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

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The home provides a safe, stable environment where young people make significant progress across many aspects of their lives.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 As a result of the care, support and guidance young people receive, they significantly reduce the frequency and severity of behaviours that could result in them coming to harm.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 There is a well-planned, coordinated response to young people who go missing. Effective practice has resulted in some young people significantly reducing the frequency of missing episodes.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff have the skills to develop trusting relationships with young people. This gives young people the confidence to speak about their worries and concerns.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 A proactive approach is taken to keeping young people safe on the internet and social media sites. Staff work effectively with parents so that the parents also develop a greater awareness of the risks young people face online.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Behaviour management strategies are strong, and consistently implemented in practice. As a result, young people’s behaviour becomes less challenging.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 There is a stable staff team who are committed to meeting the needs of young people, by providing consistent, nurturing care.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The support young people receive to do well in education has positive results. Young people have made significant progress in terms of their engagement with education.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 A healthy lifestyle is promoted, and young people respond positively to the advice they are given. Young people have good access to a range of specialist support services.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are well prepared for the next stage in their lives. They receive good support when preparing to move on, and when adapting to their next placement.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Managers and staff work effectively with professionals from external agencies. This ensures that other professionals are responsive when staff identify concerns for the young people’s well-being.  Young people engage in a range of stimulating activities, which are often focused on their individual interests and hobbies.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Some shortfalls were identified in relation to the risk management process, and the effectiveness of leaders and managers.

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to the management of risk, the registered person must ensure that staff: (2)(a)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. 28/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference to applying the home's statement of purpose in relation to the admissions process, and monitoring the quality of care, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the homes statement of purpose; (2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 28/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) Specifically, ensure that staff within their probation period receive supervision with the frequency outlined in the home's statement of purpose. 28/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ('case records') for each child which includes the information and documents listed in Schedule 3. (Regulation 36(1)(a)) Specifically, ensure there is a signed local authority placement plan for each child, which sets out the statutory provision under which the child is provided with accommodation. 28/02/2017 The registered person must supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45(4)(a)) 28/02/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that children's home staff complement any explanation given by the independent reviewing officer by helping looked-after children to understand the role of an independent advocate and how they can access one. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 23, paragraph 4.17)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that there are suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 35, paragraph 7.15) Specifically, ensure that controlled medication is securely stored, there are arrangements in place to check that medication is being stored at the correct temperature and that unused medication is disposed of safely.

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff play a key role in shaping the ethos of the home through developing a culture of high aspiration for children, which is demonstrated through the care, resources and opportunities offered to the children. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 52, paragraph 10.4) Specifically, ensure that children's care plans identify the current goals and targets they are working towards, and the progress they make in achieving these.

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.11) In particular, when staff have to wait for a significant period before they can access a training course, ensure that they are given the support needed to acquire the basic skills and knowledge required to perform their role.

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Recommendations

 Ensure that case records are kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.3) Specifically, ensure that child protection records are updated to reflect all actions taken in response to a concern, and that outcomes are recorded.

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Information about this children's home

This privately run children's home offers accommodation for up to two young people who have emotional or behavioural difficulties. The provider has eight homes in total. Young people are able to access the organisation’s school.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/08/2015 Full Good 23/01/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/05/2014 Full Adequate

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Good

The home provides a stable environment for vulnerable young people, and they develop a strong sense of belonging and consistency in their lives. Over time, this stability leads to improved emotional well-being, and the ability to address past traumatic experiences. The frequency and severity of young people’s challenging behaviour decreases, and they engage less in activities which could result in them coming to harm.

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Good

During this inspection young people engaged in brief discussions with the inspector, but did not wish to speak at length about their experience of life in the home. Young people did confirm that they feel settled, and there was nothing they would wish to change about how the home is run on a day-to-day basis. Records indicate that young people are given opportunities to express their views on the home, although this is generally done in one-to-one meetings with staff. This is because they are reluctant to engage in young people’s meetings. Young people are familiar with the home’s complaints process, and have used this to address concerns when they have arisen.

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Good

Although there is a commitment to encouraging young people to express their views, this does not currently extend to effectively promoting the use of advocacy services. There is not a high level of understanding regarding young people’s rights to choose whether they have an advocate. The registered manager was not immediately familiar with any local advocacy services that young people could contact.

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Good

The quality of relationships staff develop with young people is a key strength of the home. Staff were observed to be nurturing and supportive in all their interactions with the young people, while maintaining appropriate boundaries. Staff place young people’s needs at the centre of their practice. They take an interest in the young people’s day-to-day experiences, and encourage them to develop their interests and try new experiences. For example, Japanese lessons have been arranged for one young person who has shown an interest in Japanese culture. Young people have also had the opportunity to attend music concerts, and enjoyed summer holidays abroad.

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Good

Young people have made exceptionally good progress in terms of their engagement with education. They have started to overcome their past negative experiences of education and now demonstrate a commitment to achieving well. One young person was being educated at home, but now attends the organisation’s school, where her attendance is excellent. As a result she is less socially isolated, and is learning skills which will enable her to interact more positively with her peers. Another young person achieved well in her examinations earlier in the year, despite her education being frequently disrupted prior to her coming to the home. The encouragement and practical support she received from staff was a significant factor in her success. The young person now attends college some distance from the home and maintains relatively good attendance, taking into account the long journey she has to undertake each day.

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Good

As young people become more settled, they become more engaged in decision- making processes. One young person is making significant efforts to develop the maturity and skills needed for her placing authority to arrange a move to semi- independent accommodation. An independent reviewing officer commented that: ‘Six months into the placement she became a different person; she is articulate, has insight into past behaviours and there is a realisation of what she needs to do to reach semi-independence.’ When young people are preparing to move on from the home they receive sensitive, practical support from staff. Outreach work is also undertaken with the young people who move on, and this enables them to settle quickly in their new placements.

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Good

Overall, the health needs of the young people are well met. Health care plans clearly identify the support young people need to manage medical conditions. One health care plan reviewed during the inspection had a detailed chronology of all significant events relating to the young person’s health care needs. This indicates that the young person’s medical condition is being monitored and recorded, so that any significant information can be shared with medical practitioners.

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Good

Practice regarding the storage and disposal of medication could be improved. Currently, controlled medication is kept in a lockable cash tin in a locked cupboard, but the cash tin is not fixed securely in one position. Medication is kept in the office, which is located in the conservatory, where temperatures can fluctuate. No thermometer is kept in the medications cabinet, and therefore it is not possible to determine whether medication is being stored at the correct temperature. During an examination of medication stock levels, the registered manager stated his intention to dispose of a tablet that had come out of its packaging, in a way that could potentially be unsafe.

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Good

Young people receive support and encouragement to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Particularly effective action was taken when a young person recently took up smoking. This resulted in the young person choosing not to continue with the habit. Staff provide information on maintaining good sexual health, and refer young people to specialist support services quickly when appropriate. Young people’s mental health and emotional well-being is also prioritised. The organisation has positive links with a local psychological services provider and a specialist youth support organisation. Through these services, young people have accessed therapeutic counselling, and support to manage self-harming behaviours. One young person has been admitted to the home since the last full inspection in August 2015. Following this admission, peer relationships within the home deteriorated, and there were occasions when the young people were in conflict.

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Good

Over time, as a result of the care and support given by staff, the young people have resolved many of their issues. Although the young people at the home do not enjoy strong friendships with one another, they have learned to be more tolerant and live together harmoniously. This can be attributed to the support and guidance staff provide with regard to managing relationships.

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Good

Managers and staff have the skills to develop positive working relationships with parents and family members. This often results in parents becoming more engaged and supportive of the plans to meet the young people’s needs. One parent commented, ‘The registered manager is brilliant and I get on well with the staff; they always keep me informed’. Young people benefit from seeing professionals working positively with their parents. Family contact visits are well-planned, and have become increasingly positive occasions for all concerned. A parent said her daughter was, ‘Much better with me; she is no longer angry or rude when she stays overnight’.

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Good

Managers and staff demonstrate a commitment to keeping young people safe and protecting them from harm. This has had a positive impact, and the young people currently living at the home have significantly reduced the frequency and severity of unsafe behaviours. This success is partly attributable to working in partnership with other professionals supporting the young people. The approach ensures that well-planned strategies for reducing young people’s unsafe behaviour are developed and consistently implemented in practice.

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Good

The positive relationships staff develop with young people are also a strong protective factor. Records indicate that young people have the trust and confidence in staff to share their concerns on a range of sensitive issues. This has included personal relationships and sexual health matters. Staff understand the specific vulnerabilities of each young person, although they do not consistently apply this knowledge to the risk management process.

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Good

Some aspects of risk management are strong. For example, one risk assessment, pertaining to a young person’s self-harming behaviours, made reference to each occasion the young person engaged in this behaviour, providing the opportunity for triggers to be identified. However, this standard of practice is not yet consistently applied. A risk assessment relating to a young person’s free time did not make reference to legal restrictions that have been imposed, although it was known that the young person was spending free time in an area where the restriction could have been breached. Another risk assessment did not reflect the current situation regarding the potential for a young person to be sexually exploited.

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Good

Risk assessments do not consistently provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate why a risk is deemed to be high or low. One document reviewed during the inspection stated that a young person has the ability to safely manage being approached by strangers. Examination of documentation and discussion with the registered manager did not reveal strong evidence for this assertion. Similarly, a risk assessment pertaining to staff lone working overnight failed to identify what the risks might be, and consequently the rationale for determining the significance of the risk was not made clear.

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Good

Despite these weaknesses, no young people have come to harm as a result of the shortfalls identified. However, there is a potential for young people’s safety to be compromised if the risk management process is not further developed.

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Good

A well-planned, coordinated response is made to young people who go missing from the home. This includes engaging a range of professionals, and the young people, in discussions aimed at reducing the frequency of missing episodes. Agreements are reached regarding overnight contacts young people may have with friends and family, and this approach often removes the need for young people to leave the home without permission. Staff are proactive in making themselves known to young people’s friends and family, so they can reassure themselves that the young person will be safe when staying with them.

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Good

Staff follow agreed local protocols when a young person goes missing from the home. This includes following the young person if they have left without permission, and promptly alerting all relevant authorities if they lose contact with the young person. Records indicate that staff keep in contact with the young person’s associates in an effort to locate the young person at the earliest opportunity. When they return from a missing episode, young people are given the opportunity to discuss the event, and reflect on the triggers for their behaviour. The registered manager is proactive in ensuring independent return home interviews are arranged, although young people do not always engage positively in the process. Comprehensive records are kept of all missing episodes. This thorough response has been highly effective and some young people have significantly reduced the frequency of their missing episodes.

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Good

As young people reduce the frequency of going missing, many of the associated risks, such as becoming sexually exploited, simultaneously decrease. This can also be attributed to the advice and guidance staff offer young people in relation to keeping themselves safe. A social work team manager described how a young person had become more aware of the risk of being exploited as a result of the ‘consequential discussions’ staff engage the young person in. The team manager went on to say that, as a result, ‘She has ended the previous friendships which put her at risk, and we have had no concerns about her being sexually exploited for the last six months’.

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Good

The training available to staff has a strong safeguarding element. The majority have undertaken training relating to the risk of young people becoming radicalised by extremist views, and all staff have undertaken training to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation. Not all staff were able to speak confidently to the inspector about the learning from these courses, and in one case, a member of staff was not able to give a detailed description of the action they would take if a young person disclosed that they had been harmed.

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Good

Staff have a clear understanding of how young people can make themselves vulnerable when using the internet and accessing social media sites. The risks are discussed with the young people in key-work sessions, and they develop a greater awareness of how to keep themselves safe. Excellent support and guidance has been offered to parents, to minimise the potential for young people to practice unsafe behaviours when accessing the internet during family contact meetings. Monitoring systems to prevent inappropriate internet use in the home are fully utilised.

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Good

Highly effective behaviour management strategies are consistently implemented in practice. These focus on promoting and rewarding positive behaviour. Over time, the young people significantly reduce their level of challenging and disruptive behaviour within the home. Consequently, sanctions are rarely used and there has been a substantial fall in the number of incidents resulting in the physical restraint of young people. Since the last inspection, physical intervention has occurred on just two occasions. Staff are aware of the tensions that sometimes exist between the young people, and intervene quickly to ensure that these do not escalate towards bullying and intimidating behaviour.

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Good

Any emerging child protection concerns are promptly reported to the relevant authorities. All external professionals spoken to during this inspection confirmed that communication and information sharing is a strength of the home. Some minor shortfalls were identified in the recording of child protection referrals. These do not consistently record the content of discussions with social workers, and in some cases, the outcome of the referral is not clearly defined.

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Good

Recruitment documents were not examined during this inspection. However, recent scrutiny of recruitment procedures and documentation at other homes of the organisation has confirmed that the organisational process is thorough, and minimises the potential for employing unsuitable adults in the homes.

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Good

The home is maintained well, and frequent health and safety checks are undertaken. Routine maintenance of fire safety equipment takes place, and the fire risk assessment is reviewed annually. All staff and young people take part in fire drills, and the effectiveness of these is recorded. Consequently, young people live in a safe physical environment.

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Requires improvement

The home has an experienced registered manager, who holds the level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare. He is supported by two deputy managers. In recent months the registered manager has been proactive in ensuring that the home is fully staffed, and establishing a stable and consistent team. Just over half the staff team are suitably qualified for their role, with the remainder enrolled on relevant training courses. The use of agency staff has decreased in recent months, but when this does become necessary, the registered manager prioritises using staff who are known to the young people, and are suitably qualified.

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Requires improvement

There are established systems for monitoring the quality of care being delivered, but these are not currently effective. The monthly monitoring report completed by the registered manager in May 2016 states that a signed local authority placement plan for a particular young person is held on file. At this inspection, this was found not to be the case. The monthly monitoring report completed by the registered manager in November 2016, indicates that the overnight lone working arrangements had been reviewed. This review did not identify the shortfalls found at this inspection, relating to the failure to clarify the risks associated with overnight lone working.

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Requires improvement

Six-monthly quality-of-care review reports are completed by the registered manager. The last report, covering the period February to July 2016, but dated 23.2.16, had not been received by Ofsted at the time of this inspection. Leaders and managers stated that this report had been submitted, but could not provide confirmation of this. The report provides factual information, but does not evaluate how issues arising in the home impact on the young people. For example, the report refers to newly recruited staff leaving after a very short period, but does not analyse how this affected the quality of care being delivered, or assess whether there are shortfalls in the organisation’s recruitment process. Furthermore, the inspector was informed during the inspection that two of the young people did have a negative peer relationship. The quality-of-care review report does not reflect on how this may have impacted on their day-to-day experience of life in the

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Requires improvement

home. All young people have care plans that have been developed in the home, which identify goals and targets they are working towards. However, the same goals are generally repeated each month, and there is often no record of steps the young person has taken to achieve these goals. Some of the targets for the young people state what staff are required to do, rather than what the young person has to do to meet the target. Although discussions held with leaders and managers suggest they have high aspirations for young people, care plans do not currently reflect this.

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Requires improvement

Not all the young people’s case records contain the documentation required by regulation. In one case, no signed local authority placement plan for the young person was kept on file. As a result, the home did not have the consent of the placing authority and parents for medical treatment, and there was no signed documentation setting out the statutory provision under which the young person is provided with accommodation. This shortfall has arisen in other of the organisation’s homes. It has not been effectively addressed by senior managers. The registered manager took steps to address the issue during this inspection.

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Requires improvement

One young person has been admitted to the home since the last full inspection in August 2015. The young person has settled well, and is making good progress. However, the process followed at the time of admission was not entirely in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose. This states that, ‘Detailed written information, for example, a referral form from the local authority’ will be requested as part of the referral process. However, leaders and managers offered a placement on the basis of information that was out of date. The registered manager confirmed that he came to a decision that this would be an appropriate admission based on the information contained in a local authority placement plan, pertaining to a foster placement the young person had previously been in. Leaders and managers did not receive a referral form from the young person’s placing authority, and made a decision to offer the young person a place without having

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Requires improvement

written confirmation of the authority’s requirements and expectations of the placement.

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Requires improvement

In most cases, staff receive practice-based supervision with the regularity described in the statement of purpose. However, this document states that new staff, in their probationary period, will receive supervision more than once each month. For one member of staff this has not happened. Records indicate that annual leave, and the need for the staff member to cover staff shortages in other of the organisation’s homes, has led to this situation. Supervision provides staff with the opportunity to reflect on their practice, and identify their professional development needs. The opportunity for staff to discuss child protection practice during supervision is not consistently taken up.

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Requires improvement

The organisation provides a comprehensive range of training opportunities for staff. This ensures that staff are able to develop their skills and knowledge in areas specific to the needs of young people in the home. Child protection training has to be completed within one year of a new employee taking up their post, although prior to this some aspects of child protection are covered on other courses. One member of staff is booked to undertake the organisation’s child protection training nine months after commencing work. During the inspection this member of staff demonstrated some gaps in her basic knowledge of child protection practice.

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Requires improvement

Although some areas of leadership and management need further development, there are many examples of good, effective practice in this area. The registered manager builds positive working relationships with external professionals, and successfully engages them when the circumstances of a young person requires urgent intervention. This has resulted in timely planning meetings being convened in response to young people placing themselves at risk. A number of professionals commented on the effectiveness of partnership working. Written feedback from a youth offending team officer refers to, ‘The positive communication that has always existed between us’.

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Requires improvement

The registered manager makes full use of the resources available within the organisation. A clinical psychologist commissioned by the organisation regularly meets with the staff to discuss the needs of the young people, and advise staff on how they can effectively meet these. However, no records are kept of the agenda for these meetings, and which members of staff have attended them.

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Requires improvement

Staff feel well supported by the registered manager. Some reflect on how he has supported their professional development and enabled them to improve their practice. The team generally work well together, and are collectively focused on supporting the young people to achieve positive outcomes.

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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 children looked after 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 that 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 that 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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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