Children's Home run by My Choice Children’s Homes Limited in West Sussex

Inspection report for children's home: SC390785 1 SC390785 Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and run by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to four children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since January 2018.

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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 inspection 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

We last visited this setting on 12 October 2020 to carry out an assurance 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 outstanding

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC390785 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/05/2019 Full Good 18/12/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/05/2018 Full Good 18/12/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC390785 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living at this home receive good-quality care from a skilled and dedicated staff team. Staff are committed to developing positive relationships with each child. This makes children feel valued and secure, which enables them to make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Interactions between children and staff are warm and nurturing. One child said that the best things about the home were that the staff were great and there was a nice atmosphere. During the inspection, some children were enjoying playing card games. Staff played alongside the children and there was much laughter. Another child was being supported by staff to prepare a meal, for his turn in the cooking competition. This activity was started in response to an idea suggested by a child in a house meeting. Staff were observed to be attentive to children’s needs and children responded positively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make excellent progress in relation to their emotional, social and psychological well-being. In one example, a child experienced severe anxiety when he first arrived. Over time, sensitive support from staff has resulted in a significant improvement in the child’s self-esteem. The child has recently started to apply for part-time jobs. Staff speak with pride when they describe the progress children have made. The careful support children receive gives them the confidence to achieve goals which are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers are committed to ensuring that children experience placement stability. One child told the inspector that he used to ‘smash things up’ when he got upset. The child said that the staff have helped him to find other ways to manage his emotions. The child has been supported to understand and to experience the importance of meaningful, trusting relationships. As a result of the progress the child has made, he is getting ready to return to live with his family. The registered manager makes sure that children receive predictable support from resilient staff. This reduces the risk of children experiencing unplanned placement moves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The organisation has systems in place which are designed to ensure that children’s independence is fully promoted. However, the systems have not been fully embraced by managers and staff. Children’s plans do not describe how children will be supported to learn the skills they need to prepare them for moving on from the home. Consequently, there are missed opportunities to ensure that children are fully prepared to live more independently in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

As a result of proactive support from managers and staff, children are encouraged to make the most of the educational opportunities available to them. One child’s school attendance has improved dramatically, and he has demonstrated that he will be able to manage a return to mainstream education. Children’s life chances are improved because of the progress they make. Inspection report for children's home: SC390785 4

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

Children’s safety is a priority for staff. There is a culture of openness which helps children to discuss mistakes and to think empathetically about the impact of their actions on others. Incidents where children are at risk of harm are rare. The one serious incident which occurred recently was a missing-from-home episode which involved two children. Managers recognise the specific vulnerabilities which exist for both children. The children’s care plans and risk assessments describe clear strategies, which have been put in place to reduce the risk of a similar incident happening again. When managers are confident that the children are ready to do so safely, they will be enabled to work towards having the same levels of free time that they had prior to the incident. This demonstrates that managers recognise the importance of responding to incidents in a way which promotes learning for children.

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

Before a child moves into the home, a risk assessment is completed to consider the child’s needs alongside those of children who already live there. The risk assessments enable managers to undertake a well-informed assessment of the likely impact of the child moving into the home, which results in careful planning and matching. The risk assessment is updated when children’s risks change. As a result, managers can quickly put safety measures in place if any child displays new behaviour which has the potential to have a negative impact on the safety and well- being of other children.

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

Safe recruitment practices are understood and implemented by the manager and staff responsible for this area of practice. All necessary checks are in place to ensure that children are protected from unsuitable people working in the home. However, staff recruitment files do not fully evidence a high level of scrutiny with regard to staff conduct and performance in all their previous work with children and vulnerable adults. As a result, the safety of the recruitment process is undermined by some incomplete records.

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

Staff receive regular, meaningful supervision and training that is relevant to the needs of the children they are looking after. Additionally, staff have regular safeguarding competency meetings with the registered manager. These meetings are an opportunity for staff to fully explore safeguarding practice, embed learning from safeguarding training and ensure staff stay alert to signs that children are at risk of harm. The staff spoken to during the inspection confidently described the steps they would take if they had safeguarding concerns. Staff could name the external agencies they should approach if they had concerns about the safeguarding culture within the organisation. High levels of staffing and good-quality training ensure that staff are attuned and responsive to the risks that are present for children individually and as a group.

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

Managers have recognised that in some areas of the home the decor is tired and in need of updating, and redecoration has begun. In the meantime, some areas of the home look neglected. Additionally, some parts of the kitchen appeared to be unclean. This means that, currently, children are not experiencing care in an environment which is as clean, comfortable and homely as possible. Inspection report for children's home: SC390785 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is passionate in his efforts to be an excellent role model and a trusted figure for the children and for the staff. As a result of this personable approach, children benefit from genuine care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers ensure that diversity is welcomed and enjoyed. Staff provide strong role models for the children and there is a culture of respect and acceptance. Following reports of children using homophobic and racist language at school, managers took proactive steps to make sure children understand that discriminatory behaviour is not accepted. Children are learning essential social skills about celebrating difference which are important now and will equip them for the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff report tremendous support from the registered manager. Retention rates and staff morale are high. The registered manager spoke proudly about the way the staff team has pulled together to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children. Staff feel valued and respected, which promotes a culture of positivity and inspires staff to provide high-quality care, including through difficult times.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager reviews all the daily records which staff complete on the home’s electronic recording system. As a result of this monitoring and oversight, the registered manager has an exceptionally well-rounded view of the progress children are making and the quality of care they are receiving from staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is deeply committed to ensuring that children’s views are integral to all decisions. Children are unanimous in their opinion that they would speak to the registered manager if they were worried about something, and all of them are confident that their voice would be heard. All the children felt empowered to talk to the inspector about their experience of living at the home. The registered manager was unquestionably proud that the children managed to participate in the inspection in a way which may seem small, but which was a significant achievement for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

During the inspection, leaders and managers demonstrated that there is an embedded culture of welcoming feedback from external sources. Criticisms and comments about the service are seen as an opportunity to learn, reflect and improve. Inspection report for children's home: SC390785 6

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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—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vi)) 31 March 2022

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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

This is with specific reference to the registered person ensuring that the cleaning and decoration of the home are maintained to a high standard. 31 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— 31 March 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC390785 7 full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that recruitment records demonstrate that managers have sought to verify applicants’ reasons for leaving all previous roles involving work with children or vulnerable adults.

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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 for children's home: SC390785 8

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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: Unit 3a, Mill Green Business Estate, Mill Green Road, Haywards Heath RH16 1XQ

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Inspector

Helen Simmons, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC390785 9 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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