Children's home run by Solent Child Care Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 1227788 1 Registered provider: Solent Child 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

The home is owned by a private provider and offers care and accommodation for up to 2 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home. No children have moved in or out of the home since the last inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The appointed manager has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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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 good

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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: 25 February 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1227788 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/02/2025 Full Good 30/01/2024 Full Good 10/01/2023 Full Outstanding 14/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1227788 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have developed positive relationships with staff and think of them as reliable and trustworthy adults. Managers and staff offer children stability and a secure base from which they can make progress. As a result, both children have lived in the home for a long time; 1 child has lived in the home for 8 years. This child informed the inspector about the strides they have made with education, independence skills and family time, attributable to staff support. They also explained that staff helped them through difficult periods.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise the children’s psychological and emotional wellbeing. They have worked collaboratively with the company’s clinical psychologist to deliver life story work and therapy sessions, helping children to process their lived experiences and explore their identity. Sometimes, children experience periods of regression, usually when relationships breakdown with their peers or when they have made mistakes. Staff engage children in meaningful conversations that help them to get back on track.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to engage in education, employment and volunteering. 1 child is attending school and making good progress. Until recently, the other child was attending college. However, professionals have decided it is safer for them to remain at home because they are concerned about who the child associates with and the risk of substance misuse. In the meantime, they are completing educational activities with a tutor and staff, including strengthening their independence skills. The child continues to attend their part-time job.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to understand their health diagnosis and the purpose of their medication. However, there have been times when a child has not wanted to take their medication on a daily basis. Staff listen to their wishes and feelings in this regard but encourage children to take their medication to participate in education and employment. When appropriate, staff support children to learn how to self-administer their medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children generally live well together and they have developed a nice bond. For example, the younger child enjoys drawing and gives pictures to the older child, who proudly displays them on their bedroom wall. Children are supported to strengthen their family ties providing this is safe and conducive to their emotional wellbeing.

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

Staff have a thorough understanding of children’s behaviours, strengths, needs, vulnerabilities and risks. They use this knowledge and their therapeutic training to inform their interactions with children. There is a strong focus on relationship-based practice and this is effective with the children. There have been no physical interventions or complaints since the last inspection. Inspection report for children's home: 1227788 4 Children are confident that staff will help them when things go wrong. They approach staff when they feel scared, worried or confused, seeking their help and counsel. Staff skilfully talk with children about difficult topics, for example, consent, police investigations and unacceptable behaviours. Staff involve the clinical psychologist to ensure that children are receiving the same messages from adults.

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

Managers and staff use team meetings effectively. For example, they talk about the children’s behaviour, any new concerns and work together to identify emerging risks. Managers use this information to develop a full picture of children’s lived experiences and when necessary, they consult with parents and external agencies, such as schools and social workers. This proactive approach means that staff are able to anticipate risks and act before children experience significant harm.

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

Generally, leaders and managers take appropriate action in the context of safeguarding concerns. They share information with relevant professionals, including the police, and work with them to support children through investigations. Staff maintain positive relationships with children during these periods because they have honest conversations with them about the action they have taken and the rationale for this.

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

Children’s risk assessments are treated as ‘live documents.’ Consequently, risk mitigation strategies are regularly updated and informed by children’s presentation, behaviour and incidents. The strategies used by staff are necessary and proportionate and they take account of children’s neurodiversity. Staff are aware of risks, understand the signs to look out for, and how to respond to keep children safe. Sometimes, the language used to describe children is negative and could result in unhelpful labels.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff advised the inspector that they are settled and happy now. However, there was a period where management arrangements were not suitable and this caused considerable stress, confusion and tension. During this period, the previous manager relaxed children’s routines and boundaries but this did not work well for them and had a negative impact on their behaviours. For example, children demanding items from staff and staying on their phones until the early hours of the morning. There was a lack of cohesion between the former manager and the staff team and this impacted consistency of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New management arrangements were implemented in October 2025, and staff have seen a significant improvement in the home. They have confidence in their new manager’s decision making and oversight, which helps them to feel psychologically safe. Boundaries and routines have been re-introduced to the children, which they have accepted. Staff are valued by their new manager, and they appreciate her willingness to learn about the children and their needs, before making any changes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager is a tenacious advocate for the children, keeping their safety and wellbeing at the centre of decisions. For example, she devised a safety plan for 1 child Inspection report for children's home: 1227788 5 who she has significant concerns about. However, their social worker voiced some reluctance. The manager was unbudgeable and reiterated the seriousness of her concerns, which were subsequently supported by police intelligence. A statutory meeting was convened and the safety plan was endorsed by all professionals, including the social worker.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment practices have not been as robust as they should be and overall, there has been a lack of curiosity. For example, one member of staff was dismissed from their previous role. However, leaders and managers did not explore the reasons for this, and they only partially explored the gaps in their employment. Poor safer recruitment practices have the ability to impact children’s safety. Inspection report for children's home: 1227788 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, 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they explore any negative information shared in the applicant’s references. Additionally, they must verify the applicant’s reasons for leaving former employment where they worked with children and vulnerable adults. They should also seek written explanations for any gaps in employment history. 27 March 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 1227788 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff record information about the child in an objective, non-stigmatising, and clear way. Adults should consider the impact that reading records in the future may have for children and should therefore record information in a way that will be helpful and clear to the child. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 1227788 8

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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 Georges Yard, Castle Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7LW

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Inspector:

Tara Webb, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1227788 9 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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