Children's home run by My Choice Children’s Homes Limited in Mid Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home: SC064011 1 SC064011 Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The staff at this home provide care for up to four children whose support needs are primarily in relation to social and emotional difficulties. The provider has links with a range of therapeutic services that can be made available to children depending on their needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 19 April 2012.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 8 February 2022

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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: SC064011 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/02/2022 Full Good 20/02/2019 Full Good 17/05/2017 Full Good 27/01/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC064011 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have made significant progress since living in the home. They have made particular progress with their education. Staff help children to continue their learning in the school holidays. Consequently, one child increased their reading age over the summer. The registered manager works with other professionals to support children with their education when they are unable to attend school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to make choices about the home and their care. Children have personalised their rooms. One child has proudly displayed certificates of their achievements on the wall. Staff ask children for their views in weekly meetings. During these meetings, the children choose meals and activities for the week. Children told the inspector that they can speak to staff when they need to and carry out direct work with staff. Children enjoy living at the home. One child gave it a ‘five star’ rating.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of positive experiences. Over the summer holidays, the children went on holiday and visited a theme park and zoo. Children have also tried paddle boarding and play crazy golf at a local activity centre. Staff involve children in group activities which are organised by the provider, such as summer Olympics and camping.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and the registered manager have good relationships and communication with parents and professionals. Parents and professionals are kept up to date with the children’s events, activities and progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are aware of the children’s identities and sexualities. They have open conversations with the children about this. However, the children’s care plans do not capture the children’s identity or sexuality.

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

Staff are effective at responding to children’s needs and keeping them safe. When incidents occur, staff take appropriate action. On one occasion, when staff were concerned about a child’s welfare, they contacted the emergency services and the child’s parents. The registered manager and staff provided sensitive support to the child following the incident and ensured that the home environment was safe. The registered manager attended a meeting with other professionals about the child’s safety and is seeking specialist therapy for the child.

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

Staff help children to understand routines and boundaries. Staff use reward-based incentives to promote and celebrate positive behaviour. Staff have clear boundaries for the use of electronic devices. As a result, children stay safe online and only play age-appropriate games. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064011 4 Staff respond well when children are missing from home and follow plans to manage such risks. They communicate effectively with professionals and share information to ensure that children return safely to the home. Staff are curious about the reasons why children go missing from home, and they are aware of the indicators of child sexual exploitation.

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

Managers ensure that agency staff are suitably trained and experienced to work at the home. Regular agency staff complement the staff team. Therefore, children receive consistent care.

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

Staff promote children’s health needs. They seek and act on medical advice and make appointments with health professionals when needed. One child does not have a plan to reduce their use of electronic cigarettes.

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good

The registered manager is experienced and qualified. He has been in post for a long time. The registered manager is present and available to children and staff. He has good relationships with the children and understands their progress and the support they need to continue to progress.

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good

Staff turnover is low. The team of staff work well together and enjoy their roles. The manager supports staff to carry out their roles through regular supervision, team meetings and appraisals.

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good

Processes are in place for staff to share important information with each other, such as emerging risks, updated care plans, rewards and independence skills. As a result, children receive well-organised care.

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good

The registered manager’s system to monitor training is not effective. Not all staff have received training that is specific to the children’s needs, including training in subjects such as LGBTQ+, equality and diversity and self-harm.

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good

The registered manager has not implemented learning from a serious incident involving one child. There is no clear plan in place for staff if they have concerns about a child’s welfare. For example, staff are not curious enough to visually check on children who are not up during the day and spending a lot of time in their room. This was rectified during the inspection.

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good

Not all parts of the home are well maintained. The children’s bedrooms need redecorating, and some furniture needs replacing. The registered manager was not aware whether a high priority action has been completed. This relates to a child’s bedroom and was raised following the fire risk assessment in June 2022. In addition, damage to three fire door retainers has not been repaired. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064011 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 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 home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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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)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that plans are in place for staff to follow if they are concerned about a child’s welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the actions from the fire risk assessment are completed.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that responses to maintenance concerns are prompt. 13 December

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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

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. 13 December Inspection report for children’s home: SC064011 6 (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is an effective monitoring system in place to have oversight of the training completed by staff.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff should have training which is specific to the needs of the children living in the home, including training in subjects such as LGBTQ+, equality and diversity and self-harm.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the plans for children are personalised and take into account the child’s gender and sexual identity. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.2)  The registered person should ensure that children are offered advice, support and guidance on health and well-being, specifically around electronic cigarettes. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18)

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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: SC064011 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: My Choice Children’s Homes Limited, Unit 3a, Mill Green Business Estate, Mill Green Road, Haywards Heath RH16 1XQ

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Inspector

Mark Dawkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC064011 8 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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