Children's home run by Rubicon Children and Family Services Ltd in Lewes

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the 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

At the inspection in June 2016, one requirement and two recommendations were made. The requirement related to the registered manager ensuring that risks to each young person are assessed and, where necessary, making arrangements to reduce the risk of harm to any young person. The registered manager has effectively addressed this requirement. Staff assess the risks to each young person, and ensure that clear written plans are implemented in practice. Plans are regularly reviewed and updated according to the continually assessed risk of harm to each young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has established strong working relationships between the staff and the placing authority. This results in regular and meaningful communications with relevant professionals. Care plans now comprehensively cover all aspects of a young person‟s care, and include young people‟s input. One young person said, „I know what my care plan says, and when I want to change something, I talk to the staff and explain why, and if my social worker agrees, then my care plan changes.‟ Care plans are presented clearly and are easily available to the staff and the young people. This recommendation is therefore met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recommendation to improve on assessing the potential impact of new young people moving in has not been addressed. The registered manager does not fully assess and evaluate the impact of known risks and behaviours of young people moving into the home. Nor are strategies devised to effectively reduce the likelihood of these behaviours affecting the other young people. This has resulted in the need to end two placements when the needs of the young people could not be fully met, and the impact on the other young people was detrimental.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not always adequately record incidents where a physical intervention has been used. Records show a lack of clear information about a young person‟s behaviour prior to the use of physical restraint, the details of the type of restraint used and by whom, and the effectiveness and any consequences of its use. Young people are not always spoken to about the measure within the designated timescale. This lack of questioning and evaluation by the registered manager affects her ability to assess the appropriateness of the physical interventions used or their impact on the young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All of the young people in the home are engaged in education and have a clear individualised plan which supports their learning. Young people report that the staff encourage and support them to achieve the best possible outcomes. Young people are motivated and are progressing well. The staff have created an education hub within the home, and a qualified teacher supports the young people‟s learning. Two young people, whose needs are complex, have achieved a number of vocational qualifications, and one young person has received achievement awards within her school.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people are engaged in a life skills programme developed by the staff. Each young person has a plan outlining their goals and achievements. Young people are motivated to work towards specific targets and their successes are celebrated, resulting in an improved sense of self-worth. One young person was visibly proud of the praise she received for her baking skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are involved in a wide range of activities within and outside of the home. One young person undertakes horse-riding lessons and is learning to play the piano. Staff plan activities carefully to ensure that these are inclusive and appropriate to the differing needs of the young people. Young people enjoy and value the activities on offer to them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are proud of their home and report that they feel safe. Young people are consulted about all aspects of their care and the day-to-day operation of the home. Ideas are brought to staff meetings by young people and they are involved in implementing their ideas. This gives young people a sense of empowerment. One young person said, ‟I feel like this is my home. I don‟t just live here.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager ensures that only those who are assessed as suitable to work with young people are employed. Recruitment processes are thorough and are tailored to the needs of the young people. They are involved in the recruitment processes and their views about candidates are given careful consideration by recruiting managers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager strives to continually improve the quality of care offered to the young people. Her commitment and passion are evident to the staff and the young people and serve to enhance young people‟s feelings of self-worth. She successfully motivates staff to work towards achieving the best possible outcomes for the young people.

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Information about this children's home

This home is privately owned and is registered to provide care and accommodation for five young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 08/06/2016 Full Good 07/07/2015 Full Good 24/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/10/2014 Full Good

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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

6. The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard requires the registered person is required to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b)(ii) that staff promote and protect each child‟s welfare; in particular ensure that young people‟s behaviour does not have a detrimental impact on other young people living in the home 18/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

35. Behaviour management policies and records

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— (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— (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; (vii) the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and (viii) a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; (b) within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”) — (i) has spoken to the user about the measure; and (ii) has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

(c) within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person 18/04/2017 or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Work closely with the placing authority to understand the child's relationship history and then the impact that the child's arrival may have on the group living in the home. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 38, paragraph 8.3)

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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 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 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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