Children's Home run by Child First Limited in West Sussex

Inspection report children’s home: SC044259 1 SC044259 Registered provider: Child First Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to five children. The statement of purpose states that the home provides care for children who have had difficulties with family relationships and dynamics and have experienced significant trauma in their lives.

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Information about this children’s home

The ethos of this home is to refer to staff as adults who care for the children, and this is reflected in the report.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19. At the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common assessment framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 1 July 2019.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good Inspection report children’s home: SC044259 2 Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/06/2019 Full Good 02/05/2018 Full Good 12/09/2017 Full Good 10/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC044259 3

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outstanding

Children thrive in this home. They say that they are listened to, they can explore their emotions openly and that adults care about them. All children benefit from a homely environment. Children make excellent progress because of the dedicated and nurturing adults, who provide stability and security. Children want to spend time with the adults who care for them, for example playing games or shopping. The diversity of adults allows children to flourish in accepting and embracing their own identity and that of other people.

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outstanding

Research-based practice based on problem-solving rather than consequence-based care encourages children to make positive choices. As a result, children have made exceptional progress in developing effective strategies to understand and manage their emotions. One child now spends more time with their family and will be returning to live with them permanently.

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outstanding

Children are succeeding in education. Older children have secured college places, while others, who were not in any education, have returned to full-time education and are making significant progress. They are supported by adults who have high aspirations for them. Adults are insightful to barriers to learning and use initiative to ensure that children access education. This means that children have ambition and a vision for their future.

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outstanding

Children attend a range of activities and hobbies based on their interests and are encouraged by adults. Children have increased their fitness and made new friendships. Other children have successfully completed a six-week surfing activity. These experiences enhance children’s life chances, which has increased each child’s self-esteem.

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outstanding

Children are safe in this home. Adults strive to maintain the positive and trusting relationships with the children. Children told the inspector that they would speak to one of the adults if they were worried or upset. Additionally, they feel supported and can talk about their feelings and emotions without fear or judgement. This creates an open culture, and children feel secure with all adults.

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outstanding

Adults encourage children to take age-appropriate risks, such as travelling on public transport or using electronic devices. Consequently, children have made significant improvements towards independence.

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outstanding

Children’s behaviour is understood by adults. Risk assessments and necessary documents are updated to reflect any change in dynamics or behaviour. The Inspection report children’s home: SC044259 4 registered manager has thorough oversight of these and shares updates with all adults verbally and in writing. This ensures that children receive informed and consistent care and support from adults.

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outstanding

Children know how to make a complaint. They have access to the children’s guide and information to assist them to make a complaint independently. As a result, children feel able and confident to raise any issues with the adults who care for them.

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outstanding

When children do not return home at the agreed time, appropriate and prompt action is taken to ensure that they are safe. Incidents of children going missing from this home are rare. One child told the inspector that the adults make contact when they are out with friends to ‘check in’. As a result, children’s whereabouts is known, and children say that adults care that they are safe.

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outstanding

When children have grumbles with each other, excellent interventions and de- escalation by adults mean that there are minimal incidents in the home. Adults speak with children and offer reassurance, which provides an opportunity for children to rebuild relationships quickly. This helps children to learn how to manage their emotions and respond appropriately in the future.

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outstanding

Comprehensive and clear processes ensure that the home is maintained to a high standard. Health and safety in the home, including fire risk, is effective. Therefore, children live a safe environment and know what is expected in an emergency to keep themselves and others safe.

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outstanding

Recruitment of new staff is thorough. Records seen by the inspector provided confidence that the children are cared for by adults who are fully vetted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home benefits from an exceptionally well-skilled and knowledgeable registered manager, who is supported by enthusiastic, dependable and competent adults in the home. This offers consistency, routine and stability to the children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The inclusive relationship between all the adults results in a dynamic and effective delivery of service. Professionals have commented on the positive communication from those who care for the children, adding that they go above and beyond to improve the outcomes for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Adults say that they value supervision and invest in the process. They say that they feel empowered and listened to by managers and leaders. Innovation is threaded throughout practice. As a result, adults problem-solve for themselves, which is mirrored to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Training for adults is accessible and well organised. A highly effective system highlights timescales and attendance required for a broad range of training and Inspection report children’s home: SC044259 5 development opportunities. Therefore, adults are knowledgeable and skilled to meet the needs of the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has excellent monitoring systems and quality assurance processes in place to identify any shortfalls. These are addressed quickly and meticulously by the registered manager and leaders. The independent visitor offers an additional layer of scrutiny. Any recommendations from these visits are swiftly addressed by the registered manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The responsible individual is visible in the home and has full oversight of the home’s operation and quality. This highlights the positive impact that living in the home has on children’s progress and permanence. There is effective management and oversight of senior managers. As a result, the requirements made at the previous full inspection have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are no requirements or recommendations as a result of this visit. Inspection report children’s home: SC044259 6

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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: SC044259 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Child First Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Child First Limited, PO Box 2050, Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3XQ

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Inspector

Jill Sephton-Wright, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC044259 8 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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