Children's Home run by East Sussex County Council in East Sussex

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674792 1 Registered provider: East Sussex County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority children’s home providing care for up to five children who experience emotional and behavioural difficulties as well as mild autism spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager were both registered on 4 May 2022.

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This monitoring visit

The home was inspected on 5 and 6 July 2022, with a follow-up visit on 18 July 2022. The home was judged inadequate. Following the inspection, a notice restricting accommodation was issued. In addition, two compliance notices were issued and several requirements were made.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the provider’s progress in meeting the compliance notices and to ensure compliance with the notice restricting accommodation. Not all the requirements set at the previous inspection were looked at.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector met with senior leaders, observed staff practice and considered relevant documents.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have made significant progress in responding to the concerns raised at the previous inspection. A new auditing tool has been put in place that allows leaders to have greater oversight of trends and patterns of behaviour. Guidance to staff on how to support children is regularly updated. This is well shared through handovers, emails and regular team meetings. Managers also use supervision to check the knowledge of staff. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674792 2 The registered manager has completed a thorough review of all the training that has been completed by both permanent and agency staff. Leaders have ensured that techniques used to manage behaviour that can be challenging are shared and agreed by permanent and agency staff.

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This monitoring visit

Staff understand how to care for children and are aware of relevant risks. As a result of greater integration between permanent staff and agency staff, there has been a significant reduction in both the frequency and severity of incidents. When incidents have occurred, staff have responded effectively and have been able to demonstrate good knowledge of individual children’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

Regular team meetings and supervisions provide staff with clear opportunities to reflect on the impact of their work and learn how to develop practice. Leaders and managers have used team meetings to help develop a positive culture in the home and among the staff team.

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This monitoring visit

Children have benefited from a more consistent approach to their care. This has resulted in children going to a variety of clubs and activities over the summer, and on separate holidays. One child, who has previously struggled to discuss how they are feeling, has just started therapy as they are now getting the right support from staff to be able to do so.

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This monitoring visit

The oversight demonstrated by managers extends to senior leaders in the organisation, who have also completed audits of the work carried out in the home.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this visit and the significant progress made by leaders and managers, Ofsted is satisfied that the compliance notices have been met and sufficient progress has been made to lift the notice restricting accommodation. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674792 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/07/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674792 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 registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that no child is subject to any reprisal for making a complaint or representation. (Regulation 39 (1) (3) (4)) 31 October 2022

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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: 2674792 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: East Sussex County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: East Sussex County Council, County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Teresa Lavelle-Hill

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Inspector

Mark Newington, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674792 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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