is effective and focuses on the specific needs of the children in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has excellent oversight of the home and therefore understands both the strengths and areas for development. This has been evidenced multiple times, when decisive action has been taken as a result of weaknesses having been identified. There is an overall culture of learning and development for the adults in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers make effective challenge to external agencies where appropriate and advocate strongly for the children. Adults help the children to understand their identities and life stories through their own training, as well as through access to skilled clinical support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s views are clear throughout recordings and generally within the home environment. The home is personalised, warm and welcoming. There are photos of the children and adults throughout, and evidence of the children’s toys and possessions in Inspection report for children’s home: 2671361 5 every room. The attention to detail that has been taken to ensure that this is a homely place is very evident.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a dedicated leader who has high aspirations for both children and the team. The work and the dedication she has demonstrated have been instrumental in the overall progress of the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2671361 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: 2671361 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Solent Child Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 9 St George’s Yard, Castle Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7LW

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Inspector

Helen Cushnie, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2671361 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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