Children's home run by Sussex Children’s Care Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 2664249 1 Registered provider: Lighthouse Children’s Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The privately owned home provides care for up to two children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The provider and the manager registered on 21 December 2021. This is the home’s first inspection since registration.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s statement of purpose refers to the staff as adults. The report reflects the language used in the home.

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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: not applicable

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2664249 2

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outstanding

There is one child living in the home. The child moved from a secure home and, since moving in, has made rapid and substantial progress in many aspects.

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outstanding

Managers and adults provide exceptional care to the child. As a result of the significant help, the child has reduced the number of times they go missing from the home. They are now attending school and have developed an excellent understanding of rules and boundaries.

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outstanding

The child’s needs are at the centre of the adult’s practice. Adults take time to offer guidance and take part in activities with the child. The adults show the child love through ‘acts of service’. For example, the child receives ‘room service’, where a small snack is left in their bedroom.

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outstanding

The home feels like a family home. Managers and adults have carefully considered the home environment to make sure that it is warm and welcoming. The adults consider the language used in the home and refer to themselves as adults. This supports the model of care and ethos of the home.

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outstanding

Adults and managers maintain the home to a high standard. Wall art and photos of the child are displayed throughout. The child has personalised their bedroom and has photos of their family and certificates of achievements proudly displayed.

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outstanding

The child has excellent day-to-day experiences. Since moving into the home, the child has attended a two-week international football camp with professional football coaches and has been on holiday. The child attends football training and plays in football matches regularly. The adults recently helped the child to attend an interview for a football scholarship at Wembley stadium.

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outstanding

The child has frequent time with their family and friends.

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outstanding

The child is now in education and is receiving glowing reports from teaching staff. The child has clear goals to achieve, and the adults are helping them to work towards their career aspiration. The child is being well prepared for adulthood, including achieving several AQA qualifications.

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outstanding

Consistent and productive partnerships ensure that the child’s parent and social worker are strongly engaged in the child’s care plan. Inspection report children’s home: 2664249 3

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outstanding

The adults have a comprehensive understanding of risks. They explore these risks with the child and help them to understand risks in the community and about the use of illegal substances. The adults use open conversations around these topics to help the child to learn from mistakes.

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outstanding

The adults are highly aware of risks in the community, particularly around exploitation. Adults show a high level of professional curiosity in assessing these risks and create effective plans to help to keep the child safe.

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outstanding

Adults understand the child’s behaviour and how to use de-escalation. The adults use praise, celebrations and reward systems effectively to promote positive behaviour.

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outstanding

Adults are well trained in safeguarding. They have received further training in response to emerging risks around the use of illegal drugs and the impact of alcohol consumption.

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outstanding

Adults are confident in their safeguarding practice. The model of care promotes secure and positive relationships with the child. These relationships enable open conversations that help the child to stay safe.

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outstanding

The home’s approach to recruitment is robust. The manager has changed the interview questions to provoke reflection from the candidate and bring this in line with the ethos of the home. There has been one missed opportunity to complete a full check on a member of the adult’s previous employment, although this has not had an impact on their suitability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and leaders are ambitious and have high expectations for the adults. They work exceptionally hard to make sure that the service is truly innovative and creative. Leaders use the statement of purpose and workforce development plan to clearly outline their vision. The adults share the same values and ambitions and are extremely dedicated to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders have an excellent understanding of the progress that the child is making. Managers handle issues that emerge with empathy and sensitivity and keep scrupulous records.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leaders have excellent oversight of the home. Leaders use monitoring and quality assurance systems to evaluate the quality of care effectively. As a result, there is a robust service development plan in place with the aim to achieve the highest quality of care possible. Inspection report children’s home: 2664249 4 The child says that they can speak to the adults and that they listen. The child contributes to the adult’s supervision sessions by providing feedback on their performance. The adults use informal catch-ups to gather the child’s views and involve them in day-to-day decisions. The manager then makes changes to the home which are based on the child’s feedback.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Adults are highly trained and well supported. A knowledgeable, experienced and visible leadership team supervises the adults. The adults bring a varied wealth of experience to the role and are encouraged to use their strengths in providing care to the child. Adults have had training in understanding the child’s condition and have applied this in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders are members of national networks and associations to continue their professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

New adults have a comprehensive induction to the home. The manager plans inductions well and provides significant training to prepare new adults for their role. Managers provide more intensive supervision initially and then reduce this based on progress made. As a result, adults have an excellent understanding of their job role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The adults work well as a team. Managers hold regular team meetings, which focus on the child. The adults conduct good handovers and ensure that they share key information to maintain consistency of care. The adults say that the home has a very positive working environment, there is no conflict and everyone works well together. The organisation gives them days off for their birthday and for charity days so that they can volunteer or give back to society.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager takes all complaints seriously and takes swift action. Inspection report children’s home: 2664249 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

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

In particular, if a person has previously worked in a position involving children or vulnerable adults, verification so far as reasonably practicable must be obtained of the reason why the employment or position ended. 1 December 2022

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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: 2664249 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lighthouse Children’s Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 74 Brodrick Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN22 9NS

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Inspector

Mark Dawkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2664249 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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