Children's home run by My Choice Children’s Homes Limited in Mid Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC426530 1 SC426530

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My Choice Children’s Homes Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children and young people who have a range of emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is one of nine children’s homes operated by this private company.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted on 3 September 2019.

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This monitoring visit

An assurance visit took place on 5 October 2020. Concerns identified at this inspection related to the safeguarding of children. A compliance notice was issued under Regulation 12, the protection of children standard.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to ensure that the provider had met the compliance notice, which had an end date of 29 November 2020. The visit took place remotely due to the restrictions in place for COVID-19 (coronavirus). As such, the monitoring visit focused on the compliance notice. The remaining requirements from the assurance visit have not been assessed. They remain with extended timeframes, and progress against them will be tested at a future inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector sampled records remotely using the organisation’s computer system. Two staff were interviewed via phone calls and the registered manager participated in the inspection via phone calls and video teams’ meetings.

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A compliance notice was served under Regulation 12(1) (2)(a)(vi)

The steps required the provider to ensure that all staff members understand and follow the risk management plan in place for each child. The provider has reviewed the risk management plans for the children. The reviewed plans have been discussed in team meetings and handovers to ensure that staff, including those Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC426530 2 working from other homes or agencies, are clear about the safeguarding strategies that should be followed.

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A compliance notice was served under Regulation 12(1) (2)(a)(vi)

The steps required the provider to consider how agency staff members are briefed and given information about children’s individual risk management plans, and ‘free time’ arrangements. This includes consideration of what action to take if there are any concerns identified during a child’s ‘free time’. Staff report that agency staff are given time to read the children’s strategies. They also check agency staff’s understanding of specific strategies around free time before they take the children out.

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A compliance notice was served under Regulation 12(1) (2)(a)(vi)

The final step required the provider to review safeguarding incidents that demonstrate any failure of staff to follow organisational procedures and/or children’s risk management plans, and take steps to retrain staff members accordingly to avoid any further occurrences. The provider has met with the staff team to review previous safeguarding incidents where practice has fallen short. Team meeting minutes demonstrate that the staff are clear that disciplinary action may be taken as a result of staff failing to follow the policies and procedures in place to safeguard the children.

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A compliance notice was served under Regulation 12(1) (2)(a)(vi)

Training in advanced safeguarding has been provided for some staff, with further dates to follow. Other individualised training has been provided for other staff regarding COVID-19 to ensure that they understand the action required if the children show symptoms.

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Conclusion

The provider has met the steps of the compliance notice. The progress will be further tested, with the remaining requirements at the next inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/02/2020 Full Good 24/10/2018 Full Good 07/12/2017 Full Good 01/11/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC426530 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— meet the needs of each child; (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i) Specifically, ensure that the children are supported to have clean, tidy and well-aired bedrooms and bedclothes on their beds. 28 February 2021

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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. 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; help each child to understand how to keep safe; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii)) 28 February 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC426530 4

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(d)(e)(h)) 28 February 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)) In particular, ensure that staff receive the additional training identified in investigation outcomes as being required. 28 February 2021

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) 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)) 28 February 2021

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC426530 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: My Choice Childrens Homes Ltd, Unit 3a, Mill Green Business Estate, Mill Green Road, Haywards Heath RH16 1XQ

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Inspector

Sarah Olliver, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC426530 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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