Children's home run by Rubicon Children and Family Services Ltd in Lewes

Inspection report children‟s home: SC403905 1 SC403905 Registered provider: Rubicon Children‟s Homes Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children. It has an annex within the home for one child who may be working towards independence or require space away from the group.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since January 2019.

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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 good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three children have remained in placement since the last inspection and are continuing to make progress. They have continued to attend education and have a positive community presence. Incidents of missing have reduced in number for some, and aggressive outbursts have also reduced. One child has moved on as planned to independent living close to her family home. One child who has recently moved into the home is settling well and beginning to form strong attachments to staff. There have been two other placements since the last inspection. Both children have since moved on, as the staff could not meet their needs. For one child, the information provided by the placing authority did not include an up-to-date assessment of the child‟s needs. For the second child, a through pre-placement assessment had not identified that they presented a risk through the use of weapons. The home‟s statement of purpose does not

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Inspection report children‟s home: SC403905 2 make it clear that the annexe is not a separate space to accommodate children who require single placements. This has led to confusion for some placing authorities.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the home has worked towards meeting the requirements and recommendations set. Staff who have worked or lived overseas have provided evidence of police checks of their conduct while living in these countries. Risk assessments are produced and regularly updated when a child takes up a new high-risk activity, for example parkour. Children‟s plans and records are all in the process of being moved to a computer-based system to ensure that all are easily accessible to staff, and to prevent information from being missed in children‟s paper files. The house has been redecorated since the last inspection, but the manager has failed to sustain the changes. The home lacks a homely feel and it is dirty on the stairs and in corners of rooms not in the eyeline. Therefore, this remains a requirement.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home makes good use of the reports produced by the independent visitor and through the manager‟s evaluation of the service, to ensure that it is improving. The provider did not ensure that reports produced by the independent visitor in relation to regulation 44 for August to November 2018 were sent to Ofsted in timely manner, as Ofsted did not receive them until January 2019‟They are detailed, but it is not always easy to understand the key points through all the information included.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/08/2018 Full Good 23/01/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 15/02/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 08/06/2016 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC403905 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 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. (Regulation 12(2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the home is cleaned thoroughly. 26/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children‟s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16(1))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, provide a clear description of, and specify the purpose of, the annex within the house. 26/04/2019

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Recommendations

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents, such as learning from disruptions and placement breakdowns. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. („Guide to quality standards‟ page 54, paragraph 10.24) Specifically, ensure the independent visitor provides copies of their report to Ofsted in a timely manner. Inspection report children‟s home: SC403905 4

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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: Rubicon Children‟s Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 St Andrews Place, Southover Road, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Louise Whichelow-Ellis

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC403905 5 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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