Children's home run by My Choice Children’s Homes Limited in Mid Sussex

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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because:

 Some young people do not attend full time education. They are not engaged in any formal or further education, this means that they will not reach their academic potential, the Registered Manager, however, is making attempts to increase the young peoples’ attendance.  Some young people express dissatisfaction about living at the home, they say that staff are ‘more verbally aggressive than is necessary’ and would like alternative strategies used to calm them down. Some staff were observed to interact negatively with young people, which means that young people do not feel valued. The Registered Manager is addressing this at staff meetings, supervision and house meetings.  Young peoples’ behaviour can be challenging, staff struggle to manage this at times, an example is that during the inspection a young person became angry and attempted to damage property. Staff struggled to control the situation. The Registered Manager intervened and responded calmly,

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because:

deescalating the situation and debriefing staff after the incident.  Young people use sharp objects to gain access to areas, such as the office. One young person was able to demonstrate to the inspector that he had unscrewed his window restrictor; the Registered Manager addressed this immediately.

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The children's home strengths

 A compliance notice and requirements were made following the interim inspection. A subsequent monitoring visit confirmed that action had been taken to fully meet the requirements.  Young people are involved in decision making; they attend house meetings with all staff members’ present, young peoples’ views are heard by staff and are able to negotiate changes, such as supper times, choice of activities and the use of a reward system.  The Registered Manager has good relationships with stakeholders. Professionals say that the Registered Manager works well with them; they also report that they have regular feedback about young people and their welfare.

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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

In order to meet the positive relationships standard the registered person must ensure that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on:

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Requirement Due date

(viii) strive to gain each child’s respect and trust 28/08/2015

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

13/02/2015 CH - Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

27/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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requires improvement

Some young people do not access full time education, further education or employment; this means that they are unable to reach their full academic potential. One young person does not attend any education establishment which will impact on his future prospects. The Registered Manager is working with the organisation and placing authority to identify alternative education for this young person. Staff effectively support some young people who do attend education, an example such as one young person who is transported a long distance to enable him to attend his education provision. This young person now feels that staff members value his academic achievements.

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requires improvement

Young people feel safe but express dissatisfaction with some staff members’ interactions with them. One young person said that ‘staff are more verbally aggressive than is necessary’ he would like other strategies to be used to calm him down, such as going for a walk. Another young person said that ‘most of the staff listens to her’ and she ‘likes it at the home’. The inspector observed some staff talking to the young people negatively and not giving the young people time to respond. The Registered Manager is monitoring practice in this area and has begun in team meetings by reminding staff to use positive language when interacting with young people.

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requires improvement

Young people show challenging behaviour, which some staff struggle to manage. This means that they are reluctant to do activities on their own with young people such as take them in the home’s transport without additional support; this reduces the young people’s social opportunities and to develop relationships with staff members. The Registered Manager is working closely with staff to increase their confidence in managing the young people’s complex behaviours. This is achieved by clear behaviour management plans, risk assessment, discussions in house meetings and in supervisions.

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requires improvement

Young people are involved in decision making, which give them a sense of responsibility. The Registered Manager chaired a house meeting to address issues raised by young people and staff. The inspector observed the meeting, young people were able to share their views, this meant that their requests for changes were listened to and some were agreed, such as how reward systems should work and choices of activities. Young people were given explanations for why other changes could not be implemented.

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requires improvement

Young people’s health needs are met effectively, the Registered Manager has links with the local child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), which enable young people to have their emotional needs addressed. Young people are registered with health professionals and attend routine appointments supported by staff.

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requires improvement

Staff work well with other professionals and parents to ensure young people are able to see or contact family members who are important to them. They supervise telephone contact to ensure that it is safe and a positive experience for young people. This reduces emotional distress for one young person. Staff support another young person to have overnight contact with family.

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requires improvement

Young people put themselves at risk by using sharp objects to access rooms or remove safety measures, for example, window restrictors. Staff use unbreakable mugs to prevent a young person harming herself however, further work needs to be done to ensure that the young peoples’ behaviour can be managed without the need to use such measures.

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requires improvement

Young people rarely go missing because they are more settled in the home and are closely supervised by staff, however, if they do go missing there are no photographs on file of the young people so they could be easily found by police. The Registered Manager agreed to rectify this shortfall.

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requires improvement

The Registered Manager prioritises safeguarding and ensures that all staff are regularly trained and increase their knowledge about policy and procedures. Staff members are able to demonstrate a sound knowledge of safeguarding procedures and of action they would take if they suspect a child is being harmed or at risk of harm.

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requires improvement

Overall individual risk assessments are subject to reviews and updated. One risk assessment needs updating to reflect recent changes relating to a young person’s use of a lighter, the risk has reduced because the young person is now able to be use lighters more responsibly but his risk assessment does not reflect this.

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requires improvement

There has been a reduction in staff requesting police assistance; this, previously identified as a requirement during the last inspection. Staff members now seek agreement with the Registered Manager or deputy manager prior to calling the police. Management oversight and evaluation of incidents has effectively reduced the number of such incidents. Staff have good knowledge around e-safety, there is a clear internet safety policy that all staff are aware of and are able to implement. The young people have signed an agreement in regards to safe use and restrictions are in place to ensure that they can only access trusted sites.

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requires improvement

The local risk assessment is thorough. The Registered Manager consults with the local police community support officer and other professionals and local services. The use of local knowledge means that the Registered Manager and staff are fully aware of potential risks that young people face within the community.

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requires improvement

Personnel files demonstrate safe recruitment and vetting of staff. This ensures that those selected to work with children and young people are suitable. This protects children and young people from unsuitable staff gaining employment.

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Requires improvement

The Registered Manager has a wide range of experience in residential care. He has a Level 5 qualification in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare.

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Requires improvement

The Registered Manager has been able to make improvements identified at the last inspection. He is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and is working to develop the service through regular supervision which focuses on the young people as well as staff performance and development. However, this has not been fully effective and sustained over time, which has led to the shortfalls identified in the young people overall experiences, safety and protection. The monitoring systems need therefore to be strengthened.

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Requires improvement

The detailed action plan devised addresses the previous compliance notice and requirements. In particular, there is now clarity around the management roles and senior management responsibility. The admission process is more effective; the Registered Manager assesses each new referral to the home and is supported by the organisation to agree suitable matches. This ensures that the needs of the young people currently living at the home are considered during the admission process. It also reduces the risk of newly admitted young people having a negative impact.

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Requires improvement

Although the Registered Manager provides good role modelling for staff and is working to increase staff members’ confidence to manage young peoples’ challenging behaviour, further development is required in this area. In addition, the use of measures such as unbreakable mugs to prevent the young person from self- harming is not an effective approach or strategy to manage such behaviour.

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Requires improvement

The impact of managing challenging behaviour on staff members own physical and emotional well-being is recognised. Staff say that ‘the Registered Manager is always available to talk to’. Staff induction is well managed, staff have time to read young peoples’ files and undertake induction training in line with regulations, a new staff member said that he felt well prepared prior to starting shift work.

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Requires improvement

Inter-agency working is strong. The Registered Manager has close relationships with stakeholders. A Social Worker reports that a young person has made good progress, ‘all staff work consistently and use strategies agreed resulting in less incidents’.

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Requires improvement

The statement of purpose clearly states the range of needs for young people accommodated, the skills, experience of staff, ethos and aims. The young people’s information pack is colourfully designed, appropriate for the age group and informative. This ensures that expectations of the home are clear.

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Requires improvement

The home is generally in good order; the challenging needs of the young people result in damage to the home, repairs are prompt. Reparation for damage encourages young people to take responsibility for the home.

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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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