Children's home run by West Sussex County Council

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has Improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last full inspection carried out in July 2015 two requirements and two recommendations were made. The setting’s statement of purpose has been reviewed and amended to ensure it contains all required information and fully reflects the service provided. The Registered Manager continues to work closely with the local authority to ensure maintenance is of a good standard and carried out within suitable timescales. All fire doors are well maintained. The garden play equipment is soon to be risk assessed, via the yearly risk assessments carried out by the local authority contracts and gardens team. This will inform staff as to what needs to be in place for each item of play equipment to provide a safe experience for children. In addition, a member of staff is soon to undertake a course on how to provide and maintain outdoor play equipment, and how outdoor play equipment can benefit children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two recommendations made at the last inspection have been addressed. The setting’s missing child policy now reflects the local authorities ‘Runaway and Missing From Home and Care’ (RMFHC) protocols. This ensures consistency if such an incident occurred. There have been no incidents of a child going missing since the last inspection. The Registered Manager has completed a workforce development plan that satisfactorily covers current and future staffing needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The setting continues to be well managed providing a good standard of respite and long term care for children with learning disabilities. Children and young people enjoy their time at the service. One parent said ‘my son loves it here, the staff meet all his needs and plus’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management of the service is stable and very effective. There is a clear commitment to improving though quality assurances processes, both internal and external.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A strength of the service is the high level of supervision it can provide for children and young people. There is an active recruitment plan in place, to ensure these high levels can be maintained. Senior staff complete staffing rotas that allow for individual likes and preferences of the children, together with compatibility of individual children staying on the same nights.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvements since the last inspection include the continued development of the outreach service. Staff visit families and provide support in areas such as routines at bedtimes, bathing, behaviour management and supporting activities. This results in consistency of care, in addition to providing valuable support to families during difficult times. Staff have worked well in promoting a healthy diet by introducing a ‘traffic light’ system so children and young people know which foods are healthier and how many portions are recommended for each type of food, for example daily fruit and vegetable intake.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Additionally, the service continues to develop its off-site youth club, where children and young people from this setting and other local settings can join together once a week. A recent move to larger premises has been a positive one, with more room for different activities and more space for children and young people to play sports. The staff team who lead on the youth club are passionate and committed to it. As a result of its success it now has a waiting list.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Another strength of the service is the work undertaken to ensure children and young people are kept safe. The safeguarding lead links with external safeguarding agencies, including the police, to ensure all referrals are actioned and that investigations are robust and timely. Staff are trained, experienced and supported to safely manage challenging behaviours young people and children may exhibit, such as biting, pinching or scratching. Risks assessments highlight individual vulnerabilities and provide effective behaviour management strategies for staff to follow. The service uses body maps. This ensures any concerning marks are identified and appropriately referred.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The service continues to be effectively managed, offering a very good standard of short break care and providing an enjoyable environment for children and young people. The inspection was undertaken during half term week and the home presented as a calming environment with staff happily engaging with the children in a highly sensitive manner. The service continues to meets its aims; providing a safe, warm environment and welcoming atmosphere centred around young people’s needs, providing care and a range of activities and experiences that enable young people to develop, and supporting young people to remain with their families and carers within their local communities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two recommendations have been made; to ensure all notifiable event reports are sufficiently detailed and to continue with the upgrading of the bathrooms.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to accommodate 15 children of mixed gender, aged between 5 and 18 years old who have a learning disability. This is a local authority home that provides short stay and full time accommodation. In addition there is an individual unit providing a bespoke environment in order to meet exceptionally complex needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

16/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s): Ensure notifiable incident reports submitted to Ofsted contain sufficient and detailed information (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 63, paragraph 14.14)

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Recommendations

Continue with the upgrading of bathrooms. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 17, paragraph 3.24)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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