Children's home run by My Choice Children’s Homes Limited in Mid Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC426530 1 SC426530

p.1

My Choice Children’s Homes Ltd

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home can accommodate up to three children. Children can access the on-site school. The home is one of nine children’s homes operated by a private company.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to assess compliance with the two legal notices that were set as the result of a visit carried out on 26 March 2018. Both compliance notices were found to be met at this visit.

p.1

This monitoring visit

In addition, a restriction of accommodation notice was also applied following the visit on 26 March 2018. The restriction notice was due to end on 19 June 2018. This is the second visit to ensure that the provider is complying with the restriction notice. No children have been admitted and therefore the provider is assessed as complying with the notice.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The restriction notice was lifted on 30 May 2018 following this visit.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The provider responded to the compliance notices by submitting a satisfactory response in a timely manner. However, because of the restriction of new admissions, this visit was unable to confirm the home’s ability to ensure that protective measures and systems put in place have the desired effect in practice.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The registered manager is leaving the organisation in June 2018. A new manager has been recruited who is due to commence in early July 2018. In addition, the area manager has also left the organisation and has yet to be replaced. This role is currently being overseen by the practice manager. The new manager’s ability to implement changes as a result of these compliance notices will be looked at during future inspections. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC426530 2 The first compliance notice:

p.1

understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided

The provider was asked to: 1. Carry out a review of the experience, qualifications and skills of all staff members to meet the needs of the children accommodated. 2. In light of the above review, consider and provide a report on the staffing levels available and whether these are sufficient to ensure that the home has the necessary numbers of core staff to provide continuity of care for each child placed at the home. 3. To investigate and report on how staffing levels, experience, skills and qualifications are considered when referrals are being considered. 4. Conduct regular reviews of the impact the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child.

p.2

understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided

A satisfactory review has been undertaken of all the above areas.

p.2

understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided

The registered manager has revisited the home’s workforce plan and gathered additional information about individual staff’s skills. He has reviewed the training of all staff within the home, highlighting areas where staff need further training, such as in understanding child sexual exploitation, trafficking and gang culture. The registered manager has extended his systems to monitor the effectiveness of training, from competency-testing to dedicated time in supervision. A review of the movement of staff across the organisation’s homes is taking place. The high volume of this has been a concern previously and the senior leaders are continually looking at ways to reduce it. Recruitment is ongoing, with a commitment to fill vacant posts across the organisation rather than using casual staff or staff from other homes. Currently there is one vacant post at this home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC426530 3

p.2

understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided

A new section has been added to the home’s impact risk assessment at referral stage to evaluate presenting behaviours and likely effects on the staff team. This includes the matching of skills required to be able to support any new admission and additional training needs that may be required to further support the child. Senior leaders, who continue to have involvement in the referral processes, oversee the matching process; however, they do recognise that this is an area they need to continually evaluate. In particular, this is in the recording of decision-making, including any concerns raised by managers about referrals. Previously, the system did not allow for this decision-making process or the full range of opinions to be fully recorded at referral stage. Changes have yet to be tested in practice because of the (now lifted) restriction notice.

p.3

understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided

The organisation has developed its systems to assess the quality of care provided by the home and the impact this has on the experience and progress of children. In addition to what was already in place, this review has enabled the manager to critically reflect on the ways in which children’s placements have ended. To extend the manager’s oversight and monitoring of the children’s experiences and progress, the organisation has introduced a monthly analysis record. Senior leaders and managers oversee these reports, which include the number of incidents of missing, restraints, and behaviours that put children at risk of sexual exploitation. This is an additional tool that enables the manager to continually assess progress made by the children and to address concerning trends and patterns in a much-improved timescale. This system enables early intervention to address negative behaviours. This has yet to be tested as it is a newly implemented process.

p.3

12. (1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected

from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.3

(c) that the premises used for the purpose of the home are located so that

The provider was asked to: 1. Ensure systems for decision-making about admissions include the completion of good-quality impact risk assessments prior to a decision being made. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC426530 4 These assessments should consider the skills and training needs of staff; the impact a new admission may have on children already placed; and feedback from other professionals about the area the home is in and the risks that this may pose to each child. 2. Ensure that processes are in place to identify and carry out any actions required to mitigate concerns highlighted in impact risk assessments and that these are completed in a timescale that meets children’s needs. 3. Ensure that procedures allow for the manager’s views about an admission to be clearly recorded. These records should show the decision-making audit trail if an admission is made despite a manager assessing it as an unsuitable

p.3

(c) that the premises used for the purpose of the home are located so that

placement. 4. Ensure that any training required following this review is arranged in a timely manner and that the competence of leaders and managers is subsequently assessed. 5. Conduct a review of arrangements at the home to determine if it remains able to offer emergency placements and/or to admit children with high levels of need. The review must consider the experience and skills of the staff team and concerns raised about the location of the home.

p.4

(c) that the premises used for the purpose of the home are located so that

A satisfactory review has been undertaken of all the above areas.

p.4

(c) that the premises used for the purpose of the home are located so that

There was a need for the manager and senior leaders to be more robust in their decision-making processes in relation to referrals. As no children have been admitted because of the restriction notice, changes put in place have yet to be tested in practice.

p.4

(c) that the premises used for the purpose of the home are located so that

Changes to the organisation’s systems provide for all potential referral discussions and decision-making conversations to be recorded. This includes decision-making regarding staffing levels, staffing skills required, training needs, compatibility with and impact on other children and risks to be included. This also includes feedback from other professionals about the risks posed for a potential new admission. This section follows through all of the discussions that have been made around the thoughts behind the decision. This development is a move forward, so there are clearer procedures that follow any presenting referral issues and more context to the process of decision-making.

p.4

(c) that the premises used for the purpose of the home are located so that

The location of the home has been a cause of concern when judging the suitability of some previous admissions. The home’s location risk assessment is up to date and does include the risks posed in the area. The manager and senior leaders have stated that more robust decision-making will take place in relation to location and risks. The organisation is working to build improved relationships with the police to ensure that all risks in the area are known and that no child is admitted when they may be put at further risk. This will be looked at during future inspections.

p.4

(c) that the premises used for the purpose of the home are located so that

A review of the referral and decision-making processes in the organisation has provided clearer recording and an audit trail of how decisions are made. The process Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC426530 5 allows for the manager to liaise closely with the senior leaders who work with the individual local authorities to gain full and detailed referral information. The senior management team will use the experience it holds, along with the identified skills of the staff team, to help the manager form a well-thought-out decision. This will now be documented on a referral form and the impact risk assessment. The review concludes that the responsible individual will, in every instance, discuss with the manager the reasons for accepting or declining any referrals so that all are confident that informed and safe decisions are being made. This has yet to be tested in practice because of the restriction notice having been in place.

p.4

(c) that the premises used for the purpose of the home are located so that

The organisation’s review states that the professional development of senior managers and leaders will remain ongoing. It also states that an internal review of their qualifications, skills and competence does not raise concerns about their ability to assess the needs of the children placed in the organisation.

p.5

(c) that the premises used for the purpose of the home are located so that

A further three requirements were made but not looked at fully during this visit. They relate to the quality and purpose of care standard, reviewing the quality of care and improving the quality of investigations. The provider has responded with a written action plan that will be assessed at the next inspection.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/12/2017 Full Good 01/11/2016 Full Good 07/09/2016 Full Inadequate 27/01/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC426530 6

p.5

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Ltd

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3a, Mill Green Business Estate, Mill Green Road, Haywards Heath RH16 1XQ

p.6

Inspectors

Liz Driver, social care inspector Ruth Coler, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC426530 7 to 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.

p.6

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspectors

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

p.7

Inspectors

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

p.7