Lansdowne Secure Unit

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC031490 1 SC031490 Registered provider: East Sussex County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This secure children’s home is operated by a local authority and is approved by the Secretary of State to restrict children’s liberty. The home can accommodate up to seven children who are aged between 10 and 17. It provides for children accommodated under section 25 of the Children Act 1989, who are placed by local authorities.

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Information about this children’s home

Admission of any child who is under 13 years of age requires the approval of the Secretary of State, under section 25 of the Children Act 1989.

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Information about this children’s home

The commissioning of health services in this home is the statutory responsibility of NHS England under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Education is provided on site in dedicated facilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 25 September 2018

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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 improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are motivated and inspired by a leadership team that places the needs of children at the centre of their practice. Care planning and care practice are child-focused and are based on rigorous assessment, monitoring and review. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC031490 2 Care planning is strengthened further by strong links with a range of professionals. This includes mental health specialists whose support has been fully integrated into the formulation of care plans, interventions and behaviour and risk management strategies. This, combined with the successful integration of a trauma-informed practice model, means that children receive an individually tailored programme of support. Consequently, children are being equipped with the necessary resilience to move forward in a safe and secure way.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers are visible and maintain excellent oversight of the day-to-day running of the home, staff practice and children’s progress. There is a strong commitment to, and a collective ownership of, the home’s improvement plan, which is clearly focused and aspirational about the future care of children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Suitable progress has been made to address the two requirements and five of the six recommendations from the previous inspection. The one remaining recommendation relating specifically to education will be assessed at the next inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff take a caring and sensitive approach to helping children to manage their behaviour. This approach is underpinned by strong reciprocal relationships between the staff and children. Staff use these relationships to try to avoid the use of physical restraint, incidents of which are infrequent and used only as a last resort.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of physical restraint are reviewed using closed circuit television (CCTV). It is pleasing to note that managers are applying greater scrutiny when assessing staff practice and are using this process better to improve practice and to ensure that only approved techniques are used.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers are now ensuring that the regulation 44 reports are submitted to Ofsted in a timelier manner. These reports provide the regulator with an insight into the general operation of the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff demonstrate a detailed insight into the needs, behaviours, risks and vulnerabilities of the children in their care. Detailed plans are implemented consistently by staff who are patient, resilient and committed to helping children to achieve their individual goals. Staff are more comprehensively capturing children’s day-to-day experiences in daily records; these now provide a full and reflective account of children’s time in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality of staff supervision has improved. Staff who are responsible for supervision have completed training and a set agenda to be worked through during supervision has been introduced. This has brought a more consistent approach that enables staff to reflect on their practice and assess their own learning and development.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The responsibility of placing authorities to accommodate children in the event of an emergency is now clearly stated in the initial placement contract. This will ensure that alternative accommodation arrangements are made quickly in the event of an emergency that renders the home unusable. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC031490 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/09/2018 Full Good 13/02/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/07/2017 Full Good 21/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the ethos of the home supports each child to learn. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)

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Recommendations

Specifically, clarify and communicate to staff the policy and practice to support the education of those who do not attend school.

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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’. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC031490 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: East Sussex County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE

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Inspectors

Paul Scott, social care inspector Jo Stephenson, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC031490 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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