Children's Home run by West Sussex County Council in West Sussex

Unique reference number SC037454 Inspection date 03/10/2013 Inspector Kevin Whatley Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 27/03/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This service is a mixed gender children's home for young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a local authority.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people continue to benefit from outstanding levels of care, support and guidance. Individually focused programmes of care assist young people to make significant progress. This is most impressive given their often poor starting points.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people say they feel safe and looked after especially well. A culture of safety ensures young people receive excellent support, advice and guidance to reduce their risk taking attitudes and behaviours. This has resulted in young people considerably reducing the occasions they place themselves at risk of harm.

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Overall effectiveness

Positive and meaningful relationships form the backbone of practice. This knowledgeable approach subsequently supports young people to greatly improve their levels of self-esteem, confidence and behaviour. In many cases progress is outstanding.

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Overall effectiveness

A detailed approach to care planning, assessment and review ensures the specific and changing needs of each young person are met to an outstanding degree. This is further supported by a dedicated staff team whose commitment and skills is praised highly by care professionals and the young people themselves.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are clearly an integral part of the home being given every opportunity to have their views considered in daily living. The atmosphere of the home is open and inclusive where young people learn to treat others with respect and understanding.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is managed to the highest standards with the needs of young people remaining the paramount importance. The senior management team are focused, innovative and forward thinking in their desire to improve at every opportunity. This results in a vibrant culture where creativity and ingenuity is often used to meet the specific needs of young people.

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Overall effectiveness

No requirements or recommendations were made at the last inspection and none are made as a result of this visit.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are outstanding. Such progress is excellent given the poor starting points a majority of young people arrive at the home with. Young people say they receive, 'brilliant support' and noted that staff, 'really care'. Social workers confirmed that young people benefit considerably from the strength of relationships young people share with staff and as a result make excellent progress. Comments included, 'staff always seek the positives about young people…the quality of the relationship with staff has massively helped in increasing their levels of maturity'.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people say they get, 'listened to' and are clearly at ease interacting with staff. The views and wishes of young people are considered well and incorporated into decisions which affect their daily lives. Regular meetings take place where they have a chance to discuss a range of issues in the home, both as a group and individually in key-work sessions. This includes practical concerns such as deciding the week’s menu, to more emotive aspects of group living, for instance expectations of behaviour and respect.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people live in a home that fully promotes their educational learning and development. They receive individualised support and encouragement and as a result make significant progress to engage in their education. Attendance rates are high with staff providing close support to ensure young people engage in their learning. Young people who arrived with histories of virtually nil attendance to school have been able to establish 90% attendance. While young people who arrived having not attended education for many months have recently passed their GCSE's; this progress is exceptional given their starting points.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people receive outstanding levels of support to maintain contact with their families and those important to them. This results in the positive development of relationships, re-establishing family ties and improving future plans. Staff assist young people with contact visits that have included travelling considerable distances both in Britain and in Europe. Communication between the home and parents is open and focuses on supporting young people in all aspects of their lives. Young people say, 'I have had brilliant help in sorting things out with my mum…we now get on so much better'.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are provided with excellent support and encouragement to prepare for life as they approach adulthood. The notion of improving independence skills and experiences is a cornerstone of the home, notably as young people are aged 13 and above. Individualised programmes take account of the needs of the young person concerned and can include independent travel, living on a budget, cooking and seeking employment. Staff work hard to assist young people to move away from institutionalised ideas of living in care with realistic expectations in place to help them improve their levels of maturity and responsibility. This sensitive, yet pro- active, approach enables young people to grow in confidence and develop their skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people

An outstanding programme of outreach further supports young people once they move on from the home, often into semi-independent or independent living. Young people benefit immeasurably from this process which provides them with an excellent support network that in turn greatly enhances their chances of successful transitions out of care. During the inspection young people who had lived at the home sometime previously visited to inform staff of how they were getting on. This unexpected visit appeared a normal part of the life of the home. The approach from staff confirmed the open and caring atmosphere of the environment and indeed the continuing importance of young people once they move on.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people receive an outstanding quality of care. The importance of high quality, constructive and meaningful relationships with staff enables them to consider their own problems, learn coping mechanisms and move forward in their lives. This includes learning mutual respect for staff, each other and the wider community. Behaviour was seen to be excellent with positive relationships amongst staff and young people helping to create an environment where appropriate behaviour is expected. For many young people the home has provided the longest period of stability since they have been in care. Conversations with young people were polite, yet forthright, which confirmed their personal development and increased levels of maturity.

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Quality of care

A suitable complaints procedure is in place with young people having considerable opportunities to raise their concerns. Young people confirmed they understood the procedure with no significant concerns or complaints raised during the inspection. No complaints have been made since the last inspection.

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Quality of care

Care planning is a major strength of the home with an excellent and comprehensive process ensuring the individual needs of each young person are considered in depth, planned for and reviewed. The emotional, social, educational and cultural needs of young people are fully considered when plans are compiled. Care planning takes into account the views of the young person and those important to them. They are also developed incorporating expert advice and guidance. These plans provide clear guidance for staff who follow them in practice. Care planning is an inclusive aspect of the home with young people invited for their opinions at every stage, including reviews. Key-workers meet regularly with young people and discuss the progress they are making and what areas need to develop more or improve. This approach confirms the strength of key-working relationships and the importance of which the views of young people are fundamental in the care provided to them.

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Quality of care

The health care needs of young people are met to a high standard, notably their emotional wellbeing. The home links well with external health care professionals, such as the Looked After Children's nurse and the local Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service, to provide a joined up approach. The home has access to expert advice from a child psychologist who provides focused support and guidance to the whole staff team on a regular basis. This enables individualised programmes of intervention to be put in place swiftly, such as the best ways of engaging young people who have Asperger's syndrome. This increases staff awareness and leads to young people receiving specific care to match their needs.

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Quality of care

All routine medical appointments are planned with staff supporting young people to attend them. Healthy lifestyles are promoted with staff actively encouraging young people to visit the gym and engage in physical activities; often staff will participate with them. A robust approach to the storage and administration of medication ensures safe and accurate processes are embedded in practice. Medicines are checked daily with records being up to date and correct.

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Quality of care

Young people say they, 'enjoy' meals at the home and benefit from a menu that promotes healthy diets. Menus are compiled with young people each week and include a good balance of nutrition, fresh vegetables and fruit and choice. Young people take turns in assisting staff with the weekly shop, which improves their social skills, acknowledges the realities of group living and encourages shared responsibility.

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Quality of care

The home harbours a culture where the learning needs of young people are promoted to an excellent level. Close working with external agencies ensures programmes of education and training match the needs of the young person concerned. This approach has seen young people make outstanding achievements in gaining qualifications and moving on to college to pursue vocational courses. As a result young people develop learning and social skills, gain valuable experiences and ultimately enhance their life choices.

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Quality of care

Activities form a key component of daily routines and allow young people considerable opportunities to pursue their own interests, enjoy new experiences and consider others. Regular trips take place to local leisure centres and places of interest with young people often benefitting from valuable one-to-one time with staff. Young people went on holiday to Greece this summer and say they had, 'a great time'; for some young people being able to manage the period of time away in a foreign country is a significant improvement which has broadened their horizons and confidence.

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Quality of care

Young people are helped to follow their own wishes and in doing so improve their health. For example playing in local football teams and attending kick boxing classes; the latter has seen young people who previously avoided exercise thoroughly enjoy the sessions, gain a healthier weight and as a consequence improve their feelings of self-worth. Young people are also supported to raise money for local charitable causes. In the past this has included the whole staff team joining young people on army assault courses; a charity fun run is due to take place later this month. This approach results in positive and worthwhile interactions with the local community and a clear sense of achievement for young people.

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Quality of care

Young people are provided with a good standard of accommodation. Young people are encouraged to personalise their rooms and do so with pictures and posters. Suitable space, both inside and out, enables young people the opportunity to be alone should they wish. Improvements have been made with the garden area being revamped with the help of the young people, while new shower fittings, bedroom doors and surrounds and refurbishment of the exterior of the home have increased the quality of the accommodation. The environment is furnished in a homely and comfortable way which adds to the relaxed atmosphere.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people benefit from living in a home which places their safety and wellbeing of the utmost importance. This results in young people being kept as safe as possible, gaining invaluable insight into their negative thoughts, feelings and actions and ultimately significantly reducing their risk taking behaviours. Young people say they feel safe and acknowledge how staff continually assist them to consider the consequences of their actions.

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Safeguarding children and young people

All staff receive regular training in child protection and display an excellent level of understanding of key safeguarding concerns and the protocols necessary to follow. Staff clearly appreciate the vulnerabilities of young people and utilise their skills and knowledge to build up a close rapport with them. This enables meaningful work to take place where young people feel able to engage in programmes aimed at reducing their risky lifestyles. Social workers comment that staff have, 'gone above and beyond' in working, 'tirelessly' with young people to ensure their safety and thus improve their future choices.

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Safeguarding children and young people

A robust recruitment process ensures no members of staff work with young people until they are deemed appropriate to do so. No new staff have been employed since the last inspection.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The risks young people present to themselves or others are assessed in detail, planned for and reviewed. A comprehensive process takes account of the challenging and risky behaviours of young people and incorporates them into intervention plans which are followed in practice. These are informed by expert advice and provide an excellent and individual approach to assisting young people to address their most concerning behaviours. This has been particularly successful in significantly reducing the number of times young people, with entrenched patterns of running away from care, have been helped to stop doing so. As a result they have stabilised their lifestyles, have learned from their previous experiences and can now plan for their futures positively.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The culture of the home promotes appropriate behaviour and mutual respect with clear rules and boundaries in place which young people state as being, 'firm but fair'. These are imposed consistently by a staff team who appreciate the needs and abilities of the young people in their care. Young people confirm that bullying is not an issue in the home, although recent changes in the dynamics of the young person group has, at times, created some new tensions. The open atmosphere of the home has seen staff address any problems in a sensitive and forward thinking way, including the use of restorative justice. In turn young people are able to discuss their concerns easily and appropriately leading to swift resolutions where they are able to take responsibility for their own poor behaviour.

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Safeguarding children and young people

All staff are trained in the use of physical intervention and only do so when absolutely necessary. Restraints are very rare with just one taking place since the last inspection. The importance of communication, de-escalation and the strength of staff relationships with young people greatly reduces the occasions when such interventions are required. Young people who arrived at the home with histories of being regularly restrained are supported by a skilled staff team to quickly adapt to the expectations of the home. In doing so they have considerably reduced the times where they act out their fears, frustrations or anger in an aggressive or violent manner.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a home that offers them a safe environment. Fire safety is given a high priority with evacuation drills taking place monthly. Fire fighting equipment is routinely checked and serviced along with all other electrical appliances. Health and safety checks and assessments are completed regularly thus ensuring the home is free from preventable hazards and risks.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding .

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Leadership and management

The home is managed in a highly effective and efficient manner. The senior management team is led by a vastly experienced Registered Manager who provides excellent and intuitive leadership that places the needs of young people at the forefront of planning and decision making. Together the senior management team ensure the home is run consistently within an ethos that aspires to improve at every opportunity. Feedback from social workers noted, 'the home is fantastic…we cannot praise the whole team highly enough…an excellent senior management team'.

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Leadership and management

No requirements or recommendations were made at the last inspection. The home has continued to build on the strengths of service provision with a number of improvements further cementing outstanding levels of practice. These include integrating restorative justice processes, upgrading the living environment and seeking to be part of government initiatives to review the impact living in care has had for young people once they move on. This results in a vibrant and professionally run home that strives to be an exemplar of care and intervention.

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Leadership and management

Comprehensive and objective monitoring procedures ensure all aspects of care provision are routinely scrutinised and assessed. Monthly inspection visits are completed by the local authority which take account of the views of young people, staff and parents/carers. The Registered Manager carries out regular reviews of care and compiles his findings into six monthly Regulation 34 reports. These provide a critique of standards of care, confirm strengths and weaknesses and highlight the impact of improvement strategies. Additionally a new tracking system has been implemented that allows key aspects of progress for each young person to be evaluated at any given time. The analysis includes attendance rates to education, the number of sanctions received and the number of incidents. This development has enhanced the abilities of the home to judge the impact of specific programmes of care and to utilise the findings to inform future planning and intervention strategies.

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Leadership and management

Young people are cared for by a stable team of enthusiastic, committed and experienced staff who are deployed in appropriate numbers to care for their needs. Staff display a comprehensive knowledge of the individual needs of young people and a determination to help them succeed in the home. This culminates in an environment where a majority of young people settle, thrive and make significant progress in their lives.

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Leadership and management

The home ensures staff receive an excellent standard of support and training which assists them to keep up to date with legislation, ideas of best practice and promotes professional development. This has included whole team training in relevant areas including the risks and impact of sexual exploitation. A vast majority of staff are either qualified to the required level or above; the few remaining staff are currently undertaking the award. Staff say they benefit from excellent support via a management team who are, 'approachable, humble and inspirational'. Regular formal supervision is provided to staff that enables them to receive high quality guidance, support and advice to fulfil their roles.

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Leadership and management

The progress and development of each young person is made clear through a high standard of record keeping that provides an excellent overview of their time in the home. All documentation is maintained accurately and is up to date which contributes fully in capturing the specific aims of the placement, the progress made by young people and their plans for the future.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection and the evaluation schedule for the inspection of children's homes.

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