Children's home run by ARC Adventure (Sussex) Ltd in Sutton

Inspection report children’s home: SC362972 1 SC362972 Registered provider: ARC Adventure (Sussex) Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to five children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 13 September 2017

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been without a registered manager since May 2017. The home’s current manager withdrew his application to be registered in January 2018. He is now in the process of resubmitting his application to be registered with Ofsted. As a result, the home is judged as declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the home’s manager and staff team have been working to form a cohesive team with a consistent approach. They have been largely successful in this, and young people appear confident and content in the home. Three young people remain in placement, and all are making good progress. For example, one is working to return home to his mother, which was not considered to be an option when he first moved into care. Another is settling well and there has been a significant reduction in incidents in which he has required physical intervention. Another has become more open Inspection report children’s home: SC362972 2 with staff and is communicating much better with them. There has been a reduction in incidents of young people going missing from the home, too.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has moved into the home and, subsequently, moved on, since the last inspection. There were no obvious indicators that the staff would not be able to meet his needs, prior to his placement. However, the degree of aggression towards staff was much more significant than expected, and other young people were unsettled by this. The home worked with the placing authority to try to support the young person, but staff were unable to sustain the placement. Staff have reflected upon this placement in meetings with an external therapist, including exploring why he may have struggled to engage and adhere to boundaries. Minutes from these meetings demonstrate that the staff team has significantly grown in the area of critical thinking about behavior.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are safeguarded effectively. There have been three issues requiring referral to the designated officer in the local authority, which was done in a timely manner in all cases. Appropriate action has been taken as a result of the joint working, including one staff member being dismissed. Risk assessments have significantly improved since the last inspection. They include good detail and show consideration of what the risk may be, and which aspects staff may be unable to control, in particular with relation to smoking and young people not handing in their lighters and smoking in their rooms. It was also noted that two risk assessments for a young person contradicted each other regarding the level of supervision needed. Staff were able to explain the reasoning for this, but it was acknowledged that it was unclear what the actual risk for the young person was.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirements and recommendations set at the last inspection have mostly been met. In addition to the areas already noted, such as further improvement to risk assessments, it is concerning that the stair carpet has still not been replaced. This carpet is obviously frayed, and despite it being stuck down, it remains a trip hazard. Additionally, some staff have still not had training in behavior management and physical intervention. It had been booked for December 2017, but was subsequently cancelled by the responsible individual. A window that had been blocked shut by a piece of wood has now been replaced and, in general, the fabric of the building is homely and welcoming.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The statement of purpose has been reviewed and now reflects the service provided and no longer contains dated language. It has also been sent to Ofsted as required. Monitoring of the home in line with regulation 45 is thorough and the home’s manager has evaluated the service provided, while clearly identifying areas for further development. Reports produced by the independent visitor are at times unnecessarily lengthy, but they have been useful in guiding the management team to develop the service.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Further improvements since the last inspection include greater joint working with partner agencies. A form has been developed to make recording of agreements with social workers, among others, clearer. Staff are engaging with tutors to ensure that they complete their level 3 qualifications within agreed timescales. A development of particular note is a basket in the office where staff place positive notes about the young people, to read to them at the house meetings. These include, for example, when a Inspection report children’s home: SC362972 3 young person has been helpful, or when they have had a fun activity.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/09/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/05/2017 Full Inadequate 02/02/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 13/07/2016 Full Good

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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 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—

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, be specific about the risks posed and ensure that information is consistent throughout the assessments. 31/03/2018

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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—

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. 31/03/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC362972 4 (Regulation 12(1)(2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, replace the stair carpet that is a trip hazard.

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Recommendations

 The behaviour management policy should set out how staff are trained and supported to meet the child’s needs. Regulations 13(2)(d) and (e) require children’s homes to employ a sufficient number of suitably qualified, skilled and experienced persons in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.37) In particular, ensure that staff who employ restraint techniques are trained to do so.

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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 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

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

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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: ARC Adventure (Sussex) Ltd Inspection report children’s home: SC362972 5 Registered provider address: c/o Cox Costello, Langwood House, 63–81 High Street, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire WD3 1EQ

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC362972 6 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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