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

Unique reference number SC067753 Inspection date 12/02/2014 Inspector Keith Riley Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 16/05/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This local authority children's home provides care and support for a maximum of 16 children and children with complex needs. The home can accommodate children and children with both physical and learning disabilities, some of whom may display challenging behaviour. The home can provide permanent placements or short breaks.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress .

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Progress

At the last inspection in May 2013 the home was judged as good for overall effectiveness. Four recommendations were made and these have all been met.

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Progress

The Registered Manager has been successful in sourcing training to meet the specialist health needs of children who are being admitted. Core staff are trained by qualified health professionals to an excellent standard. A robust assessment process and sign off system for competency ensures that children are receiving the highest quality of care. There is an individualised approach so that the unique needs of each child are meticulously considered and met in an extremely robust fashion. Staff speak extremely positively of the new training and the standard of excellence it brings to the care that they deliver. They speak of a renewed confidence in processes, such as gastrostomy feeding.

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Progress

Positive behaviour management plans are under constant review by a qualified and experienced behaviour management tutor. Networks are developed with other providers to share good practice. Planned responses are carefully documented and agreed with all necessary parties, for example parents are now asked to sign positive handling plans. Daily monitoring and monthly reports to other professionals, such as placing social workers, ensure there is accountability, transparency and reflective practice. Although the number of physical interventions are low, there is a robust and comprehensive approach to ensure best practice at all times. This means that children have the best possible care and support to meet their needs, sometimes expressed through challenging behaviours.

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Progress

Key staff ensure the health and safety is maintained to a high standard, for example considering whether appliances bought into the home by children or their families require a portable appliance test. Effective monitoring and planning means that equipment is kept in good order. Plans are in place for any eventuality, for example, personal emergency evacuation plans guide staff how to keep children safe in the event of a fire.

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Progress

The Registered Manager ensures that reports required in accordance with statutory guidance, such as regulation 34 reports, are completed and sent into Ofsted. He uses such reports to monitor and improve the quality of care, such as improvements to medication procedures. Since the last inspection, changes have been made to minimise the chance of medication error and improvements have been made in medication procedures. Staff are now trained in child and infant life-support as well as basic first aid. Children have the best possible care in the event of an accident.

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Progress

The Registered Manager has a development plan in place and it is evident this is used as a tool to drive forward improvement, for example there are significant improvements to the playground such as the addition of a specialist swing and a roundabout. There are clear plans to further develop the facility, such as improvements to the kitchenette to enable children to do independent cooking.

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Progress

The views of children continue to be central to practice. Staff ensure children have access to communication aids, such as a consultation book, to get their views. Children say they have friends at the home, they can talk to their key worker, they feel happy at the home and they like the staff. Children who indicate a particular activity, such as a picnic in the park or a particular video-game, have their requests fully met.

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Progress

The Registered Manager ensures that young people, who are aged 16 or over, have pathway plans in place with clear links to adult services to ensure every chance of a successful transition to adult placement.

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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 progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

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