Children's Home run by East Sussex County Council in East 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 judges that it has declined in effectiveness . At the inspection in July 2016, four recommendations were made in respect of missing person protocols, internet safety, location risk assessments and specific elements of staff training provision. The acting manager has obtained copies of generic missing polices but she has not contacted relevant local services, such as the police, to agree a home-specific protocol. This lack of clarity fails to reliably inform young people’s risk assessments and risks causing confusion for staff in understanding what to do in the event that a young person goes missing. No action has been taken to respond to the second recommendation regarding supporting the young people to use the internet safely. In particular, the home is due to have wi-fi access in April 2017. Currently, neither the staff nor the young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people have undertaken any preparation for this and have no clear guidance to enable their safe use of the internet. The third recommendation is met. The home’s location risk assessment draws information from local providers and the police crime statistics, and includes liaison with the local authority head of safeguarding. The assessment demonstrates that managers have a greater understanding of localised risks and have used this to make an informed risk assessment. The fourth recommendation, to update staff’s training with regards to epilepsy and Makaton, is not met. At this inspection, no young people had epilepsy, but the staff continue to look after young people who have communication needs. One young person who has diabetes receives good-quality support due to the training and external oversight from a specialist nurse, which aids staff competence. This recommendation is repeated in order to ensure that the staff’s ongoing training is

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

responsive to the routine and changing needs of the young people. The registered manager has been on a secondment since December 2016, and this is due to end in March 2017. She retains overall management oversight of the home, with a deputy manager in charge on a day-to-day basis. During this period of change, insufficient attention has been given to the staff team’s need for supervision. Individual supervision meetings are not held regularly and when they are the agreed agenda is not always followed. This leaves staff unsupported and vulnerable. In recent months, four staff have left and three have been on long-term sickness absence. Consequently, the high use of agency staff is impacting on the young people, who have lost continuity and, at times, are unable to access off-site activities due to a lack of drivers. Two members of staff have been recruited; however, one is being promoted, leaving three vacancies still to fill. Senior leaders

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

have reviewed their recruitment methods and plan to implement a wider recruitment campaign in April. This demonstrates that leaders are taking action to recruit from a wider range of candidates in an effort to fill the vacancies. The quality and impact of monitoring systems have reduced since the last inspection. Recommendations made by the independent visitor are not being addressed. For example, over recent months her reports clearly identify shortfalls in relation to staff’s supervision and their understanding of the home’s statement of purpose. However, no action has been taken. Neither the registered manager nor the deputy have checked the staff’s understanding of the home’s aims and objectives. This negates the value of the independent visitor’s role and means that shortfalls and practice issues remain unaddressed. The registered manager has continued to use her own monitoring tool; however, the information and analysis regarding care planning is weak. There is no regard to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

young people’s progress against their care plan targets and there is no analysis. Therefore, the registered manager is not able to analyse young people’s progress and ensure that care plans remain relevant and meaningful. This puts young people at risk of not achieving their full potential through plans drifting, or not meeting their changing needs as they grow and develop. Risk assessments are in place, but fall short of describing the action that staff should take in the event of the behaviour occurring. For example, one young person can disable the door alarm. In this event, there is no guidance on the action that the staff should take. In some risk assessments, a particular piece of equipment is referred to, but there is limited detail of how it should be used, or which risks it is reducing. This absence of clarity fails to enable staff to reduce risks. Incidents of physical restraint are recorded and have management oversight, which

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

provides a reflective account of the support used. However, the records do not sufficiently detail the specific actions of the staff involved. This lack of detail compromises the accurate monitoring/investigation by managers. Young people have good education attendance and the home works in partnership with education providers when issues arise. Proactive staff attend meetings with the education providers to support young people’s positive attendance. The partnership working between the care and education provision ensures that there is a consistency of care for the young people. Young people are actively encouraged to access the community. They are engaged in a wide range of activities, such as horse riding and attending local football clubs. Photographs of the young people enjoying activities and engaging in work around healthy eating are displayed throughout the home. This adds to the homely atmosphere and helps the young people to feel valued.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The physical environment is continuing to develop. Ongoing refurbishment plans are exploring a new bathroom and lighter-coloured fire doors. There is a commitment to continuing to develop the home and to ensure that it is fit for purpose in providing a safe, practical environment that meets the young people’s needs. Young people have a voice and positively contribute to decisions about their home; examples include the young people’s ideas in developing the outdoor space. This demonstrates the home’s commitment to consulting with young people, thus giving them a sense of ownership. Excellent advocacy arrangements enable the young people to air their views with an independent person. One young person was supported by an advocate to adapt his contact plans to better suit his needs. The fortnightly visit from the advocate gives the young people regular opportunities to seek support outside of the staff team, which ensures that they can have their opinions heard independently of the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

staff providing their daily care. Staff and young people were delighted to see the registered manager during this inspection and are eagerly awaiting her imminent return. Despite her clear enthusiasm to rectify all of the shortfalls identified during this inspection, reflection and review of why these have occurred during this time must take place to prevent future occurrence of the identified issues.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by the local authority. The service is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven young people who have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

22 March 2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

5 February 2015 Interim Sustained 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular regards to: - the need to develop and implement a home-specific missing policy, protocol and risk assessment; - specific risk assessments on the use of additional aids, such as holding belts, which must detail how and why the aid is used; - ensuring young people and staff understand how to keep safe when using the internet. (2) (a) (i) take into account information in the child’s risk assessment and make arrangements to reduce risk of harm; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe. 28/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard In particular, the standard requires the registered person is required to ensure that staff: (2) (i) understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose. 28/04/17

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that: Within 24 hours of the use of the measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home: (a)(iv) a description of the measure and its duration. In particular, which staff member applies which measure. (Regulation 35 (a)(iv)) 28/04/2017

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Recommendations

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

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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) Specifically, to ensure that staff receive updated training in using Makaton to ensure that they can communicate effectively with young people.

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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 0300 123 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, work- based 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

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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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