Children's Home run by My Choice Children’s Homes Limited in West Sussex

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 .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The individual needs of each young person are documented and understood by a skilled and committed staff team. Staff speak passionately about the work that they undertake to ensure the best outcomes for young people. In many aspects of their lives, young people are making good progress. Some have engaged well in therapeutic work and have reduced the frequency and severity of unsafe behaviours. The home ensures that young people have access to a range of specialist support services, and those young people who engage with these have made good progress in addressing issues such as the management of self-harming behaviours.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people are making excellent progress with regard to attendance in education and engagement on vocational courses.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Not all young people have enjoyed such positive outcomes. Some young people have struggled to engage with education at the organisation’s school, and their behaviour has become challenging in this environment. Staff have taken a proactive approach to securing more suitable educational provision for these young people. Some young people have also engaged in anti-social behaviour in the community. Staff feel that this has been exacerbated by young people having easy access to illegal substances in the local community. These concerns have been reported to the police, but staff state that they do not know of any action that has been taken as a result. The registered manager was not present during this inspection, but the organisation’s practice manager and the deputy manager, who were present, were unable to give a clear account of what action has been taken to work in partnership with the police, and resolve the availability of illegal substances

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy positive, trusting relationships with the staff, and they are given many opportunities to express their views on the day-to-day running of the home. At the full inspection in November 2016, a recommendation was made in relation to ensuring that young people are kept informed of developments when they make a complaint. Records seen at this inspection, pertaining to an allegation made by a young person against a member of staff, clearly demonstrate that the young person was kept informed of the actions that were being taken. However, no records could be found of discussions that have taken place with another young person who has made complaints about teaching staff at the organisation’s school. The practice manager gave assurances that the care staff have had conversations about this with the young person concerned.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff take a proactive approach to assisting young people to gain the independence skills they will need when they move on from the home. There are effective plans to ensure that young people acquire the practical skills and knowledge that will assist them as they mature into young adults. However, the home does not have a copy of one young person’s local authority pathway plan. This young person is likely to be moving on from the home within a few months. Leaders and managers had not taken action to ensure that this plan is developed and subsequently kept under review.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although managers and staff demonstrate a commitment to keeping young people safe, and an awareness of each young person’s vulnerabilities, some shortfalls were identified in relation to good practice in this area. At the inspection in November 2016, a recommendation was made that individual risk assessments should be updated following a significant event. Action has been taken to ensure that this happens in some cases, but practice is not yet consistent. A risk assessment pertaining to a young person keeping safe on the internet, reviewed during this inspection, was not updated despite the fact that staff have now become aware of how the young person gains unmonitored wi-fi access in the home. This young person is at significant risk when using the internet.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The strategies for keeping young people safe, outlined in their risk assessments, are not consistently implemented in practice. The missing person risk assessments for two young people were sampled. Both of these stated that staff would follow the young person if they left the home without permission. A number of occasions were identified when this did not happen. One particularly vulnerable young person, spoken to during the inspection, estimated that staff have only followed him on approximately half of the numerous occasions when he has left the home without permission. On a more positive note, this young person is beginning to reduce the frequency of his episodes of going missing.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement was made at the inspection in November 2016 in respect of maintaining records of an allegation of abuse or neglect. This particularly related to recording allegations made against staff as child protection concerns. This is now being done. However, good practice in terms of recording child protection matters is not yet consistent. The child protection records for one young person, seen during this inspection, did not record a discussion that had taken place with a social worker following a child protection matter being reported. Consequently, the actions proposed by the social worker are not recorded. In one case, no record has been kept that staff updated the social worker when new information came to light about a child protection matter. In addition, no record was made of the social worker visiting the young person to discuss the child protection concern. Other aspects of safeguarding young people are more robust. Staff maintain clear

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

boundaries within the home, and respond effectively when young people present challenging behaviour. As a result, young people say that they feel safe in the home, and that bullying is not an issue. Managers ensure that there is a thorough, planned response to any allegations made against staff. This includes consultation with the local authority designated officer, and the relevant placing authority. Priority is given to ensuring that young people are kept safe while any allegations are investigated.

p.4

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has recently resigned from his post at the organisation. Senior managers have quickly taken steps to ensure that a manager is recruited at the earliest opportunity. There is currently an experienced and stable staff team working at the home.

p.4

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has overseen some improvements to the standard of monitoring practice in the home. The quality of care monitoring reports is now more analytical, and they identify the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The most recent report was submitted to the regulator within the required timescale, and the requirement made at the last full inspection, in respect of this matter, has been met. An impact risk assessment was undertaken prior to a young person being admitted to the home in January 2017. Although this assessment contained much detail of the young person’s needs, it did not analyse how the group dynamics and behaviours of young people could be affected by the new admission.

p.4

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have received excellent support from the registered manager, and feel that their professional development has been prioritised under his leadership. He has been a good role model for the staff, and promoted a culture of high aspiration for the young people. He works effectively with placing authorities, and has demonstrated a willingness to challenge other professionals who are perceived as not providing young people with a good standard of service.

p.4

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Shortfalls were identified in terms of record-keeping. The home does not have a copy of the local authority placement plan for the most recent admission. Therefore, there is no signed record of the statutory provision under which accommodation is being provided. The registered manager has made efforts to obtain this document without success. No record could be found of more senior leaders and managers taking up this issue. There has been a persistent failure of senior leaders and managers within the organisation to ensure that the correct documentation is held for all of the young people in placement.

p.4

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The standard of record-keeping is poor in other respects. In one missing person report, the dates and times when the young person was away from the home have been incorrectly recorded. In another missing person report, no record has been kept of what action was taken when the young person returned late at night with a friend who did not live at the home. No record could be found of mediation work that had been undertaken following a young person making an allegation of assault against a member of staff.

p.4

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite these shortfalls, young people continue to make overall good progress, and in some cases, excellent progress. When young people do not make sufficient progress towards their targets, such as in education, action is taken to find alternative resources to meet their needs. No young people have come to harm as a result of the shortfalls identified in this report, although there is the potential for this to happen if these matters are not addressed in the short term.

p.5

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people, irrespective of gender, who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The organisation also provides education through its independent school, which is Department for Education registered.

p.6

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/11/2016 Full Good 20/01/2016 Full Good 04/09/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.6

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.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to assessing risk and responding to children who leave the home without permission, the registered person must ensure that staff:

p.7

Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (2)(a)(vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. 30/04/2017

p.7

Requirement Due date

Ensure records are kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34(2)(d)) 30/04/2017

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ('case records') for each child, which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)) Specifically, ensure that case records contain the placing authority's placement plan. 30/04/2017

p.7

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that the home takes the initiative in identifying others who must play a part for their children and engage with those relevant people proactively. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.7) Specifically, engage with the local police service to establish what action can be taken to prevent children acquiring illegal substances in the vicinity of the home.  Ensure that staff actively seek to make the fullest contribution to the pathway planning process, working with other relevant professionals. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.28) Specifically, staff must engage with placing authority social workers to ensure that pathway plans are completed and reviewed in a timely manner.

p.7

Recommendations

 Ensure that leaders and managers fully consider the impact that a new 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) Specifically, ensure that impact risk assessments evaluate the potential for one child’s behaviours to have a negative impact on the other children in placement.  Ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Specifically, ensure that a record is kept of all significant events and work undertaken with children, and that these records are signed and dated correctly.

p.8

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’.

p.9

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 whom 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.

p.9

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 .

p.9

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,

p.10

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Information about this inspection

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

p.10