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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has partly met the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection. Young people’s behaviour management plans, risk assessments and strategies are now consistent. This means that the staff are clear about the young people’s plans. Supervisions are evaluative and focus on the young people. However, supervision records do not evidence when these have taken place. This reduces the manager’s ability to audit the frequency and regularity of supervisions. Safeguarding procedures were correctly followed after a serious incident. Staff immediately reported the matter to safeguarding professionals. Actions were agreed at a multi-professional meeting to minimise the risk of the incident reoccurring. However, the registered manager did not undertake a formal internal investigation to determine whether there had been any staff failings or lessons learned. Consultations with staff were not recorded and the staff who were

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

involved in the incident have not had supervision to reflect on their practice. A similar event that occurred prior to this serious incident was not recorded. This meant that the opportunity to learn and review risk assessments was missed. Young people have not had sufficient support to explore their emotions and relationships and to consider ways of managing these safely. The registered manager acknowledges these failings and he is addressing them. Since the last inspection, one young person has had a positive move into the home. Planning was detailed. The impact assessment was thorough and informative and there was careful consideration of the risks relating to this young person and the impact of the move on those already living at the home. The young person was not able to visit the placement prior to moving in. However, photographs of the home and staff, together with an informative children’s guide,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

prepared him for what to expect. A planning meeting included the young person and staff consulted with the young person in regard to the home’s rules and the reasons that they are in place. One young person has moved on from the home. Staff ensured that he was familiar with his new home and worked closely with his family and social workers to manage the move positively. Young people make good progress at the home and are motivated by incentives and rewards for good behaviour and achievements. At times, incentives are withdrawn as a result of poor behaviour. The registered manager recognises that this can be demoralising for the young people and is addressing this. All the young people are attending school or college. School attendance has been poor in previous placements. Young people enjoy attending the on-site school and participate in academic and social activities, including the gym and boxing club.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

As a result of the home’s consistent approach, there have been no restraints required since the last inspection. The registered manager evaluates sanctions to ensure that they are proportionate and relevant. There have been no complaints since the last inspection. Young people take turns to chair weekly house meetings and the agenda for each meeting is drawn up by all young people. The registered manager monitors these meetings to ensure that any actions agreed are relayed back to the young people. This increases the young people’s sense of ownership of the home. They play an active role in improvements to the home. The young people engage well and demonstrate a willingness to interact respectfully with staff and each other. Relationships within the home are respectful and the staff and young people work together to create a harmonious atmosphere. Staff ensure that young people who want to make use of therapeutic services can

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

do so. Young people also engage well with substance misuse services to reduce the associated risks. Members of staff work closely with these services to ensure an integrated approach. Good professional relationships with stakeholders ensure that young people have the support they need. One social worker reported, ‘Communication with the home is good. I am happy with the placement; my young person is progressing well.’ Another social worker said, ‘The staff have done brilliantly. The young person is responding to consistency in rules and boundaries.’ Young people who were previously at risk of child sexual exploitation or gang- related behaviour have significantly reduced this risk. This is due to the positive relationships and interactions they have with staff. Staff work closely with professionals, including the police and specialist missing persons services, to ensure that young people are safe. Young people learn good community values. For example, some of the young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people visited a care home to give gifts to older people. This helps them to learn empathy and feel part of the community. The registered manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and is committed to managing a home that improves practice.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a home for four young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is run by a private company. Education is offered on-site.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/10/2016 Full Good 22/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 13/02/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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

13: In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must enable, inspire and lead a culture in relation to the children’s home that –

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Requirement Due date

(1) promotes their welfare, (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to – (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home, particularly in relation to learning from a serious incident. 31/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  The record of supervision should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with Regulation 33(4)(b). (‘The guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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 children looked after 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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