Children's Home run by West Sussex County Council in West Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037454 1 SC037454

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West Sussex County Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by the local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children. Its statement of purpose says that the overall aim of the home is to provide high-quality care in a warm and caring environment where the children are supported to come to terms with their past and current difficulties and begin to prepare for their future.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s manager was registered with Ofsted in March 2008.

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This monitoring visit

This home was last inspected in November 2018 and judged to be good. This monitoring inspection took place due to Ofsted being notified of a serious incident that occurred in the home on 9 February 2019.

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This monitoring visit

During the evening of 9 February 2019, a fire was started in the home. This involved some children and was short-lived and quickly resolved. However, the home’s fire policy was not followed. Staff did not evacuate the home nor call the fire service. The provider has ensured that the fire detection system has been tested following this incident. However, there were significant shortfalls in how the incident was managed at the time.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments have been updated following this incident but do not address the increased risks. Children still have access to sources of ignition. As a result, the risk is neither controlled nor addressed. Furthermore, the provider was not able to evidence, during the inspection, that appropriate medical attention was sought at the time. However, an email was sent to the inspector following the inspection. This email was sent on 28 February 2019 and contained an account written by staff on 28 February 2019. While this does evidence medical attention offered, it is of concern that this information was not recorded at the time of the incident on 9 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037454 2 February 2019.

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This monitoring visit

There are further shortfalls in individual children’s risk assessments. For example, there is a lack of specificity about how staff should support a child during times of crisis. There is no record of the actions that staff should take to protect all children against any further fire setting. The majority of the members of the staff team are trained to the required level and are experienced and skilled. However, there is the potential for inconsistency due to a lack of clarity. This is compounded further by the home’s risk assessment being rated medium for fire but other risk assessments, for the same issue, being rated as a high risk. There is the potential for confused approaches.

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This monitoring visit

There has been drift and delay in chasing specialist health services. Although there was contact between these services and the home’s staff between 9 and 15 February 2019, there was no follow-up from this point. This means that children still remain without specialist support where this may be required. This has the potential to significantly affect the welfare and safety of children.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this inspection, four requirements have been made. The five requirements made at the last inspection were not reviewed as part of this visit. They are included in this report and will be monitored by Ofsted at a further inspection visit.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/11/2018 Full Good 09/01/2018 Full Outstanding 09/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/12/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037454 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

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 take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to following agreed procedures when a child is missing or absent from the home and is thought to be at risk of harm. 18/01/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete 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

The registered person must— notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(b)) 18/01/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (Regulation 32 (1))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that before staff are promoted to a position with greater responsibility they are interviewed in order to assess their competence and suitability for the role. 18/01/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction. (Regulation 33 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that staff who are promoted to a position with greater responsibility complete a planned induction programme. 18/01/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037454 4 The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the designated person in the local authority is notified promptly when a child makes an allegation against a member of staff. 18/01/2019

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c)) 14/04/2019

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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; children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 14/04/2019

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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— 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))* 14/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home 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)) 14/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

*This requirement is subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037454 5

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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.

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Information about this inspection

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

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: West Sussex County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, West Street, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1RQ

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Inspector

Pete Hylton, regulatory inspection manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037454 6 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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