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

Inspection report children’s home: SC390785 1 SC390785 Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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 registered with the Department for Education.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home requires improvement to be good because Inspection report children’s home: SC390785 2  Recent damage to the home does not provide young people with a warm and homely environment.  Disruptive behaviours have had an impact on young people’s experience in the home.  The system for ensuring that all statutory paperwork is gained prior to accepting a placement needs to be consistently applied. The home’s statement of purpose does not give clear expectations of the information and timescale required to receive statutory paperwork.  Education attendance levels have been negatively affected by the unsettled nature of the home.  Incidents of young people being absent, having unauthorised absences and missing episodes are high.  A lack of understanding of the difference between a young person being absent, having an unauthorised absence or being missing results in over-reporting to the police.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The system for gaining feedback from professionals is not as effective as it could be and therefore does not enable development of practice.  Healthy diets have not been provided, and family-style mealtimes have not taken place because of the constant disruption in the home over recent months.  Systems for reviewing medication compliance are not robust, and reviews do not take place when young people refuse to take medication.  On one occasion, a young person’s health test results were not followed up as quickly as they should have been.  The home does not yet have a registered manager in place.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The change in manager has been managed well. The new manager knows the home and young people. He has a clear view about the actions required to settle the home and create a positive environment.  The manager and senior leaders have plans in place to address the challenges faced recently and to prevent a recurrence.  Plans to improve the home environment are due to be implemented shortly.  The staff team builds trusting relationships with the young people. Young people know that the staff team listens to their views and opinions and takes action.  Good progress has been made in supporting young people to stop or decrease their misuse of substances and cannabis.  The manager has submitted an application to be registered. Inspection report children’s home: SC390785 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/11/2016 Full Good 20/01/2016 Full Good 04/09/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC390785 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (2)(x)) In particular, improve education attendance and progress. 30/07/2017

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— (a) understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; (b) use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that the registered person keeps the child’s general medical practitioner informed, as necessary, about the progress of care throughout its duration. (Regulation 6 (3)(d)) In particular, inform the general medical practitioner of any incidences of non-compliance of medication so that a review can be carried out if necessary. 30/07/2017

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that the health and well- being needs of children are met.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services the child may require. (Regulation 10 (2)(c)) In particular, ensure that all test results are followed up in a timely manner. 30/07/2017 Inspection report children’s home: SC390785 5 The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every six months.

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Requirement Due date

The systems referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (5)) In particular, ensure that systems to gain feedback from professionals are embedded in practice. 30/07/2017

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(ii)) In particular, work with the children to decrease the number of times they are absent, have unauthorised absences or go missing. 30/07/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the standard paragraph (22) requires the registered person to ensure that— any criteria used for the admission of children to the home, including any policies and procedures for emergency admission. (Regulation 16 (1), schedule 1 (22)) In particular, ensure that the statement of purpose includes the timescales for the local authority to supply, and the responsibility for the provider to obtain, all statutory paperwork prior to admission to enable suitable decision-making. This needs to be consistently applied in practice. 30/06/2017

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Recommendations

 The registered person must specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a child is missing from care or away from the home without permission. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, and paragraph 9.28). In particular, ensure that staff understand the differences between a child being absent, having an unauthorised absence and missing from care, so that they are clear about when to report to the police and when not to.  The registered person should ensure that children are provided with nutritious Inspection report children’s home: SC390785 6 meals suitable for each child’s needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, and paragraph 3.8). In particular, ensure that a good variety of food is served in a dining area that is a homely environment and that mealtimes are social occasions.

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improvement to be good

A failure to manage the recent disturbances in the home has led the young people to become unsettled. Some young people have withdrawn from education and have gone missing because they feel frustrated by the situation and by the damage caused in the home. Managers have communicated with other professionals and have developed and started to implement plans to improve the situation.

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improvement to be good

Every effort is made to enrol young people in education appropriate to their needs. Young people who find attendance difficult or who exhibit disruptive behaviours are provided with support, including additional home tutoring. This was successful until recently. The managers are working with education staff to address the deterioration in attendance, and plans are in place to create a good learning environment in the home. The staff support young people on a daily basis to encourage them to re-engage and be positive about their education and futures. Staff have used creative ideas to provide support for young people, for example enrolling young people on courses they enjoy, such as a bicycle repair project or The Prince’s Trust residential courses, in order to raise self-esteem.

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improvement to be good

Young people are in good health. They have access to local health services when they need them. Young people are referred to specialist professionals, such as smoking cessation workers. There have been some good successes in this area, with young people decreasing, and even stopping, cannabis use. Young people are generally supported to attend health appointments. However, on one occasion, routine health test results have not been followed up in a timely manner. Arrangements to administer medication are safe and well organised. Managers do not monitor or take action if young people refuse to take the prescribed medication.

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improvement to be good

The instability in the home has had a negative impact on routines; this includes a lack of regular mealtimes, healthy diets and opportunities to develop independence skills by preparing and cooking meals. Managers are aware of this and have clear plans to address this.

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improvement to be good

Young people are very confident in expressing their views and opinions. The staff team listens and takes action and, when this isn’t as quickly as the young people would like, staff explain to the young people why it is delayed. A variety of external therapeutic services are well used by the young people who value this support. They provide an additional listening ear to young people and communicate well with the staff team. Inspection report children’s home: SC390785 7 These services also work with the staff team to help its members understand and manage difficult behaviours. At other times, independent youth work consultants support young people and the staff team. These are very helpful resources for both young people and staff.

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improvement to be good

The number of incidents of young people being absent or missing is high. The current practice for decision-making about reporting, when a young person is absent or missing, has led to confusion among staff. Staff report all absences to the police. They are not distinguishing between normal and risky behaviours. This results in a high number of police reports of missing young people. Senior leaders are aware of this confusion and are working with managers across the organisation to ensure that risk assessments clearly identify when to report young people absent or missing to the police. Risk assessments instruct staff to follow young people or look for them if they are missing.

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improvement to be good

The staff team members work well together to create an environment that sets expectations for young people to behave positively. When some young people engaged in risk-taking behaviours, staff were unable to create a sense of well-being and security for the young people. Generally, however, young people form healthy attachments with the staff team. Staff meetings reflect on incidents that have taken place, group dynamics and staff relationships with the young people. Poor behaviours are discussed and questioned so that young people can reflect on their actions. Staff address the inappropriate use of language by young people and give consistent guidance and advice to young people.

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improvement to be good

The organisation’s safeguarding policy has recently been reviewed. Members of staff know the safeguarding procedures and ensure that concerns are dealt with quickly. Good contact and relationships with external safeguarding professionals, including the police and a missing person’s charity, ensure a joint response to concerns or actual harm.

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improvement to be good

The lack of full statutory paperwork at the beginning of a placement has an impact on assessments and practice. However, risk assessments are suitable and identify known and new vulnerabilities and risks as they occur. They set out actions to address the risks with clear strategies for staff to use. In many cases, they have helped staff to address the risks and reduced actual harm. Successes were seen for some young people in their decreased use of substances such as cannabis, significantly so for one young person. In other areas, success has not been so apparent, for example young people going missing.

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improvement to be good

Recruitment procedures are safe, and all checks are undertaken to provide maximum safety for young people. Any allegation or complaint against a staff member is managed in a professional manner with good outcomes and feedback to the complainant, including the young person if relevant.

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improvement to be good

All health and safety measures are consistently checked. The home has been subject to Inspection report children’s home: SC390785 8 considerable damage and repair work is due to start. Young people and staff say that they want the home to become a better environment and they understand that this is being addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager is new in post and not yet registered with Ofsted. He has a level 3 diploma in health and social care for children and has registered to commence the level 5 diploma. He has four years’ experience of residential care with children, three of these years in senior positions, including as deputy manager. He has undertaken all mandatory training provided by the organisation. He is very motivated and focused on the young people and the staff team. He has developed excellent relationships with young people and his staff team. His promotion to manager, and the increased responsibilities this brings, is being supported by senior managers in the organisation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The organisation’s procedure for accepting young people into placement is not consistently applied. A placement has been made prior to all local authority paperwork being obtained. The organisation’s statement of purpose does not include the responsibility of the local authority to supply, and the responsibility for the provider to obtain, all statutory paperwork prior to admission to enable suitable decision-making. It does not give the timescale within which it is expected that paperwork will be provided. This can have an impact on placement stability and the success of the placement for the young person.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager communicates with local authorities in cases where there is placement instability. The impact of challenging behaviours within the home on other young people is recognised and addressed with placing authorities. This has led to placements being ended so that a more appropriate placement can be sought.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager understands the responsibilities he has to Ofsted, and has addressed all requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. He has a good knowledge of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. This was evident in the actions taken since he has started and those planned to improve the many areas highlighted in this report.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

While there are systems in place to seek the views and opinions of young people, these are not embedded in practice. There is a lack of recorded feedback from professionals about their views of the care and practices in the home. This hinders the manager in being able to make improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff team members are suitably qualified to work in the home, with additional staff working in response to recent challenging behaviours of the young people. There is an active recruitment programme to fill posts when they become vacant. Staff morale remains high, despite the very challenging behaviours that staff have had to manage. All staff either have, or are completing, the level 3 diploma for residential childcare in appropriate timescales. The staff demonstrated a very good understanding of working with young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC390785 9 Working partnerships are well developed. However, this can be challenging at times as can be seen in the communication between the home and a local authority in regard to the moving on of one young person to a more appropriate residential setting. Senior leaders and managers provide additional support to the manager if required at these

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home’s statement of purpose has been reviewed recently and was submitted to the regulator following this inspection This was in response to issues raised by Ofsted regarding the level of personal detail that it contained about young people. Information on the organisation’s website is out of date and muddled. During this inspection the provider took the decision to temporarily close down their website and seek a new external website provider.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC390785 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: My Choice Children’s Homes Ltd, Unit 3a, Mill Green Business Estate, Mill Green Road, Haywards Heath RH16 1XQ

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Inspector

Liz Driver, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC390785 11 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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