Children's Home run by My Choice Children’s Homes Limited in West Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home: 1250194 1 Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and run by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to four children.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were four children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2017.

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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 good

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good

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

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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: 1250194 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/03/2022 Full Good 17/07/2019 Full Good 15/01/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1250194 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are helping the children to live together more harmoniously as a group. The children are comfortable and relaxed with each other and with staff. Children are living in an environment where there is a positive atmosphere, which supports them to make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been some changes in the home since the last inspection. Two children have moved on from the home, and two new children have moved in. Introductions to the home are carefully managed with input from external professionals and previous carers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three out of the four children are attending school and are achieving well. The other child is accessing a life skills programme to prepare them for when they move from the home. This programme provides them with the information and skills to help secure an educational placement and employment opportunities, giving them the greatest chance of success.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Independence is promoted in the home. Children are encouraged to take care of their belongings, including tidying their rooms and making their beds. Children are supported to develop age-appropriate independence skills, such as cooking and applying for part-time employment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to a variety of activities. However, sometimes, plans are changed at short notice, meaning that children feel disappointed. Furthermore, the activities provided for children are poorly recorded, making it difficult for the manager to monitor whether planned activities have gone ahead.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide a good level of support to ensure that children’s physical and mental health needs are met. One child in particular has improved health outcomes because of a consistent response to medical emergencies.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Outside of the home, children attend groups and clubs, including football and cheerleading. One child is now travelling to school independently. They have made new friends outside of the home, and this has boosted their confidence and self- esteem.

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

Children’s safety and well-being are priorities for staff. Respectful and nurturing relationships between staff and children create an environment of trust and security.

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

Staff intuitively respond to children’s needs and views. Key-work sessions and house meetings provide an opportunity for children and staff to talk about keeping safe. These meetings also help children to better manage their emotions. The result is a Inspection report for children’s home: 1250194 4 decrease in behavioural incidents and episodes of children going missing from home. Children are safe online. Internet and Wi-Fi monitoring is in place, and staff talk to children about how to raise concerns.

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

Staff work to effective safeguarding processes. They recognise that safeguarding is paramount in all aspects of their work with the children. Staff work effectively with external professionals. Proactive communication means that the professional networks work well together to keep children safe.

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

All children have risk assessments. However, there are sometimes delays in these assessments being reviewed. In practice, staff have a good grasp of children’s risks and vulnerabilities, which reduces the impact of risk assessments not being up to date.

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

When appointing staff, leaders and managers follow safer recruitment practice guidelines. Induction and training processes ensure that staff have the information, skills and knowledge they need to fully support children and meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has effective oversight of the home. He understands how the care provided to children impacts on their day-to-day experiences and the progress they make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a well-informed awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. He is responsive when external monitoring systems identify areas for development. The manager demonstrates a commitment to ensuring continuous improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager advocates for the children when necessary. He ensures that the children’s views are reflected in their plans and in the care they receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about the support they receive from the registered manager. They benefit from good-quality training opportunities. Staff receive regular supervision from their line manager. The staff team is flexible, and they respond to the needs of the wider service. At times, staff must work at the organisation’s other homes at short notice. This has the potential to have a negative impact on the consistency of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from professionals is positive in terms of the high quality of care, safeguarding and regular communication with staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 1250194 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 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 the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)(e)) 1 April 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records demonstrate that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home and are encouraged to participate in those activities. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 31, paragraph 6.5)

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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: 1250194 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3a, Mill Green Business Estate, Mill Green Road, Haywards Heath RH16 1XQ

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Inspectors

Tony Waite, Social Care Inspector Helen Simmons, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1250194 7 inspects 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. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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