Children's Home run by Crusoe Care Limited in East Sussex

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The home provides good care for two young people with a small and stable staff team. Staff members know the young people well. They form trusting relationships so young people settle in smoothly. Young people make good progress as a result.  The home presents as a place of calm where staff deliver positive messages to young people so they can develop self-confidence and self-belief. This enables young people to gain increased confidence in areas such as forming friendships and participation in placement review meetings.  Young people make good progress across numerous aspects of their lives. Staff know them extremely well as individuals and can meet their needs. As a result, young people make good progress in areas such as education attendance, hygiene and health, and improve behaviour.  Young people who have previously been non-school attenders now successfully engage in education. Effective liaison with education

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The children's home provision is good because:

establishments supports the young people’s continued attendance and achievements.  The voice of the young person is strong with young people having a say in how the home’s activities and their chosen activities. Young people respect the environment they live in.  The Registered Manager and Responsible Individual are present at the service on a daily basis. They have good oversight of practices and develop good relationships with the young people.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that full and satisfactory recruitment information is available in relation to the Regulation 44 visitor in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2 (Regulation 32 (3) (d)) 30/07/2015

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered provider must: compile in relation to the children’s home a statement of purpose which consists of a statement as to the matters listed in Schedule 1 (Regulation 16 (1)) 30/07/2015

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that after completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (Regulation 45(3)) 30/07/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

Ensure all supervision session are recorded; specifically relating to the Registered Manager’s supervision (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Information about this children's home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 2 children with emotional behavioural difficulties. Accommodation is provided in a single storey bungalow located in a residential area. The home is privately owned.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

02/10/2014 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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good

The home presents as a warm and caring environment where young people feel at ease to express themselves. Young people enjoy the company of staff and each other, and interact positively. Young people develop friendships, socialise with their peers and experience overnight stays with their school friends. A young person said `I enjoy being with my friends and wouldn’t change anything’.

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good

The home works hard to engage young people in a range of activities. Young people enjoy the activities and the time spent with each other and the staff team. A young person said ‘it’s a nice place here, I like the staff’. Activities include local outdoor adventure parks, cinema and internet games. Young people gain confidence and experience activities they may not otherwise do.

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good

Staff members support young people to gain independent life skills that they will need as an adult. Young people complete a life skills programme subject to regular review. For example, young people have gained budgeting skills and independent travel skills. Young people appreciate the support they get in this area, and one commented ‘I have bonded with my key worker who helps me with my life skills programme’.

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good

Young people are in education. They make good progress from their starting points. Residential and education staff work collaboratively to support young people who find school a challenge. The staff support and assist young people in their future education or working life. Staff will assist young people in applying for jobs, and provide sensible advice.

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good

Young people are at ease in expressing how they feel and in contributing to the running of the home. For example, young people can influence their choice of activities, menus and buying items such as clothing and games equipment. Key workers regularly spend one to one time with young people to address their needs and listen to their views. Young people confirm they know how to complain, although stated they felt they had no need to.

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good

Young people are encouraged to maintain healthy lifestyles. Staff members encourage a healthy diet and menus show this is achieved, with takeaway meals on occasions. Young people attend regular health appointments including yearly looked after children reviews. Access to specialist health professionals is available if required. Sensitive health issues are well-managed. For example, young people make good progress with personal hygiene matters. Medication administration is sound safe with good checking routines in place. Monitoring shows no errors or gaps in records kept of any medicines given. There is always one trained member of staff on duty each to administer first aid. Current young people do not require regular prescribed medication, however all non- prescribed medicines are well-managed.

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good

Young people are able to maintain contact with their family and those important to them. Staff support contact arrangements with effective planning and appropriate supervision arrangements put in place, if and when required. In addition, the staff team understand the importance for young people to forge positive relationships with friends they make at school or college.

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good

Staff understand how young peoples’ experiences can be expressed thorough their behaviour. Young people know about expectations of behaviour and the staff educates them about unsafe behaviour, including e-safety and the risks of sexual exploitation.

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good

All young people said they feel safe at the home and enjoy living there. Young people are confident in approaching the Registered Manager or staff members if they are worried. A young person said `the staff are good, I can speak to any staff’. Young people do not identify bullying as an issue in the home. They spend time together but also respect when they need space to themselves.

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good

Effective health and safety measures, including fire safety provide a safe environment for young people to live in. Regular checks ensure good standards of safety are maintained with areas that require work managed quickly. Young people and staff know how to respond in case of fire.

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good

Staff assess risks and the outcome of the assessments are used to inform staff of any concerns so risks can be minimised. The e-safety policy heightens staff members and young peoples’ awareness of internet and social media abuse. Staff monitors Young people’s use of the internet and social media.

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good

Recruitment checks relating to the suitability of staff are usually completed prior to their appointment. There are gaps in the recruitment of the new independent visitor. While telephone references and a Disclosure and Baring certificate have been undertaken, no written references have been undertaken. This does not currently affect young peoples’ safety due to robust supervision arrangements.

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good

Staff members discuss young peoples’ behaviour and progress at staff meetings and in individual supervision sessions. This ensures there is consistency in staff delivering care and that strategies are consistently applied. Staff are clear about safe acceptable behaviours and gain an understanding of individual triggers. They promote positive behaviour and de-escalation techniques rather than physical intervention. Records show no use of physical interventions, no incidents of young people going missing or anti-social behaviour requiring police presence. Policies and procedures are in place should such incidents occur.

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good

The use of sanctions is very low. Trusting relationships with staff mean young people positively take on board staff’s guidance. Clear information is in place about acceptable and non-acceptable sanctions that staff can apply.

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good

A recently reviewed pre admission referral process allows for the Registered Manager and staff to plan well and take into account the vulnerabilities young people may have. This requires local authorities to supply increased detailed information at referral stage. The Registered Managers is alert to the home’s location and resources they are able offer in making placement decisions.

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good

Staff are well informed about child protection and safeguarding concerns. Child protection concerns are shared with the appropriate agencies and appropriate records maintained of contacts and incidents. Staff know the whistleblowing procedures, if they have concerns. This is an improvement from the last inspection.

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good

Young people are treated fairly, with dignity and respect and experience no form of discrimination.

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requires improvement

The Registered Manager has suitable qualifications and experience to fulfil his role. He is also the Registered Manager for a second home in the organisation. Both homes are located close to each other and he is visible in both homes on a daily basis.

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requires improvement

The home benefits from having a stable staff team. Since the last inspection, the Registered Manager has successfully developed working relationships with other providers and local authorities through attendance at networking groups.

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requires improvement

Systems are in place for the monitoring of the home that enables the Registered Manager to develop and improve the quality of care; however they lack sufficient evaluation.

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requires improvement

The Registered Manager and Responsible Individual have a development plan that identifies improvements planned and made. This includes improved contact with the local police, reviewing and improving the staff appraisal system, changing the weekly reporting system and introducing staff to on-line training courses.

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requires improvement

The Statement of Purpose sets out the ethos of the home but it does not contain all the information as required within the Children’s Homes Regulations. This means placing social workers, parents and carers do not have full information as required about how they provide care and the purpose of the home The Registered Manager confirmed that updates to the Statement of Purpose is necessary.

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requires improvement

Strong and effective relationships exist between the staff and young people. Staff work collaboratively to ensure individual needs are met. Detailed handover systems results in the daily life of the home being well organised.

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requires improvement

Staff attend regular team meetings and share their views and opinions with the Registered Manager Staff say they are listened too and feel very well supported by him The Registered Manager undertakes shifts, if needed and is always on call for emergencies. This enables him to develop and maintain positive relationships with the young people.

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requires improvement

Staff receive regular supervision that includes discussions about the young people and safeguarding areas. While a record of staff members’ supervision is made this is not the same for the Registered Manager. Staff members say they enjoy working with the young people and feel supported in their roles. Staff training is suitable to their roles and the ethos of the home.

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requires improvement

The staff members have built effective connections between educational settings, health professionals and placing social workers. A school describes communication between the home and school as `open and a two way conversation’. Another school said `the staff are pro-active in working to support the young person’s education and work well in partnership with the school’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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