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 school and with accommodation registered as a 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 further to a previous monitoring visit that took place on 19 June 2020. This was in response to an allegation against a staff member. Following this, Ofsted was not notified of a separate and unrelated allegation against another staff member. In addition, Ofsted was notified of a change in ownership of the children’s home by the new owners of the home. This visit focused on safeguarding practice and the effectiveness of the new management arrangements.

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This monitoring visit

During the visit, the inspector met with four children, three staff, the registered manager and the new responsible individual. The inspector spoke with the allocated social workers for four children as part of the visit.

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This monitoring visit

Children are supported well by a caring and committed staff team. In particular, children expressed how well staff have supported them through the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Children feel able to share any worries that they may have with staff and they reported feeling safe. Staff understand them and know how to Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC413992 2 respond to each child based on their individual needs. Children told the inspector that they enjoy living at the home as they have ‘fun’.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s vulnerabilities are well understood by the staff team. The assessment of identified risk for children moving into the home is effective. This helps staff to understand children’s support needs and know how to provide safe care for them. There are effective individual risk management plans in place. Where there have been safeguarding concerns relating to risks outside of the home, these have been appropriately reported to statutory agencies. However, there were a small number of concerns which were not notified to Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector observed children enjoying trampolining in the garden with staff during the visit. The outdoor space available to children, together with the on-site school, have really helped them through the pandemic. Education has been well supported with children continuing to engage in learning.

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This monitoring visit

Social workers spoke positively about the support that staff provide to children. They also appreciated being able to visit the children on site with appropriate health and safety measures in place. When it was not possible to visit due to children being unwell, staff made arrangements for video calls. There was a positive example of ongoing therapeutic work being undertaken on site between a staff member, child and their social worker. This supported the child’s familial relationships and sense of identity.

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This monitoring visit

Staff feel supported by the management team and by fellow colleagues. They have shown resilience through the pandemic. Staff are empathic to one another and work well together as a team. This has ensured consistency of care for children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff supervision has not been provided regularly across the team. This was acknowledged by the registered manager in the context of the home responding to the pandemic. However, this will remain as a requirement, having not been met from the previous monitoring visit. Where there have been a limited number of concerns regarding individual staff practice, the registered manager has responded to these in a timely way with relevant learning and development identified for staff.

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This monitoring visit

There was appropriate consultation with the designated officer in relation to an allegation against a staff member. However, there was a delay in sharing this information, which is not in line with the guidance in place. The revised child protection policy was not followed in this case. This means that the requirement from the previous monitoring visit is therefore not met. The outcome of the allegation was, in part, substantiated. This allegation was not notified to Ofsted in accordance with regulation. However, there was an appropriate response to the allegation by the previous responsible individual.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager understands the children’s individual needs well. This was particularly evident in relation to the impact of the pandemic on children. When the home was directly affected by COVID-19, it responded effectively. The registered manager worked collaboratively with the relevant agencies to ensure that all Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC413992 3 appropriate safety measures were in place. Due to the effective testing of children and staff, children were able to continue to maintain contact with family, including face-to-face visits where this was previously in place. Children appreciated the efforts that staff made to ensure that they can stay in touch with their families.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s recent change of ownership came as a shock to children and staff in the home. This unexpected news was difficult for the whole staff team to process. Children and staff described experiencing a sense of loss. This reflects the value that they placed on the support provided by the previous owners and the positive relationships developed with both children and staff. The timing of the transfer to new ownership was difficult as it came at a time when the home was responding to cases of COVID-19 infection. However, there has been some positive work between the new organisation and the home, including meetings in the home. The responsible individual, as part of the senior leadership team, has a plan for further improvements to the home which they are discussing with children and staff.

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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 4

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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. 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) 31 March2021

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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)(a)(b)(c)) 31 March2021

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Requirement Due date

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; a child protection enquiry involving a child— (i) is instigated; or (ii) concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry). (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(d)) 31 March 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: SC413992 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Mayne Enterprises Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 267 Preston Drove, Brighton BN1 6FL

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Inspector

Maria Lonergan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC413992 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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