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 good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . Young people like living here. One young person said this was because, ‘It’s my home.’ Each young person makes progress against individualised targets, taking account of their needs, age, likes and dislikes. For example, some young people engage in education and therapy, when they were not willing to do so previously. Young people move in and out of the home successfully. Plans for a young person’s care reflect those of the local authority from the time they arrive, and important issues, such as securing education and therapeutic support, are quickly implemented. Detailed compatibility assessments carefully and appropriately analyse the impact any young person may have on others before they move in, and support staff to direct their care and support well. This assists young people to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

settle quickly and make progress from the time they arrive. If a young person moves on, care is taken to ensure that this is as positive a change as possible. The staff work with the local authority’s plan for the change, and help the young person to move on. Young people show their appreciation of the care that staff have given by maintaining regular contact with them after they leave. When young people are returning home, the staff work with the parents and provide assistance afterwards to support this change. Safeguarding processes are understood well and staff manage issues of concern appropriately. Staff take fitting actions when a young person goes missing and, where possible, prevent the young person from doing so. Strategies in place have reduced the numbers of times young people go missing over the last few months. One young person was proud that she had gone missing less in this period and said

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

that the home was a much more settled place to be. Behaviour management is generally effective and strategies are implemented well. Managers monitor any matters which require improvement and take action to ensure that changes are effective. Young people say that there is little use of restraint and they have not made any complaints. Risk assessments are detailed and echo those identified in a young person’s local authority placement plan. The assessments are kept under review and updated when necessary. The recording of incidents is of varied quality. Some reports provide a clear account, showing how an incident unfolded and detail the actions taken. Others are not as well written. The managers have noted this deficit and arranged staff training to support all staff to write appropriate, clear records. This demonstrates good use of monitoring systems to identify and improve staff practice. There is minimal use of sanctions and, where these have been given, they were

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

appropriate. Not all records of sanctions contained a review of how effective the sanction had been. This limits staff understanding of what sanctions work with individual young people. No requirement or recommendation is made as the managers have taken steps to address this issue. While there is currently no registered manager in place, the home continues to be managed well. Staff confirmed they were pleased with how the home had remained stable at this time, and the acting manager confirmed that she was receiving daily support in her role. The providers are progressing their search for a manager and have kept Ofsted informed of any developments. The individuality of each young person is reflected in the care and support he or she receives. Staff know the young people well and work with them effectively, building positive relationships which young people clearly enjoy. Records are generally up to date and provide good guidance to staff on how to support each

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

young person. The service development plan and monthly monitoring forms are clear and demonstrate how the services provided are monitored, reviewed and developed. This includes completing the three requirements and four recommendations from the previous inspection. The acting manager continues to develop the service in consultation with the young people. For example, the home will be redecorated and refurbished during the summer, and the acting manager is in consultation with young people about what these changes should be. The independent visitor comes to the home on a monthly basis and reports on the quality of the provision. These reports are not always submitted to Ofsted in a timely manner, and some reports have not been submitted for more than two months after the visit. The managers work well with other agencies. They proactively ensure that issues which require support from a young person’s local authority are resolved, and liaise

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

effectively with them when a young person comes to live here.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is one of three children’s homes operated by Southern Adolescent Care Services Ltd. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, on a planned or emergency basis. The home is supported by an education team and qualified therapists. Therapists provide a range of services to young people as a group and, when needed, to individuals.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

12/08/2015 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) 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

44. (4) The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether— (a) children are effectively safeguarded; and (b) the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (5) The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home, and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (6) If the independent person becomes aware of a potential conflict of interest (whether under regulation 43(3) or otherwise) after a visit to the home, the independent person must include in the independent person’s report— (a) details of the conflict of interest; and (b) the reasons why the independent person did not notify the registered provider of the conflict of interest before the visit. (7) The independent person must provide a copy of the

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Requirement Due date

independent person’s report to— (a) HMCI. In particular, the registered provider must ensure that the reports are submitted to Ofsted in a timely manner which allows the regulator to consider any issues raised within a reasonable timescale. 02/05/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should help children to recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38) In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff consistently record the efficacy of any sanction to enable the young person and the staff team to understand young people’s behaviours better.

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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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