Children's Home, Residential special school run by Mayne Enterprises Limited in East Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC413992 1 SC413992

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Mayne Enterprises Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This service is registered with Ofsted to provide accommodation and care for a maximum of 11 children. It is a small, privately owned independent residential school and children’s home. The statement of purpose states that the home provides ‘high-quality care and education to young people who, for a number of different reasons, are unable to live within a family environment during this period in their life.’ Children are likely to have experienced emotional and social difficulties and may have moderate learning difficulties or be on the autism spectrum.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2013.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken following Ofsted being notified of an allegation against one of the home’s staff. This allegation was made following the staff member physically intervening in response to concerns about a child’s escalating behaviour. The child alleged that the staff member had caused injury to them as a direct result of the restrictive physical intervention. Police were called in response to an alleged physical assault by the child, which resulted in physical injuries to the member of staff during this incident.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager took written statements from both the child and the staff on duty immediately after the incident. These statements were taken prior to reporting the incident to the designated officer for safeguarding. The registered manager stated that this was based on his concerns about the quality of the recording of some staff in response to previous incidents. These initial statements formed the basis of an internal investigation undertaken by the registered manager. This is not in accordance with the home’s child protection policy.

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This monitoring visit

The member of staff was suspended from duty and has not returned to the home during the period of investigation. The outcome of the registered manager’s internal Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC413992 2 investigation concluded that the member of staff did not intentionally cause harm to the child. However, the registered manager has identified learning for all the staff team members who were on duty at the time of the incident. This includes the fact that staff did not follow the guidance provided in the child’s individualised behaviour support plan. Therefore, the response from the staff team did not reflect the known individual needs of the child. The designated officer for safeguarding has concluded that no further action is needed following the investigation.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s child protection policy does not provide specific guidance to ensure that, where allegations relate to the proprietor/director and/or responsible individual, an independent investigation takes place.

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This monitoring visit

The supervision and support provided to the member of staff who was the subject of this allegation was not in accordance with their job description. Internal supervision has been provided by the home’s therapeutic lead. However, no external supervision was provided as stated in this staff member’s job description. Furthermore, no annual appraisal has taken place for this staff member. This means that there is insufficient understanding of the staff member’s performance, including their individual learning and development needs in the context of current practice.

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This monitoring visit

The child has now received specialist mental health support, which has been made available following the incident. The inspector discussed the potential criminalisation of the child due to the involvement of the police. The registered manager supports the right for staff to report physical assaults experienced while on duty. However, having reviewed the incident and reflected on the child’s known needs, they will not be recommending any further police involvement in this matter.

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This monitoring visit

Although the child’s needs and vulnerabilities were well understood, with effective guidance from the home’s therapeutic lead, these were not fully recorded in the individual risk management and behaviour management plan for this child. This means that staff were not provided with clear instructions for their care of this child. The registered manager reassured the inspector that he had oversight of these plans but did not apply his signature to them in order to evidence that he had read and approved them.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/06/2019 Full Good 03/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC413992 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 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)) 14/08/2020

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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 are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2) (a) (vii)) 14/08/2020

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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 effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2) (e)) 14/08/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development; receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4) (b) (c)) 14/08/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC413992 4

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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

In accordance with Ofsted guidance on COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions, this inspection was undertaken remotely. Telephone discussions were held with the registered manager prior to inspection. Various documents were emailed to the inspector that were also considered. Discussions were held during the inspection with both the registered manager and responsible individual via video calls.

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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

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Mayne Enterprises Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office Ff10, Brooklands House, 58 Marlborough Road, Lancing Business Park, Lancing BN15 8AF

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Inspector

Maria Lonergan, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC413992 5 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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