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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC031698 1 SC031698 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. The home can provide care for up to eight children with learning and physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2017 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

There are two children currently living in the home. Since the last inspection, no children have moved into or out of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The environment for children has improved and has the beginnings of being a homely, enriching place for children to live. Children are able to express their views on how they want their environment to look, such as choosing the new paint colours for the walls.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has met with other professionals to explore different furniture options for one child, who requires robust items. They have trialled new furniture and this has now been ordered. Changes have been made to this child’s bathroom so that they can resume their enjoyment of water play.

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This monitoring visit

The quality of care for children has improved since the last inspection. This has improved children’s lived experiences. For example, there has been a rigorous multi- agency approach to enabling one of the children to access community places. This has been thoroughly risk assessed and is in its early stages. Another child has been able to visit a shop and a restaurant. Consequently, children are beginning to engage in normal childhood experiences outside of the home. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC031698 2 Staff have received bespoke training on how to keep one of the children safe during his times of difficulty. This training has also considered the impact of keeping the staff safe while maintaining the safety of the child. Staff were seen to be attentive and encouraging towards the children and demonstrated that they understood their individual needs, support plans and care routines.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s care planning has been reviewed. This has been done in consultation with the local authority and families, where appropriate, alongside other professionals, such as health teams and education support staff.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are mindful of changes in the children’s health and well-being, and they seek appropriate medical advice from the relevant health agencies.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager is working with the virtual school and the children’s social workers to look at appropriate community venues where education and learning can take place. Bespoke education packages are being arranged to support meaningful educational opportunities. This includes art and music therapy. New tutors have been identified for the children and reviews for these plans have taken place.

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This monitoring visit

The social worker and practice manager for the children feel that there are positive and open working relationships with the registered manager and that the support team has a consistent approach to caring for the children.

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This monitoring visit

The senior leadership team has worked closely with the children’s local authority and has decided to confirm the living arrangements for the children rather than continue with a temporary arrangement. The registered provider intends to apply to vary the home’s registration accordingly and make the necessary changes to the statement of purpose for the home. This will give the children stability.

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This monitoring visit

The arrangements for one child whose liberty has to be restricted have been discussed and an application has been made to formalise this.

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This monitoring visit

A referral to the necessary statutory agency has been made in regard to a staff member’s dismissal. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC031698 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/10/2022 Full Inadequate 16/09/2021 Full Good 16/01/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 02/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC031698 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 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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is carried over to allow sufficient time to implement the changes. 6 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home

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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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(iii)) 6 January 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC031698 5 This requirement is carried over to allow sufficient time to implement the changes.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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: SC031698 6

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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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Inspectors

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Mike Simmonds, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC031698 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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