Swanwick Lodge

Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC038719 1 Swanwick Lodge Hampshire County Council

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Glen Road, Swanwick, Southampton, Hampshire SO31 7HD

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this secure children’s home

This home is managed by a local authority. It is approved by the Secretary of State to restrict children’s liberty.

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Information about this secure children’s home

The home can accommodate up to 10 children who are aged between 10 and 17. At the time of the inspection, eight children were living at the home. All the children contributed to the inspection.

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Information about this secure children’s home

The home cares for children placed by local authorities under section 25 of the Children Act 1989. Admission of any child under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 who is under 13 years of age requires the approval of the Secretary of State.

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Information about this secure children’s home

The commissioning of health services in this home is the statutory responsibility of NHS England under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Education is provided on site in dedicated facilities.

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Information about this secure children’s home

The manager of the home has been registered with Ofsted since March 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

Children’s education and learning good Children’s health good How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC038719 2 The secure children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC038719 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/04/2024 Full Outstanding 25/04/2023 Full Good 05/04/2022 Full Good 22/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC038719 4

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improvement to be good

While children are making progress and having positive experiences, the overall judgement is negatively impacted by shortfalls in the help and protection of children and leadership and management.

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improvement to be good

Children’s views, wishes and feelings are gathered in one-to-one sessions. An external exploitation worker works with some children about their risks, and staff also have conversations with children about their known risks and reasons for coming to the home. These sessions are effective when they do take place, but they could take place more consistently to provide children with more regular opportunities to develop their understanding and learn new strategies to manage their risks.

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improvement to be good

Children access community activities on a regular basis. For children who have started to go out, they are offered a range of activities such as trips to the zoo and theme parks and going for dog walks. During school holidays, activities are planned and are based on children’s requests. During the evenings and weekends, there is a lack of activities and children say they do not have much to do and that they get bored.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to maintain contact with their families, and children’s families speak positively about the service that children receive. One family member said that their child ‘is treated like an individual, looks really well and has made progress’. Close working with children’s families contributes to the stability of children’s placements.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to contribute to, and set, their own individual goals and targets for their plans. There is multi-agency contribution to each child’s plan. This enables the home to have a balanced view of progress in areas such as increased self-esteem, building trusted relationships and enjoying school, to acknowledge children’s progress and identify areas for further support. Children’s views and achievements are recognised and celebrated.

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improvement to be good

Children know how to make a complaint, and when they do, these are managed well. There are clear responses and children receive outcomes from their complaints. When a child is not in agreement with the outcome, their views are escalated to their social worker for independent oversight.

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improvement to be good

The home environment is suitable for children. When building damage is caused, repairs are completed in a timely manner. Some rooms have been decorated based on children’s feedback and are colourful, calm spaces. Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC038719 5

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Children’s education and learning: good

Senior leaders in education know the children well and have positive relationships with staff. Those with responsibility for governance provide insightful, supportive oversight. Leaders have an accurate understanding of the key strengths and take prompt action to address emerging weaknesses. Leaders have remedied the main weakness identified at the previous inspection. They have improved the quality of education in science.

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Children’s education and learning: good

Leaders and managers collect an appropriate range of information about the children’s starting points in education, including children’s interests and early career aims. Most teachers use this information well to plan individual curriculums that prepare children for their next steps. Leaders have introduced a design and technology curriculum to better meet the needs of children.

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Children’s education and learning: good

In nearly all subjects, the curriculum is taught well. Teachers use a variety of relevant, interesting and appropriately challenging resources and activities. Children respond well to the activities that teachers plan. Through skilful teaching, they learn more and remember more about new topics. In mathematics, teachers ensure, through skilful demonstration and explanation, that children understand the key concepts. Teachers provide plenty of opportunities for children to practise their skills and gain fluency in their understanding. In science, teachers skilfully link theoretical knowledge to the practical demonstrations. For example, children develop a good understanding of how electrical circuits work.

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Children’s education and learning: good

The quality of education in English is not consistently strong. Teachers do not always provide interesting learning resources nor do they use assessment consistently well. Sometimes, teachers use past exam questions before the children have been taught the content in sufficient detail. Children make slow progress. Leaders have extended the range of age-appropriate books, newspapers and magazines. Children improve their reading ability across the school, through the book club and through access to the library.

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Children’s education and learning: good

Although children feel safe in education, when a child disclosed personal and concerning information within their work, the teacher did not share the content quickly enough with the appropriate safeguarding or health professionals.

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Children’s education and learning: good

Teachers and learning coaches work hard in supporting children to develop positive social skills and behaviour. They take action to maintain an appropriate learning environment in the classroom. Most children maintain their focus on learning within the classroom and have high attendance. Staff have produced a personal development curriculum that prepares children well for adulthood. Leaders provide children with access to regular high-quality careers advice and guidance, which prepares them well for their next steps. Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC038719 6

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Children’s health: good

Soon after arriving at the home, each child receives a trauma-informed formulation developed through close collaboration between education, health and care professionals. This helps staff understand how trauma impacts on children’s behaviour, emotions and relationships. These assessments are supported with oversight by a clinical psychologist currently providing interim cover. The purpose is to build a shared, compassionate understanding of the child’s personal history, emotional well-being and coping strategies. This approach ensures that all staff are equipped to support the child’s mental health needs and work towards meaningful, individualised goals.

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Children’s health: good

Children’s health assessments, including using comprehensive health assessment tools, are carried out with compassion and sensitivity. Health staff take care to reflect each child’s preferences and emotional readiness, especially when children are reluctant to engage. This thoughtful approach fosters trust and supports children’s active participation in understanding their health needs.

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Children’s health: good

Children benefit from a wide range of targeted health interventions. These include timely access to immunisations, integrated therapeutic services such as speech and language therapy and occupational therapy and focused support around smoking cessation and sleep hygiene. Staff play an active and empathetic role in promoting physical health, for example by participating in blood testing alongside children to reduce anxiety. These efforts reflect a holistic, trauma-informed approach that prioritises well-being and empowers children to take ownership of their health.

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Children’s health: good

Health staff work collaboratively with children to ensure their medication is tailored to their individual needs. Children are registered with a general practitioner shortly after arrival and are supported to access this service whenever needed. This empowers children to understand their medicine and how it supports their health and ensures they have the right access to it. There is clear and comprehensive oversight of medication management. Regular audits are conducted to ensure safe and effective practice. All staff receive appropriate training in medication handling and administration.

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Children’s health: good

Children are usually seen by a health professional following incidents of physical restraint or self-harm. This ensures that any immediate medical needs are addressed and helps staff identify additional support the child may require during difficult times. However, while this would normally be standard practice, there have been occasions where children were not seen by a member of the health team following a restraint. These instances have been recognised, and there are now mechanisms to prevent recurrence to ensure that children continue to receive the care and attention they need.

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Children’s health: good

Although the team at Swanwick Lodge demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting children’s mental health, access to psychological support for children can sometimes be limited due to the availability of specialist resources. While this may occasionally affect the continuity of therapeutic input, staff remain committed to supporting children’s emotional and mental health needs as fully as possible within the current provision. Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC038719 7

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improvement to be good

Physical intervention is used proportionately, although leaders’ oversight of incidents has not identified some shortfalls in practice and learning. De-escalation techniques are not always used effectively, and as a result, some incidents are unnecessarily prolonged or escalate. This shortfall does not support children’s emotional well-being or promote a safe, nurturing environment. For example, children who are not involved in incidents are not consistently supported to move away from the area. This can contribute to the escalation of behaviours and results in some children witnessing distressing events that they should be protected from.

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improvement to be good

Due to the high number of physical interventions, staff are not consistently supported to reflect on incidents or learn from them effectively. Staff do not routinely review CCTV footage unless a safeguarding concern is identified, limiting opportunities for meaningful reflection. Debrief sessions lack focus on specific incidents and are not recorded in line with regulations. This reduces accountability and hinders practice improvement.

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improvement to be good

Swearing and the use of inappropriate language are not consistently or effectively challenged by staff. As a result, this contributes to a culture where poor behaviour and boundary-testing become normalised within the home.

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improvement to be good

The local safeguarding children partnership (LSCP) has not carried out a review of restraint as defined by the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and included its review in its annual report, as set out in ‘Working together to safeguard children 2013’. Therefore, the LSCP does not have a clear view on whether practices at the home are appropriate so that, in turn, staff can learn and improve practice as necessary.

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improvement to be good

A face shield is used during some incidents of physical restraint. The rationale for using this measure of control is not set out in the home’s policies and procedures or part of the child’s induction into the home. Children and people who are important to them are therefore not aware of all the measures of control that may be used.

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improvement to be good

Single separation (where a child is locked into an area alone due to significant risk) and managing away (where a child is kept apart from other children due to risk) are used appropriately and clearly documented. Children are supported by care staff throughout incidents until they end.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Quality assurance systems are inconsistent. At times, they identify positive practice and areas for improvement. In some key practice areas, such as in the use of physical intervention with children, shortfalls and important learning are not identified and shared with staff, so practice does not improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers do not ensure that staff have relevant, up-to-date training. There are a number of staff who are out of timescale for attaining a relevant qualification and delay Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC038719 8 in ensuring staff are enrolled. The manager stated this is out of her control and that she has raised the issue with external managers in the local authority. The local authority are acting to rectify this. A number of staff do not have up-to-date safeguarding children training nor received training in exploitation or trauma-informed approaches that are important in meeting the needs of the children. The manager is taking action to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive support in their work through quarterly supervision, although routine discussions about safeguarding children are not taking place. Staff have daily opportunities to receive support and guidance from managers and each other. Team meetings are held regularly, where children’s care is the focus. Staff are invested in these meetings, where they share both concerns and successes for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is good collaborative working between staff and partner agencies. Leaders and managers confidently challenge services to ensure that they uphold their responsibilities to children. These effective working relationships ensure that children’s needs are met in accordance with their plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Most external professionals commented on the positive impact that the home is having on children, with good communication and understanding of children’s needs. Some commented that the good progress children make is not always evidenced, which makes it difficult for professionals to understand what work has been completed with the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Some staffing vacancies remain, and recruitment is ongoing. New members of staff do not receive the training they need to support them to provide good-quality care to children. They are learning from existing members of staff. In some cases, poor practices by existing staff are being adopted by some new staff, which is specifically evidenced in the use of physical intervention. Managers accept that this is an area for development and state that there is insufficient time to fully focus on reflecting and learning from incidents and sharing this with staff, due to the volume of incidents. Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC038719 9

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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, The 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

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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vii)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have the skills to de-escalate conflict situations effectively and protect all children when incidents occur in the home. Staff should be supported to reflect and learn after incidents to reduce the risk of reoccurrence for children. 30 September 2025 Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC038719 10 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.

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Requirement Due date

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

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 30 September 2025 Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC038719 11 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) (2) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b) (i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff should be spoken to after incidents of physical intervention, and this should be clearly recorded. Children should consistently be seen by a health professional after all incidents of physical intervention. All measures of control used (face shields) should be reflected in the home’s behaviour management policy and children’s plans as appropriate.

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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

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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff have skills, training and ability to recognise all safeguarding concerns. Also, management monitoring must be effective in recognising all shortfalls and action taken. 30 September 2025 Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC038719 12

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Recommendations

 The registered person should work with the local safeguarding children partnership (LSCP) to remind it of its duties to carry out a review of restraint practices at the home and include its review in the LSCP’s annual report, ‘Working together to safeguard children 2023’. (‘Working Together to Safeguard Children, page 108, paragraph 41)  The registered person should ensure that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. Leaders should ensure that the English curriculum is planned and taught in a way that meets the needs of the children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.2)  The registered person should ensure that teachers share concerns with the appropriate healthcare staff about children’s welfare as soon as they arise within education, and they should raise any need for further assessment or specialist

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Recommendations

provision. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3)  The registered person should ensure that each child’s day-to-day health and well- being needs are met. In particular, an appropriate psychology provision should be available for all children as required. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.3)  The registered person should tailor the children’s care to be reflective of the child’s needs. In particular, regular key-work sessions should take place to support children to address any risks or areas of concerns. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 21, paragraph 4.5)  The registered person should ensure that the secure children’s home offers children opportunities for enjoyment and achievement and encourage children to participate

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Recommendations

and develop their skills and interests, as part of the plan for their care. This type of activity will be particularly important to their rehabilitation and preparation for living back in the community. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.9)

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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 secure children’s home: SC038719 13

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Secure children’s home details

Registered provider: Hampshire County Council

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Secure children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Castle, Winchester SO23 8UG

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Inspectors

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Leanne Lyon, Social Care Inspector Jo Birtwhistle, Social Care Inspector Martin Ward, His Majesty’s Inspector Thomas Davis, Health and Justice Inspector (CQC) Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC038719 14 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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