Children's Home run by My Choice Children’s Homes Limited in West Sussex

Unique reference number SC359832 Inspection date 17/02/2014 Inspector Gaynor Moorey Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 04/07/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This setting is registered to accommodate three young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. The home is managed by a private organisation.

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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

The home has made good progress since the last full inspection in July 2013 when the judgement for overall effectiveness was adequate, and also all outcomes for each section of the report were judged as adequate. The home received three recommendations and one requirement at the last inspection. The requirement related to ensuring that records relating to the restraint of young people were produced within 24 hours of the incident. One recommendation also related to the monitoring of these records by the manager. Both areas have since been met with clear records of restraint now being in place to coincide with any events. Monitoring signatures could be seen from the manager. The other two recommendations related to medication records, ensuring that all medication given was recorded and monitored and that everyone at the home has appropriate knowledge of the emergency procedures. The medication records are

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Progress

now up to date and clear monitoring is taking place. Recent records demonstrate that staff and young people who are new to the service are aware of emergency drills. No requirements or recommendations were made at this inspection.

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Progress

Young people enjoy consistent professional relationships with the staff. Staff receive training and have an excellent and comprehensive knowledge of working with young people. Young people are able to benefit greatly from making relationships and building trust with staff in order to move on from such behaviour as going missing on a regular basis. This benefits the young people by helping to ensure their safety.

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Progress

All young people attend educational placements, and are supported in their attendance and with any behaviour issues or incidents.. Young people are helped to find alternative placements such as vocational courses at college.

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Progress

Young people enjoy activities which they have chosen. The staff support the young people and risk assess activities so they can enjoy new experiences and learn from them at their own pace. Young people are enabled to move towards independence both through small steps and larger achievements.

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Progress

Young people’s health needs are met and promoted by staff. They are supported by staff to learn about areas that may affect their health such as drug and alcohol abuse and, when appropriate, staff help young people to gain access to appropriate services.

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Progress

Young people at the home have very different and specific needs. Staff have created comprehensive plans and risk assessments to address these needs which have been shared with the young people. The home ensures that young people can take part in and attend the meetings where their plans are reviewed.

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Progress

The home remains fully staffed, with new staff who began earlier this year and have remained in place, and this has created a solid supportive team. Staff are offered mandatory training alongside specific areas and qualifications.

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Progress

The home benefits from a knowledgeable and supportive manager and, since the Summer, also has an experienced assistant manager who transferred from another of the organisation’s homes. This has helped the team to change ideas and working practices to ensure young people's needs and complex issues are addressed through supportive, trusting relationships. The manager ensures the home is always reviewing its practice and monitoring records which contribute to the new development plan in order to ensure that the home continually improves and that the experiences of young people is enhanced.

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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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