Children's Home run by The Cuckfield Care Consultancy 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 declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has experienced a period of transition. This has included the Registered Manager leaving last month and a number of young people moving on; this included young people who had lived at the home for many years. Such developments have at times contributed to an unsettled home. Staff advice to some young people has failed to prevent them from engaging in disruptive and criminal behaviours both in the home and local community. Other young people have continued to engage in their education and benefit from the care they receive. A new manager is due to start in the coming weeks.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people say they feel, ‘good about living in the home…it’s all ok’. Parents speak positively of the home and acknowledge the efforts of staff. They say communication is, ‘very good…staff really care and do the best they can’. Young people were involved in the recruitment process for a new manager which allowed them opportunities to influence the future running of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The one requirement made at the last inspection is met. Alarms on the front door now enable staff to monitor if anyone leaves the home overnight. As a result there have been no further incidents of young people leaving without staff being aware. The one recommendation has not been addressed. The storage and administration of medicines remains inconsistent. Although a majority of records are accurate a discrepancy in the number of pain killers meant the recorded amount was slightly more than those held in stock. In addition a number of medicines that were no longer required had not been disposed of. These shortfalls did not place young people at risk.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff guide young people in the most appropriate ways to deal with issues of conflict and disagreement. This includes bringing them together to seek resolutions to their differences. Although this has generally been successful in helping them to live together there have been a number of confrontations. In a few instances young people have become embroiled in arguments with each other that have escalated to aggression and violence. In the worst of these, and despite staff attempts to de-escalate situations, young people have been assaulted and the police have been involved. This culminated in young people being arrested, and charged, for assault. There has also been occasions when some young people have been charged with serious offences in the community. The level of such incidents has reduced in recent weeks after some young people moved to alternative placements as a result of the homes inability to contain their behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The matching of young people does not always take account of the dynamics within the existing living group. For example newly admitted young people arrived with histories of committing crime and assaulting other young people within residential care. Although the potential impact of the behaviour of young people on each other is noted their impact on the existing living group and how this will be safely managed lacks rigour. This is particular pertinent given the mix of young people; some were involved in criminal behaviours and others had been the victim of violence from their peers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Plans to admit young people lack detail and robust transition planning. In particular admitting young people who do not at first move straight into the home. For example the organisation rented a holiday property for a short time to support a move into the home. This allowed a young person an opportunity to visit the home gradually and in doing so enabled other young people a chance to get used to them before they moved in permanently. The placing authority agreed the process and praised the commitment of the home in providing a flexible approach. However the home failed to complete any written assessments or plans for this to take place. While the rationale for a careful introduction is understandable the lack of a risk assessment, care plan and guidance for staff during such a transition is poor.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most young people have written consents to allow them to receive first aid and have medicines given to them by staff. However the most recently admitted young person does not have such consents in place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff provide young people with good help and support to allow them to move on in a positive way. Some young people who moved to alternative placements the homes inability to contain their disruptive behaviour were able to experience meaningful transitions to their new homes. This included staff assisting them to see the importance of leaving properly and in doing so they were able to share meals with staff and each other and move on without further disruption. The same young people have stayed in touch with the home and use the relationships built up with staff to help them settle. For example those that have recently left call the home and speak to staff and talk fondly of their memories of living there. Staff also visit young people as part of planned outreach programmes. This approach ensures young people receive the message that they remain cared about and that their futures are important to the adults who looked after them.

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Information about this children's home

This private children's home is registered to accommodate six children and young people of either sex. The home accommodates children and 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

16/03/2015 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

In order to meet the positive relationships standard the registered person must ensure that staff-

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Requirement Due date

2 (xi) de-escalate confrontations with or between young people, or potentially violent behaviour by young people. 15/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the positive relationships standard the registered person must ensure that staff-

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Requirement Due date

2 (ii) help each young person develop socially aware behaviour; In particular address the prevalence of offending type behaviours. 15/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must ensure-

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Requirement Due date

2 (b) (i) that arrangements are in place to- manage and review the placement of each young person in the home; In particular ensure that robust assessments are completed on the impact of new young people admitted to the home. Notably if they have histories of challenging behaviour towards other young people. 15/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must ensure that young people-

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Requirement Due date

1 (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the home; In particular that agreed moving in plans are clear and evidence a robust assessment of the transition process. This is in reference to young people being accommodated elsewhere prior to actually 15/04/2016 being admitted to the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the home; In particular that accurate stock records are maintained and medication no longer required is disposed of in a timely way. (Regulation 23 (1)) 15/04/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Each young person should have permission for staff to administer first aid and non-prescription medication from a person with parental responsibility for them recorded in their relevant plan. (The Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards, page 35 paragraph 7.14)

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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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