Children's home run by Southern Adolescent Care Services Ltd in Crawley

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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people say that they like living here. One young person rated it ‘10 out of 10’. Staff support young people very effectively. Young people feel valued and respected. They work to increase their self-respect and ability to manage their difficult emotions and behaviours. Staff explore strategies which help young people to understand and manage their feelings and difficult behaviours, such as communication books, taking part in physical activities and attending therapy sessions. The staff team works with young people on these strategies and keeps them under review.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people receive a warm welcome and a good introduction to living here, and this helps them to understand what is available to them, the expectations that the staff have of them and what they can expect from staff. This helps young people to build relationships with others at the home successfully. Young people already living here say that they have a voice in who comes to live here. They are consulted and told about any potential young person when the managers clearly consider that they might be suitable for the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Compatibility assessments are comprehensive and outline any concerns for young people that may require additional attention. When young people’s needs are not concerning, no information about why this is the case is recorded. However, staff could recount the reasons for any decisions about how the young people would get on.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

While several emergency and short-term placements have been arranged in the past few months, these have not disrupted the stability of the young people who live here long term, who continue to make progress in important areas of their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff continually update their knowledge about issues that affect young people, and research information which helps them to understand and provide care which takes these into account. The staff’s understanding and commitment to equality is good and helps young people to build positive identities and respect for others.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When young people move out of the home, they are helped to do so well. Support is provided to enable them to move on safely and positively. The staff work effectively with local authorities and take account of the individual circumstances of each young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s views are taken into consideration and acted on. In one instance, a young person made a presentation to staff about an issue that they wanted to change. This led the organisation to review its policy on this matter to consider the young person’s point of view in detail.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is well appointed and homely. The manager confirmed that the premises are being redecorated and some areas refurbished, such as by installing new carpets and flooring, in the weeks following the inspection. This ensures that the quality of the environment is maintained to a high standard.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a depth of understanding regarding safeguarding matters. Concerns are referred and effective action is taken to protect the young people. Safeguarding referrals are generally made appropriately to both the local authority that placed the young person here and the local authority in which the home is located. However, in one instance following an initial referral being made in this way, further information was only provided to the placing local authority. The responsibility for safeguarding young people in its region also resides with the local authority in which the home is located and, equally, it must be notified of new information so that it, too, can decide on any action required to safeguard a young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Sanctions are minimal and young people say that they are fair. Restraints have occurred, but they are thoroughly documented. Young people have gone missing at times, but this has been reduced over the past month and efforts are being made to reduce the frequency of these further.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records, such as weekly reports and incident forms, are well written. They provide a clear account of what occurred and the actions that have been taken, providing a chronology of the event. This level of recording assists in monitoring staff practice, using information to reflect on young people’s care, and providing detailed evidence for local authorities and the regulator on the actions taken in respect of practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Complaints are responded to appropriately. Action is taken to resolve any issues of concern from either internal or external parties quickly. Young people know which staff they would choose to raise concerns with, even when they have been at the home for only a short time. Young people have confidence that their concerns will be dealt with properly and that they will be told of the outcome.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers work well together. They have well-established monitoring and evaluation systems to consider all aspects of the service, and this assists them to identify trends and patterns and plan for improvement effectively. Sufficient numbers of staff are on duty for the number of young people living here. Staff have good knowledge of how to work with young people, and demonstrate a commitment to their care which is commendable.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnerships with other agencies are developed and maintained effectively. Where these relationships are not as effective as possible, the managers act to improve them so that the relationships support young people’s needs. The missing person’s unit of the police is positive about the ways that the staff work with it and the staff’s knowledge of safeguarding issues that affect young people.

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is one of three operated by the same private provider. It can accommodate up to five young people on a planned or emergency basis. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The provider has education and therapy services to support young people’s needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 23/11/2016 Full Outstanding 22/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 28/07/2015 Full Requires improvement

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:  The registered person must make sure that all concerns are consistently reported to the appropriate safeguarding agency. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.21) In particular, if there are any updates regarding a historical safeguarding concern, that this is reported to the safeguarding team with responsibility for the area where the home is located, as well as the local authority which has placed the young person.  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4) In particular, that a full and detailed record explains how the provider has

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Recommendations

reached the decision that young people will be compatible, as well as any areas of concern that there might be.

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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 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 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

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

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