Children's Home run by Springfield Road Children’s Homes Ltd in East Sussex

Inspection report children’s home: SC412296 1 SC412296 Registered provider: Springfield Road 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 home is owned by a private company. It provides care and accommodation for up to three children. Its statement of purpose states that the home supports children whose behaviour has become a danger to themselves and to others and who require intensive support from carers.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in 2010.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC412296 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/06/2017 Full Good 04/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 25/08/2016 Full Good 06/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC412296 3

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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

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that fire safety checks are undertaken regularly. 14/09/2018

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience warmth, understanding and high-quality care from staff who respond to their specific needs. In a calm and welcoming home, children develop positive relationships with staff and have opportunities to develop, manage their emotions and increase their awareness of how to keep themselves safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to put forward their views. Children feel listened to. They use the complaints process constructively to formalise their opinions, and house meetings to put forward suggestions about their day-to-day experiences. Staff respond appropriately, demonstrating to the children that they are valued and respected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children attend school regularly and are making good progress. Staff work proactively with other professionals to put forward children’s views in relation to their education. Children have access to a range of activities. Staff know their likes and dislikes, and try hard to positively engage them in leisure activities to develop their social skills and experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop independence skills that prepare them for becoming adults. Inspection report children’s home: SC412296 4 From their starting points, children make significant progress. A social worker stated that they are ‘impressed and amazed’ how a child has responded to the care provided and how the child’s behaviour has improved since living at the home.

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

Staff understand the risks associated with children’s behaviour. They help children develop an awareness of how to keep themselves safe. They appreciate the importance of balancing protecting children with the need for them to develop independence and take appropriate risks. Care plans and risk assessments show that staff give careful thought and consideration to managing and reducing risk to children.

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

Staff work collaboratively with children’s social workers to meet children’s individual needs and reduce the potential of harm. Personalised plans and approaches are contributing to improvements in children’s behaviour. Children who were frequently going missing and displaying violent and aggressive behaviour before moving to the home are now not behaving in this way.

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

Children respond to the nurturing care from staff and the boundaries staff put in place. One child stated that, ‘boundaries make me feel secure’. They feel safe living at the home.

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

Staff are aware of the risks to children of sexual exploitation. They are alert and vigilant to signs that children may be subject to grooming, and take appropriate, robust action to protect children. They use key-work sessions effectively to help children understand how to keep themselves safe when they are not with an adult, and help them learn from their experiences.

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

Managers and staff provide children with a safe place to live. However, some weekly fire safety checks have been missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a wealth of experience from working therapeutically with children and has qualifications in systemic family psychotherapy and child-focused systemic practice. Supported by a skilled and experienced management team, she is also the registered manager for another of the organisation’s children’s homes close by.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers lead by example, showing sincere warmth and care for the children. They know the children very well and, with the benefit of the expertise of the registered manager, understand the meaning of children’s behaviour. Managers guide the staff team to provide nurturing care, and ensure that positive relationships are at the heart of their practice. Inspection report children’s home: SC412296 5 The staff appreciate the support they receive from managers. Regular supervision provides staff with opportunities to focus on the individual needs of children, safeguarding, and reflecting on their own emotional responses to children’s behaviour. Training is comprehensive and relevant to the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers work proactively and confidently with external professionals. They constructively challenge decisions and approaches when they are concerned that these are not in a child’s best interests or are not sufficiently protecting a child. Managers are strong advocates for children. Listening to the views of children is central to their practice. They ensure that children’s views are put forward and heard when professionals are planning children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Social workers spoke highly of managers’ communication, which ensures that all parties are well-informed about children’s needs and progress.

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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

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: SC412296 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Springfield Road Children’s Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5 Cornfield Terrace, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 4NN

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Inspector

Jan Hunnam, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC412296 7 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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