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

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 Sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All three requirements and one recommendation made at the previous inspection have been effectively actioned.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A Registered Manager now leads the home. He brings extensive management experience to his role and is currently completing his Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All staff now have up to date training in the use of restraint. Restraint use in the home is infrequent and always to regulation. Where it occurs, recording is thorough; offers debrief to young people, and is accompanied by careful management review and oversight.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The procedure for considering complaints made by young people has undergone review. Young people know how to complain; they do so infrequently. Where made, complaints are taken seriously, followed up promptly, and resolved effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A review of young people’s targets means that there are now short-term, attainable goals set for young people alongside long-term placement targets. Short-term goal setting enables staff to effectively evaluate young people’s progress, and enables young people to achieve and acknowledge their progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people placed are making progress, although due to their complex needs progress is sometimes sporadic. Staff support young people to develop the skills they need for their futures. One young person said ‘I do my own washing now, I never used to do this, they’ve helped me to learn this’. A Social Worker said a young person ‘made excellent progress, particularly in the areas of self-care and communication’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work with each young person according to their individual needs, with external services put into place as required. Young people receive therapeutic support, sexual health services, substance misuse services, and specialist educational support. One young person has progressed from 35 percent school attendance to no unauthorised absence; another is receiving individual support to prepare for GCSE examinations. Therapeutic consultation supports staff to reflect upon young people’s needs and to develop focussed care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff promote young people’s holistic development. They demonstrate good partnership working with young people’s networks and promote appropriate friendships and family contact. Young people are encouraged to engage in activities that they enjoy including, cinema trips, outdoor pursuits, and local youth clubs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Transition of young people into and on from the home is well planned. The admission of new young people is only where the home can effectively meet their identified needs. The Registered Manager considers the needs of young people already in placement when assessing new referrals. However, the organisational placement matching proforma does not provide a structured referral assessment allowing for consideration of all the young people’s needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Observation during the inspection was of open and supportive communication between staff and young people. A young person said ‘staff are nice, I speak to my keyworker, she’s done overtime to come to court with me’. A staff member said ‘it’s a really lovely house, I enjoy working with the young people, they are doing really well and we always tell them’. A Social Worker commented ‘I feel that staff know her well and work hard to develop positive and respectful relationships with her; they have her best interests at heart at all times and are willing to advocate on her behalf’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a current staff shortfall against the permanent staffing required within the home, resulting in the use of agency workers and staff cover from other homes within the group. This has not offered young people optimum opportunity for relationship development with staff; however, the use of consistent agency staffing has minimised impact and successful recruitment means that full staffing in the home will be achieved imminently.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour management plans meet young people’s individual needs; they are incentive based to encourage and reinforce positive behaviours. Any sanction use is appropriate with effective recording and management oversight. Risk assessments are up to date and successfully guide risk management. Incidents of young people missing are well reported and result in proactive work with the professional network to minimise missing behaviour. A Social Worker said ‘the young person presented many challenges to staff during the placement and they have remained supportive and creative with their approaches to keeping her safe’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All safeguarding concerns are actioned effectively and safeguarding training includes online safety and child sexual exploitation. There is no staff training in respect of radicalisation and no policy to guide staff in reporting concerns under the Prevent agenda, this is a shortfall of safeguarding within the organisation.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately run children’s home. The organisation currently manages eight homes in total. The home offers accommodation for up to two young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

23/01/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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

Prepare and implement a policy which is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children's home from abuse or neglect, particularly in relation to radicalisation (Regulation 34 (1)(a)) 20/05/2016

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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 staff skills for safeguarding include being able to identify signs that children may be at risk, and support children in strategies to manage any risks, particularly in relation to radicalisation. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 43, paragraph 9.10)

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Recommendations

Ensure placements for children are only accepted where there has been full consideration of the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children, particularly that the impact risk assessment form considers the existing group of children. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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

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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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