Children's home run by West Sussex County Council

This monitoring visit

Ofsted inspected the home in June 2016 and judged the service inadequate. A further full inspection took place in October 2016 and inspectors again judged the service inadequate, raising 16 requirements and three recommendations. Following that inspection, the local authority voluntarily restricted accommodation and the two young people residing in the home at that time were discharged. There have been no further admissions since October 2016. Planned structural building works to the home commenced in January 2017. This substantial refurbishment means that the service is not currently in a position to re- open. As a result, Ofsted has extended the expected completion dates relating to the requirements and restated the recommendations raised at the last inspection in this report. Due to these circumstances, the service is provided with additional time in which to address the previously highlighted shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

An acting manager remains in day-to-day charge of the home. The acting manager has utilised the temporary closure of the home to review and evaluate the service, to assess the quality of care provided and the impact this has for young people, their progress and their development. A service improvement plan is in place that includes how the registered person and the local authority will address the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. This detailed document enables the acting manager to clearly focus on the development of the service. This includes an analysis of staff practice and performance, an appraisal of their skills, knowledge and abilities, and the review of all operational policies and procedures. Consultation is central to this process and staff are fully involved in reviewing internal policies relating to the assessment of risk, managing behaviours, medication administration systems, and

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This monitoring visit

care planning. As a result, staff demonstrate a commitment to developing and improving provision. Since the last inspection, the local authority has recruited a number of new staff. The acting manager has followed safer recruitment processes designed to ensure that the right people are employed to work with vulnerable children. There is a detailed induction programme for new staff and a revised training and development programme for existing staff. This means that they are able to gain the skills and knowledge they need to effectively support young people during their placement in the home. In addition, all staff now benefit from regular and practice-related formal supervision. The acting manager uses this medium to address staff performance issues, assess their learning and development needs, consider their emotional well- being, and encourage them to be accountable for their actions and inactions.

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This monitoring visit

Because of this support, staff say they feel motivated and enthusiastic and they are excited about the home re-opening. The acting manager has reviewed and revised monitoring systems. He is in the process of introducing new processes and tools to effectively record and subsequently evaluate practice. This includes records and documents pertaining to complaints, the use of sanctions and physical restraint, and the use of single separation and ‘managing away’. These improvements to monitoring systems enable managers to consider the effectiveness of internal policies, processes and procedures in protecting young people and reducing their risk-taking behaviours. Since the last inspection, the acting manager has prioritised partnership working with education and health services. Commissioned healthcare services include specialist nursing staff, alcohol and substance misuse workers and access to mental health professionals. Furthermore, the local authority has completed a detailed

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This monitoring visit

review of the in-house education service. This means that, when the home re- opens, the service will better reflect young people’s individual learning needs and address the barriers to education that young people may face. Health and education professionals participate in regular multi-disciplinary team meetings. This consultation and communication forum will enable care, health and education managers to effectively liaise and collaborate. Managers will consider the suitability of planned admissions to the home, review young people’s placements and progress, and promote the early identification of discharge and resettlement options. Since the last inspection, the acting manager and staff team have made considerable improvements to all aspects of the service. As the home remains non- operational, it is not possible to evaluate the effectiveness that these positive changes will have for young people. The acting manager has established the ethos

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This monitoring visit

of promoting young people’s welfare, well-being, safety and individual progress into planned daily routines in the home. This developing culture will place young people and their individual needs at the centre of the operation of the service.

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Information about this children’s home

This secure children’s home is operated by a local authority and is approved by the Secretary of State to restrict young people’s liberty. Education is provided on-site. The home can accommodate up to seven young people who are aged between 10 and 17 years and are accommodated under section 25 of the Children Act 1989. Admission of any young person who is under 13 years of age requires the approval of the Secretary of State.

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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

6. The quality and purpose of care standard In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must ensure: (2)(c)(i) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. 15/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

12. The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that staff: (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. This specifically relates to the need for individual risk assessments, relating to the use of single separation, to include the frequency of observation checks linked to procedures pertaining to this measure of control. 15/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

12. The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure: (2)(b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. This is with specific reference to the use of searches and the recording of searches, and how and when ligature cutters 15/09/2017 are checked and verified as fit for purpose.

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Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must: (2)(b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; (e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child, and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 15/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

14. The care planning standard In order to meet the care planning standard, the registered person must ensure: (2)(b)(ii) that arrangements are in place to manage and review the placement of each child in the home. 15/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(3)(a)(b)) 15/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23(1)) 15/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. If an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, the registered person may only allow that individual to work at the home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in 15/09/2017 Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1)(2)(b)(3)(d)) The registered person must ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction; and the registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development, receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience, and have their performance and

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Requirement Due date

fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(1)(a)(4)(a)(b)(c)) 15/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy, which is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect, and sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. This specifically relates to the implementation of this policy. (Regulation 34(1)(a)(b)) 15/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep under review and, as necessary, revise the home’s child protection policies. This is with specific reference to the incorporating arrangements to fulfil the local authority’s responsibilities under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 and the government’s ‘Prevent’ duty guidance. (Regulation 34(6)) 15/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. The registered person must ensure that, within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes all required information. (Regulation 35(2)(3)(a)(i-viii)) 15/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39(3)) 15/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40(4)(c)) 15/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided for children, the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it, and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45(2)(a)(b)(c)) 15/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

Except in the case of an emergency or unforeseen absence, a 15/09/2017 notice under paragraph (1) must specify with respect to the proposed absence, and in the case of the absence of the registered manager, the arrangements that have been, or are proposed to be, made for appointing another person to manage the home during the absence. (Regulation 48(2)(b)(v))

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of children, and is a homely and domestic environment. In particular, ensure that settees and chairs are in good condition and free from stains, and that all windows have curtains or blinds, which fit correctly. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  Ensure that the children’s home produces a children’s guide. The children’s guide must be made available to all children when their placement in the home is agreed (or on arrival at the home if the placement is made in an emergency) and must be age appropriate, provided in an accessible format and explained to each child to make sure that they understand it. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 24,

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Recommendations

paragraph 4.21)  Ensure that any sanctions used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature, to help children to recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases, it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour, and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the home since the last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. 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

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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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