Children's home run by Southern Adolescent Care Services Ltd in Crawley

Inspection report for children’s home: SC038522 1 SC038522 Registered provider: Southern Adolescent Care Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home registered to care for up to five children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager at the home. The post has been vacant since 2 September 2021.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 3 November 2021

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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: SC038522 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/11/2021 Full Good 29/07/2021 Full Inadequate 07/01/2020 Full Good 22/01/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC038522 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are currently two children living in this home and both are making good progress. They are supported by members of staff who are dedicated, patient and caring. One child said, ‘I love living here because of the great atmosphere and the caring and kind staff.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have positive relationships with the children, their families and external agencies. Staff work alongside children’s social workers and their families when making decisions about children’s care plans. Families are consulted when concerns arise, and this assures positive resolutions for children. One social worker said, ‘He [child] loves living at the home and has an excellent relationship with the staff, who he feels confident to talk to.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of matching assessments before children move into the home is mixed. In some cases, staff ensure that careful consideration is given to the existing children and the needs of the new child. However, on occasions the matching of children has not been completed in the same careful manner. The poor matching has led to some children having unplanned endings and has caused disruption for other children living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with children’s schools to ensure children have all the support they need to thrive educationally. Children who attend college are supported to complete courses that prepare them for their hoped-for careers. One child said, ‘I have finished an animal management course because I want to start my own business in animal care.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use a child-centred approach to obtain the views of every child. Well-planned discussions are held with children through key-work sessions. These are exceptionally well documented and illustrate a high level of reflective conversations between the staff and the children. Staff are honest and use a non-shaming approach which allows children to confidently share their thoughts, as they feel listened to and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a variety of fun activities. These include visits to London and going on camping holidays. Children also enjoy bicycle rides, horse riding and going swimming, and activities in the home such as playing online games and participating in arts and crafts. These varied experiences are captured in beautifully presented memory books that reflect children’s memorable experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop independent skills in readiness for adulthood. One child has developed life skills that have enabled him to travel independently, manage his weekly budget and to purchase and cook his daily meals. He also arranges and attends his medical appointments on his own and has a voluntary job in a dog care Inspection report for children’s home: SC038522 4 centre. As a result of the bespoke support, children feel empowered and are less anxious about adult life.

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improvement to be good

The managers and staff engage in reflective discussions on keeping children safe, and enable children to take balanced and age-appropriate risks. Although risk assessments are frequently reviewed, there is not enough management oversight of these records to ensure they remain effective in keeping children safe.

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improvement to be good

Children seldom go missing from the home. When they do go missing, staff work closely with other agencies to ensure that children are returned home safely. When children walk off from the home without permission, staff quickly find them and encourage them to return home. Well-documented protocols are in place to guide the staff on what to do in the event that a child goes missing from the home.

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improvement to be good

Children are informed of the home’s rules and guidelines. Staff use verbal de- escalation skills to manage behaviour. However, the manager does not have enough oversight of children’s behavioural plans to ensure that these clearly illustrate how children should be supported when their behaviour escalates.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensure that the home is safe for the children and visitors. Regular health and safety checks are carried out. Surveillance systems such as CCTV and door alarms are used, with the consent of children’s social workers.

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improvement to be good

Safer recruitment processes are adhered to. Thorough checks are completed before suitable individuals are recruited.

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improvement to be good

Some allegations have not been addressed effectively. Managers and leaders have, on occasions, failed to promptly investigate and report allegations made by children to the local authority safeguarding team and Ofsted. This hinders the process of assessing and monitoring children’s safety effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The post of registered manager is currently vacant. A new manager is in the process of applying to be registered with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers use well-structured processes to track and review children’s progress. This includes working closely with schools, local authorities and therapeutic teams.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel valued and listened to. The manager and staff all receive regular supervision and appraisals that are pre-planned to allow staff time to prepare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supported with their professional development. Staff receive all their mandatory training and other training that is relevant to children’s needs. Staff are Inspection report for children’s home: SC038522 5 also enrolled on advanced courses in line with their job roles. This helps with staff professional development and helps to improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff promote equality, diversity, gender and religion effectively. Children are encouraged to respect each other and staff challenge any potential bullying or unfair treatment. One child is supported to attend the local church. Inspection report for children’s home: SC038522 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 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the manager has oversight of children’s risk assessment records. 30 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)) 30 December

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if 30 December Inspection report for children’s home: SC038522 7 necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure the staff have clear plans for how to support the children when their behaviours escalate into crisis management.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for liaison and co-operation with any local authority which are, or may be, making a child protection enquiry in relation to a child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response;

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Requirement Due date

describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children following an allegation of abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

describe how and to whom staff are to report, without delay, any concern about abuse or neglect of a child. (Regulation 34 (2)(a)(b)(d)(e)(f)) 30 December Inspection report for children’s home: SC038522 8

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Recommendation

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. In particular, when assessing the impact that a new admission may have, ensure that there is sufficient analysis and evaluation of the information that has been provided during the referral process. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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: SC038522 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Southern Adolescent Care Services Ltd

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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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Inspector

Alphie Khumalo, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC038522 10 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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