Children's home run by The Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Outstanding 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

The dynamic leadership of the home remains focused on securing positive outcomes for young people. This begins with ensuring that children and young people moving in are fully assessed so that their needs are known, can be met and are compatible with the children and young people they will be living with. Staff can describe the transition process, tailored to meet the needs of the young people, but this is not reflected in the records available. Moves on from the home are also well supported, phased to reflect the needs of a young person and includes choosing the décor for a new room. The registered manager challenges placing authorities where this is necessary to champion the best interests of young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the time of this visit many children and young people were excited about the presentation evening. They were assisted by staff to get themselves ready as they looked forward to the evening celebrations. Staff demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of individual needs. They tailor their style of communication so that it is easily accessible and enables children and young people to make informed and meaningful choices.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The stable and consistent residential staff team are highly skilled in their work. Interactions between staff and children and young people are of an excellent standard. Staff effectively deploy creative strategies that positively engage them. This level of engagement means that staff rarely use behaviour management measures. However where they do the recording of consequences does not fully meet the regulatory requirements, neither is there a full evaluation of all of the aspects of patterns of the use of physical intervention. Some analysis has informed staff practice with individual children and young people and prompted changes to their living arrangements that have significantly reduced the use of physical intervention. The use of physical intervention by individual members of staff has not been subject to analysis. The policy and procedures that guide staff about the action to take should a young person go missing have been updated. They now

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

provide thorough guidance and this has been tested by a simulated practice for staff. There have been no instances of a young person going missing since the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are vigilant in their safeguarding of children and young people and have a good understanding of their respective roles and responsibilities. Staff know about the whistle blowing policy and use it where they have concerns. Senior leaders take robust action in response to any issues raised and involve external agencies appropriately. All incidents that may contain a safeguarding element are notified as required and carefully logged with dates opened and closed. However there is no easy access to a secure audit trail of the work undertaken.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The number of staff on duty is determined by the needs of the children and young people. This is supplemented at night by the use of sensors in houses where there are staff sleeping. This wakes staff so they can ensure that children and young people get the support they need. Permission has been obtained for the use of these, as recommended in the last report. There is one instance of a monitor being used to alert sleeping staff if a young person with epilepsy has a seizure. There is no risk assessment to inform this arrangement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is working to a realistic and appropriate development plan, shared with education. This is to be reviewed and updated at the end of the summer term. Inspectors observed that in two houses some of the bathrooms are in need of refurbishment and in another house the communal space is not sufficient for the number and needs of the children and young people living there.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The leadership team are continually considering how to further improve the service. At the time of this visit they had launched a staff well-being survey, facilitated by an independent company. They plan to use the outcome of this, due in April 2016, to inform staff development and retention strategies. Following the resignation of a recently appointed independent visitor the registered manager has taken prompt action to contract another.

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Information about this children's home

This section should outline: This service is a residential special school, registered as a children's home to care for up to 40 children on a weekly, termly or 52 week basis. It is owned by a charity. The home is registered for children with learning disabilities, including children on the autistic spectrum and with communication and interaction difficulties. Accommodation is provided in seven separate areas. The school is an accredited specialist school for learners with autism.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/02/2015 CH - 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

(a) within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— (i) the name of the child; (ii) details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; (iii) the date, time and location of the use of the measure; (iv) a description of the measure and its duration; (v) details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; (vi) the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used; (vii) the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. This is in respect of consequences applied.

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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

 Evidence how the registered person ensures there are procedures in place for welcoming and introducing each child to the home, and that they are sensitive to the needs of the child at the time of arrival.

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Recommendations

(Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, page 57, paragraph 11)

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Recommendations

 Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year, in particular the bathrooms and communal space identified in the report.

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Recommendations

(Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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Recommendations

 Provide a secure audit trail of how any allegation of harm or abuse has been addressed in line with the home’s child protection policy.

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Recommendations

(Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, page 64, paragraph 9.17)

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Recommendations

 The specific responsibilities of the home towards supporting the health and well- being of each child should be agreed with the placing authority and recorded in the child’s placement plan. It is the joint responsibility of the registered person and the placing authority that this is agreed at the time of placement; in particular risk assess the use of a monitor to alert sleeping staff to the possibility that a young person is having a seizure.

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Recommendations

(Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, page 34, paragraph 7.7)

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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 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, children and 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, children and 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 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 children and young people since the most recent full

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Information about this inspection

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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