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

Inspection report children's home: SC426530 1 SC426530 Registered provider: My Choice Children's Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care for up to three children with a range of social and emotional 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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Information about this children's home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections on 17 March 2020.

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Information about this children's home

We last visited this setting on 30 November 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 20 February 2020

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC426530 2

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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 children's home: SC426530 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from care delivered by staff who know them well. Relationships are built on mutual respect and develop gradually over time. As a result, the children learn to accept the care and support that staff consistently offer them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are child focused. They hold high aspirations for the children and seek ways for them to grow and develop through a range of meaningful activities. Learning life skills is encouraged. Children are learning to shop, budget and cook meals for themselves. They enjoy learning new skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are making progress. One social worker spoke of the exceptional progress a child has made as a result of the care and nurture she receives from the staff. The social worker said, ‘For the first time they feel nurtured, and their harmful behaviour is reducing. I put this down to the positive relationships with the staff.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is valued. The children are encouraged to learn and make steps towards their goals. Future plans for one child include finding some local volunteering work. The staff attend education reviews and help the children understand the impact of education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Arrivals of children at the home have not always been well planned. For example, a child was admitted to the home when the registered manager was on annual leave. Furthermore, the impact assessments are not individualised to the children. This is a missed opportunity to fully consider the strategies of a new child arriving at the home and the impact on the children who are already living there.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff have worked tirelessly to respond to the children’s needs. Risk assessments are comprehensive. They provide the staff with clear strategies to follow when risky behaviour occurs. Frequent updates show that staff adapt to the changing needs of the children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

For some children, risky behaviour has continued. One child moved on due to their involvement in county lines. Other short placements occurred when children returned home. The registered manager has identified that improvements can be made when considering referrals.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There has been a focus on restorative practice. One child, who has a history of causing damages, is helping with the decor of the home. They are learning the impact of their actions on the other children. As a result, there has been a reduction in damage caused to the home. Inspection report children's home: SC426530 4 All the children identified staff who would help them. Staff share their worries and children are supported to seek specialist support when required. However, there was one incident when a child was able to access a harmful substance that should have been locked away.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The children’s bedrooms have been improved. Some are freshly decorated and all were clean and well kept. However, many areas of the home are worn. For example, bathroom cabinets have holes in them and some windows need attention and repair. The home lacks a sense of ownership and identity. There are no pictures of the children and some spaces are empty and feel unused. Furthermore, children’s toothbrushes are loosely stored on the side of the sink in the downstairs cloakroom and not all food is correctly stored. These are missed opportunities to provide the children with a well-maintained and homely environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is child focused. However, she has been hampered by staff absences and staff departures. She is supported by staff from other homes and the area manager and has recruited new permanent staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The supervision of staff has been regular. Records sampled showed that supervisions are reflective and offer staff support and guidance. Where staff practice has fallen below the manager’s expectations, action has been taken. Support plans have been used to help staff to develop and some have benefitted from individual coaching, which has improved their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular communication with the wider network ensures that effective working practices continue. Transparent information-sharing results in social workers and parents being kept up to date with the children’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The children’s voices are heard. The manager is responsive to any concerns or complaints raised. The children are supported to understand that their views are important and are helped to understand the outcome of their complaints.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managerial oversight is largely good. The manager has a good grasp of the strengths and weaknesses of the provision. She makes use of the independent reports to further assess the quality of care being delivered and guide development plans. Inspection report children's home: SC426530 5

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that hazardous items are locked away, children’s toothbrushes are stored hygienically and food that is opened is labelled. Also, ensure that the home is well maintained and worn areas are replaced and refurbished promptly. 8 August 2021

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that individual impact assessments take place before admission and are updated regularly. 8 August 2021

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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'. Inspection report children's home: SC426530 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider: My Choice Children's Homes Limited

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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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Inspectors

Sarah Olliver, Social Care Inspector Alphie Khumalo, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC426530 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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