Children's Home run by West Sussex County Council in West 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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, which was carried out in December 2016, two recommendations were made. Both are currently being addressed. Young people’s allowances, for example pocket money and clothing, are part of a county-wide review currently being undertaken. This will be revisited at the next inspection to review any changes and the impact for the young people. In addition, the registered manager is currently updating the home's location risk assessment to include the risk of extremism and radicalisation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although the registered manager is also currently overseeing another of the local authority’s children’s homes, this does not appear to have had any negative impact on the young people or staffing at this home. His excellent time management and organisational skills, and a strong staff team of deputies, have ensured that the high quality delivery of care has continued, young people continue to make progress and the development of the home continues.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make good, and in some cases exceptional, progress in many areas of their lives. Soon after admission they begin to trust the staff, who apply consistency and determination in supporting them to receive the correct education, care and support, including specialist health support. Current young people show clear progress in areas that include behaviour management and raising their self-esteem. Young people are supported to engage in education, some having previously been poor attendees while others were non-attendees. Most achieve good attendance in a short period of time. The registered manager and staff team continue to aspire to full school/college attendance for all young people, and continue to work closely with a wide range of professionals to achieve this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

As a result of the strong leadership, an experienced staff team, consistently applied behaviour management practices and effective strategies, the number of serious incidents are low. Behaviours that had not been robustly addressed in previous placements are now managed effectively at this home with strategies that, in some cases, have been developed and agreed with a range of professionals including the local police. This in turn prevents young people from being criminalised wherever possible.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff assess individual risks and complete robust risk assessments which inform them in how to manage risks. Risks include: sexual exploitation, drug taking, criminal behaviours and going missing. Staff continue to work closely with outside agencies to ensure that the safety of young people is a priority. These effective working relationships have been developed over time and continue to benefit young people. Feedback from professionals is very positive about the joint working and decision-making processes that the registered manager has developed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team enjoy their work and value the young people. Difficult and challenging beginnings soon become a positive experience as a result of the trusting relationships developed quickly between the young people and the staff team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding procedures continue to be of a very high standard. Staff receive relevant safeguarding training that includes the Prevent duty, relating to radicalisation and extremism, and child sexual exploitation. As a result, the staff have a very good awareness and are confident in following procedures if any concerns are identified. This provides young people with the right support so that they can make good progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The accommodation is of a very good standard and provides all resources that young people need, including private areas. New flooring has been bought for areas on the ground floor, and is due to be laid in the very near future. Young people have benefited from the provision of new bedroom furniture. All maintenance issues are addressed in a timely manner.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The introduction of monthly reports that focus on what has gone well, and what areas the staff and the young people are worried about, has improved the recording of young people’s involvement in their care planning. Each monthly report highlights the young people’s three top achievements, with goals for the next month. The reports focus on the young people’s views on areas such as relationships with peers and family, health, education, incidents and their skills in independent living. This change of focus is proving very successful as it engages the young people in their lives, and makes them more responsible for their target setting.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A recent change regarding who provides an independent report on the quality of care of the home has been positive. Reports are detailed, and the registered manager is forming a good working relationship with the visitor so that they can really get to know the young people, the home and its practices.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Overall, the management and staff team at the service continues to be stable and highly effective. As a result, the young people continue to make excellent progress, despite their often challenging behaviours. There is a clear commitment to improving through quality assurance processes, both internal and external. There have been no complaints since the last inspection; however, there are clear procedures in place if a complaint did occur.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to accommodate up to five young people, irrespective of gender, who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned and managed by the local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/12/2016 Full Outstanding 10/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/11/2015 Full Outstanding 27/03/2015 Full Outstanding

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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

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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