Swanwick Lodge

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 1 Swanwick Lodge Hampshire County Council Glen Road, Swanwick, Southampton, Hampshire SO31 7HD

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this secure children’s home

The 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 provides care for up to 10 children aged between 10 and 17. At the time of this inspection, 8 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 provides care 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 registered with Ofsted in March 2022. They were not at the home on the day of the inspection.

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Inspection date: 19 February 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 19 February 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 2 Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 3

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager has taken action to address the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection. The registered manager continues to demonstrate a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and the areas that need further development. There are clear plans in place to continue to implement and embed improvement actions.

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Findings from the inspection

Monitoring of the quality of care in the home has been strengthened, and further improvements are planned. A deputy manager has recently been appointed to support the registered manager. Improvements in the home’s quality assurance processes are already evident.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have positive and trusting relationships with staff. Children engaged in enjoyable and meaningful activities during the inspection. They told inspectors they feel well supported by staff and believe they are benefiting from living at the home. One child, for example, spoke about what they had learned to help them stay safe. The home had a warm and upbeat atmosphere, with fun and laughter shared between children and the staff who care for them.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff talk to children about their individual needs and the reasons they live at the home. A new tracker for one-to-one sessions with children has been introduced to ensure that they take place regularly. There is close collaboration between the case worker, intervention worker and healthcare professionals, with regular meetings to ensure that children receive support that is aligned with their key risks and needs. Although this approach is still being embedded, staff are positive about their roles and the added support this will provide for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Physical restraints are reviewed by managers in a timely manner. However, on one occasion, a restraint did not meet the required criteria at the point it was initiated. Although management oversight of the restraint provides some context as to why the restraint was initiated due to the child's known risks and presentation, this does not fully explore whether the criteria was met at the point the restraint occurred. There have also been concerns about one staff member using unapproved holds. Referrals to the local authority designated officer are made when appropriate, and their advice is followed. The staff member has not received the appropriate training and oversight of their practice to keep children safe. This could create a risk that staff may not have the necessary up-to-date knowledge and skills to manage all incidents safely.

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Findings from the inspection

Most staff have received the provider’s mandatory training. Staff have also received relevant safeguarding training. Where new risks are identified, additional specific training is sourced and delivered. For example, staff have received training in Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 4 children’s specific healthcare needs. Staff have a good understanding of children’s individual risks and how to manage them safely. Following incidents, staff receive debriefs and can review events on closed-circuit television to support their learning and development.

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Findings from the inspection

Three requirements and six recommendations were raised following the home’s last inspection. Two requirements have been met. One has been restated. Three recommendations have been met, and three recommendations were not considered during this visit. This will be reviewed at the home’s next inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/07/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/04/2024 Full Outstanding 25/04/2023 Full Good 05/04/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 6

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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 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 the skills, training and ability to recognise all safeguarding concerns. Furthermore, management monitoring must be effective in recognising all shortfalls and actions taken. 1 June 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped do so. Leaders should ensure that the English curriculum is planned and taught in a way that Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 7 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 in education, and they should raise any need for further assessment or specialist 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 wellbeing needs are met. In particular, an appropriate psychology provision

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Recommendations

should be available for all children as required. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 8

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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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038719 9 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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