Children's Home run by Southern Adolescent Care Services Ltd in West Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061795 1 SC061795

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Southern Adolescent Care Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to six children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, including children who have experienced loss and trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2016.

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This monitoring visit

On 5 August 2021, Ofsted was contacted by a senior manager from the company who told Ofsted of their decision to close the home with immediate effect. The decision had been made following an internal audit. Senior leaders concluded that the children were not being adequately safeguarded. Consequently, immediate notice was served by the company to each of the relevant local authorities which had children living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

In response to this information, two inspectors visited the home on 6 August 2021 to review the care and safety of the four children. At the time of this visit, the company had deployed senior staff into the home to oversee the care provided. One child was missing from care and efforts were being made to locate him.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager and deputy manager were interviewed, and relevant documents were scrutinised. The inspectors found that admission practice was poor. The decision to offer placements to some of the children had not fully explored the potential risks that some children may have presented to each other. Subsequent risk management guidance did not contain sufficient information and actions for the staff to follow to minimise these risks and, in recent weeks, incidents of children going missing from home and substance misuse have increased.

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This monitoring visit

Senior leaders were also interviewed. Their swift action, which included the immediate review and amendment of the most pertinent guidance for staff, was Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061795 2 considered as a protective factor, coupled with the planned physical presence of additional managers for the following days. During this visit, one child was being supported to move out, and a further placement was agreed for another child to start the following Monday.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was conducted by Ofsted before the inspectors concluded the visit. It was agreed that the confirmed move for one child significantly reduced the risks for the remaining children, alongside the additional staffing arrangements that included senior managerial oversight. Consequently, no immediate enforcement action was required by Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

All children subsequently moved out of the home by 9 August 2021.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/05/2021 Full Outstanding 08/10/2019 Full Outstanding 01/08/2018 Full Outstanding 13/09/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061795 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—

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b)) 5 November 2021

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)) 5 November 2021

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 5 November 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061795 4 that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the effectiveness of the safeguarding arrangements for the children, following the information received from the provider.

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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: SC061795 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Southern Adolescent Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Maybrook House, Second Floor, Queensway, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 4AH

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Inspectors

Sophie Wood, Regulatory Inspection Manager Kelly Marchmont, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061795 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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