Children's Home run by Southern Adolescent Care Services Ltd in West Sussex

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061795 1 SC061795

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Registered provider: Southern Adolescent Care Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in day-to-day charge of the home. However, the manager is not registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061795 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

This home was judged as requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection in June 2022.

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The care of children

The manager has addressed all the requirements and recommendations raised at the last full inspection. As a result, there has been an improvement in the care given to children.

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The care of children

Good-quality matching processes have been implemented and are effectively used before children move into this home. Consequently, children settle and build positive relationships from the outset.

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The care of children

The manager and staff share a good relationship with parents and professionals. Effective communication and good multi-agency working ensures that decisions are made are in the best interests of the children. Reunifications back to family homes are well planned, ensuring that children and parents participate in all of the decisions made. This has resulted in one child’s positive move back to her family.

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The care of children

Staff acknowledge the importance of capturing the child’s voice. They use child- focused approaches creatively in order to help children to express their views and wishes. As a result, children feel listened to.

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The safety of children

Leaders and managers now have oversight of children’s risk assessments. These are regularly updated and give staff guidance on keeping children safe. Managers engage in reflective discussions with staff and address any emerging practice issues. This ensures children’s safety.

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The safety of children

Children rarely go missing from care. When they do, staff work alongside their parents and other agencies to ensure that they are located and encouraged to return home safely.

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The safety of children

Staff maintain clear boundaries when supporting children to manage their feelings and emotions. Well-documented behavioural plans are in place. These guide staff effectively about how to support children when they struggle with their feelings and emotions. There has been a reduction in restraints, and children positively seek staff support when they become upset. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061795 3 Leaders and managers ensure that any concerns are addressed and investigated and that any conclusions are shared with all relevant agencies, including Ofsted. This promotes effective external evaluation and regulatory oversight of the safety and care provided to children.

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The safety of children

The home is well maintained and decorated in a child-centred manner. However, staff are not ensuring that children’s bedrooms are kept clean and tidy. Items are left scattered on the bedroom floor and one ensuite toilet is not kept clean or well maintained, causing regular blockages. This compromises children’s health and safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Senior leaders, managers and staff share a clear vision on securing a good standard of care for every child. The manager has implemented new systems to evaluate children’s progress and review practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff and managers now receive regular, practice-related supervisions. As a result, staff feel listened to and supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The independent monitoring visits to the home lack scrutiny. The independent visitor cannot fully evaluate the care provided, due to a lack of consent from one child to access records and the child’s bedroom. This means that leaders and managers have limited independent assurance regarding some noticeable concerns they have about the child’s care needs, which impacts on the regulator’s ability to monitor the home between inspections effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers are aware of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. They have found some areas that require improvements and have promptly addressed these. However, greater oversight of and response to the shortfalls found at this visit are needed. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061795 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/05/2021 Full Outstanding 08/10/2019 Full Outstanding 01/08/2018 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061795 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, the 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii)) 31 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 44 (1) (2)(b)) 31 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061795 6

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Callard

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Inspector

Alphie Khumalo, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061795 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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