Children's Home run by West Sussex County Council in West Sussex

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection in December 2015 one recommendation was made. This was in relation to ensuring that young people’s personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPS) were consistent with practice in the home regarding fire drills. This has been met and PEEPS are now detailed and explicit about the support each young person needs in an emergency evacuation and how staff provide this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection staff from the home have continued to work closely with families in their own homes. This has enabled families to continue to be actively involved in their children’s care while benefitting from periods of respite care. The support offered to parents has included advice and guidance in behaviour management and opportunities to reflect on strategies they are using. This has had a significant impact and has led to less challenging behaviour, more positive visits and experiences for both the young people and their parents. Parents are highly complimentary about the quality of staff and communication received. ‘Everything I’ve seen is great’ is a comment from a parent.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The progress young people make at the home is praised by professionals such as social workers. ‘His behaviour is now completely different’ is another comment made. Particular praise is made by both parents and social workers regarding the communication with staff in the home. ‘I get at least one email a day about how he’s doing’ said a Social Worker.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has reviewed dining arrangements for young people; as a result the dining room was moved to a more spacious location allowing young people to eat together as a group. This enables them to experience meal times as a positive social event while ensuring that they have the space they need if they are finding the occasion unsettling. An additional benefit is that parents can eat meals with young people when visiting. This approach further promotes the implementation of behaviour support strategies at mealtimes if this is an identified need.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection the staff have carefully planned overnight stays at a holiday resort. This was planned in careful detail so that the young people could experience a brief holiday away from the home. They were able to enjoy a variety of activities such as swimming, attending shows and having an experience of ‘being away’ on holiday. This experience for the young people was supported to an excellent standard by highly committed members of staff. It has also enabled young people to have access to their wider community and enriching activities despite their learning difficulties and vulnerabilities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff in the home continue to encourage young people to voice their feelings and views. This is done in a format which the young people understand and is then presented at key meetings. This process ensures that young people’s voices and opinions are valued and encouraged. Changes made as a result include involving the young people in activities of their choice and enabling them to establish friendships with advocates and befrienders from outside of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring of practice continues to be of a high standard. The Registered Manager robustly examines all incidents and supports staff to reflect upon their practice. This is achieved with a view and drive to improve the quality of care and promote young people’s progress and well-being. On occasion signatures of members of staff signing key documents, such as incident reports and records of physical restraint, are illegible. This makes it difficult for external professionals to know who signed them or what their role is. A recommendation is made to address this issue.

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Information about this children's home

This service is run by the local authority, and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children with severe learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

12/03/2015 CH - 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 staff are familiar with the home's policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. This is in relation to ensuring that staff signatures are legible when they sign records ('Guide to the Quality Standards', page 62 paragraph 14.4).

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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

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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