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

Inspection report children’s home: 1250194 1 Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home that is registered to provide care for up to four children who have emotional and/or behavioural problems. Two additional conditions of registration apply. The first is that the home may only provide care and accommodation for children who do not present with known and identified child sexual exploitation risks. The second is that the home may only provide care and accommodation for children who do not present with a known and identified alcohol and/or drug dependency. Education can be provided at the organisation’s school.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 14 to 15 December 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: 1250194 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Considerable improvements to the quality of care have been made since the last inspection.  The staff team’s improved safeguarding knowledge and practice provide protection for children.  Much improved referral and decision-making procedures result in placements that are better suited.  The management of the home is effective, with better monitoring and reviewing procedures.  More care is given to the pace of admissions, reducing the risk of placement breakdowns.  The health needs of children are met. The staff team encourages healthy lifestyles.  The staff liaise closely with other professionals, such as specialist police officers, health professionals and those in education establishments.  Good support and supervision for staff has resulted in improved reflection on incidents and identification of gaps in knowledge, which have been addressed.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 To continue with the improved and more detailed referral decision-making processes to ensure better placement stability.  To ensure that there is a full complement of staff as and when numbers of children increase.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31 August 2017 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: 1250194 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moving-in procedures for children are good. The registered manager takes time to decide whether a potential placement is suitable, liaising with a range of adults and professionals involved in the child’s life. Detailed information from local authorities is expected and carefully considered prior to decision-making. This lessens the risk of placement breakdowns, promotes placement stability and improves outcomes for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised care in a nurturing environment. They are helped to learn to manage their emotions and keep themselves safe. The staff team is better informed of individual needs and has clear strategies to manage behaviours and lessen known risks. The staff work hard to develop trusting relationships with the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are listened to in the home. The staff ensure that their views, wishes and opinions are taken seriously. Individual key-working sessions help children to reflect on their behaviours and express their feelings. These sessions provide support for children during difficult times. They also enable the children to discuss their targets with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is seen as a priority. The staff team works closely with educational professionals to ensure that children have a positive education experience. Children commence school soon after admission.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical and emotional health are closely monitored, and this ensures that their specific needs are identified and met. Specific health needs are managed very well. A range of professionals provide the children with support and therapeutic help. The staff offer the children advice and guidance on healthy lifestyles. Children are encouraged by staff to take an active role in decision-making and planning for their future. The staff also support children to make safe lifestyle choices, for example, in relation to gang affiliation and relationships. Staff encourage participation. The strong support and encouragement given by staff helps to lessen the risk of children being criminalised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The administration of medication is safe and well managed. Children receive a healthy diet and have opportunities to experience different foods.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are able to keep in touch with those who are important to them. Contact arrangements are confirmed when children move into the home, to ensure that any restrictions are known and planned for. The staff provide support for children to see their family, and other important people, as necessary.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Previous safeguarding concerns identified at the inspection in August 2017 have been addressed. The work undertaken has seen improved knowledge and understanding of Inspection report children’s home: 1250194 4 roles and responsibilities across the staff team. As a result, staff practice has improved. The staff have a good level of knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and are confident about what action to take if they have a concern. Staff training has resulted in staff responding immediately and effectively to incidents. Child protection training includes training on the risk of radicalisation and e-safety.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The policies, procedures and practices implemented by the staff help to protect children from harm and abuse. The staff team has a good knowledge and understanding of the particular risks associated with individual children. Individual, up-to-date risk assessments describe known vulnerabilities for each child, and set out what action should be taken to lessen the risks.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Better safeguarding procedures now allow the registered manager to refer directly on to safeguarding agencies rather than wait for senior management direction. The registered manager also has the support of a senior manager and together they monitor all referrals made effectively. Managers act assertively if staff practice is found to be unsafe. They are prepared to use disciplinary action when required.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff follow agreed protocols if children go missing, including following and encouraging them to return. Staff work very closely with a wide range of professionals, including missing person’s police officers and specialist gang-related police officers. Children with a history of going missing are closely monitored and responded to in a consistent manner by all agencies working collaboratively. This has improved outcomes. The registered manager has carried out a significant piece of work around gang-related behaviours, gaining very detailed information that informs risk assessments.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Behaviour management systems help staff to safely support children. They receive guidance to help manage their emotions and any challenging behaviours. One physical intervention has occurred since the last inspection. The staff are properly trained to intervene. There was a good standard debrief for both staff and children following the intervention, which included the registered manager reviewing and reflecting on the incident. The staff identify triggers to deteriorating behaviour and therefore manage to defuse evolving situations. Behaviour management plans are detailed, frequently reviewed by the staff and amended if necessary, ensuring that they remain effective.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The children are cared for by staff whose practice challenges discrimination and promotes equality and individuality.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

All health and safety checks take place to keep the home as a safe environment. Fire evacuation drills teach children and staff what action to take in the event of a fire.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff recruitment procedures are thorough, and all appropriate measures are taken to ensure that adults who are employed at the home are suitable to work with children. Inspection report children’s home: 1250194 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Following an inadequate judgement in August 2017, a monitoring visit was undertaken in October 2017. The monitoring visit identified that the registered manager had taken measures to address the shortfalls previously identified. This inspection considers the effectiveness, impact and sustainability of the measures put in place to be good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is currently working towards the level 5 qualification in leadership and management. Since registration, the service has been through a challenging time as a result of poor admission procedures, poor staff practice and poor placement stability, leading to an inadequate inspection judgement. The registered manager has thoroughly reviewed what happened during this time and has taken positive measures to change practices in all these areas.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training to support the needs of the children. They receive supervision monthly, as stated in the home’s statement of purpose. Individual supervision sessions give staff time to discuss the progress of the children, the children’s safety and their own training needs. The registered manager has implemented competency testing for staff in areas such as safeguarding and medication administration. This allows him to monitor staff’s practice and assess staff’s knowledge. Identified gaps are addressed effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Consistency of staffing can, at times, be affected by senior leaders asking staff to work at other of the organisation’s homes. Currently staffing is sufficient; however, as more children are admitted the staff team needs to be increased.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring and auditing systems are much improved. An independent visitor provides an oversight of the home’s operations and her recommendations are considered by the registered manager in developing the service. The registered manager has developed internal monitoring systems so that he can identify areas for improvement. A newly introduced electronic recording system enhances the ability of the manager to view data and assess trends and patterns. His review and reflection of incidents has improved greatly, as has his ability to lead a team of staff and manage the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose sets out the ethos and objectives of the home, and the range of services that it provides for the children.

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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 differences 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 Inspection report children’s home: 1250194 6 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 whom 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: 1250194 7

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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: 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: 1250194 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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