Children's home run by East Sussex County Council in Lewes

Inspection report for children's home: SC068179 1 SC068179 Registered provider: East Sussex County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to four children who have experienced trauma, disrupted development, loss and/or multiple placement moves. There were four children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2012.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC068179 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/06/2021 Full Outstanding 04/09/2019 Full Good 14/08/2018 Full Good 23/01/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC068179 3

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outstanding

Children make exceptional progress due to the high standard of care provided by staff.

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outstanding

Children are well matched due to the tenacity of the registered manager, who ensures the needs of the children already living there are fully considered. Positive relationships were observed between the children and the staff, who all enjoyed each other’s company.

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outstanding

A thorough assessment is undertaken to identify areas where children need additional support and staff take account of children’s views to help them develop the skills that they want to learn. This thoughtful approach helps children to thrive and promotes positive social and emotional development. This improves children’s self-esteem, which benefits them in all aspects of their lives.

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outstanding

One child has made progress in a way that his social worker describes as ‘life changing’. He had considerable health problems. He is now able to enjoy bike riding, swimming and long walks, which he struggled to do when he first arrived at the home.

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outstanding

Another child’s interest in football has become a passion, which is fully supported by the staff team. The deputy manager is a good role model and takes her to women’s football matches.

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outstanding

Staff prioritise the children’s educational attainment. They give strong messages about the importance of education. When a school was struggling to support a child, staff went to school with the child to give additional support. This child, who previously struggled in school, was recently voted pupil of the month. She confidently attended her mock exams. This is an amazing achievement for this child.

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outstanding

Another child had not attended school for three years before coming to the home. The staff worked closely with the child’s tutor to provide education at the home. The registered manager advocated for him to be allocated a suitable school, which has been a success. After a slow introduction into the school, the child asked to attend full time more quickly than planned and now engages well, enjoys school and has made friends.

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outstanding

The staff help the children to reach their potential and gain self-care and independence skills safely. One child asked to be able to budget for herself, shop for and cook her own meals. Another child is now confident to travel independently in the community, something he previously struggled to do. Inspection report for children's home: SC068179 4 A particular strength of the home is the quality of the relationships that staff forge with the children’s friends and family. One child was supported to reconnect with her family, who live some distance away. The staff stayed with her in the area to be available for her, but also allow her the freedom to develop the relationships herself. This has been successful and she has moved nearer to her family, which was her wish. She continues to be visited by staff to keep the attachment and emotional connection with them.

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outstanding

Staff provide a nurturing and supportive environment. Children feel cared for and valued, which helps them to value themselves and their own safety. One child’s risk of serious harm has significantly reduced, and they are better able to manage their emotions. They can plan for the future and feel loved and secure in the home. This has been achieved by a multi-professional approach involving the staff, police, social worker and mental health services, with the child fully involved. Internal therapy support staff worked closely with the child to create an effective safety plan, which is reviewed and adjusted in response to any changes in risk.

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outstanding

The registered manager ensures that professional support services are immediately consulted if new risks emerge. Staff manage inappropriate behaviours between children well by putting in immediate safety measures and educating children about boundaries and positive coping strategies. This has been highly effective in reducing risk.

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outstanding

Staff ensure that children have a good understanding of the risks that they face when they are online. They agree contracts and safety measures, such as a mobile phone app which can track children’s location and monitors social media use. However, the staff are not risk averse and regularly review these arrangements to provide children with ways to take responsibility as they get older, so that they can use the internet and access social media safely.

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outstanding

Children rarely go missing. However, when they do, staff use a shared form with the police which provides them with the information needed to assess the risks and the level of response needed. This joint working is effective and ensures that children are located swiftly and kept safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is a passionate and inspirational leader. She is skilled and has created a strong ethos, ensuring high standards of care that are clearly focused on the needs of children. The deputy manager is also a competent leader who works closely with the registered manager. They plan for the continual development of the home and professional development of the staff. They arrange well-researched training courses to ensure that staff are equipped to provide consistent and well- informed care. Inspection report for children's home: SC068179 5 The registered manager continually identifies new ways of working. For example, in response to a child questioning terminology used in her care plan, the staff are using learning from research to adjust the language they use when recording and talking about children. Any institutional language is challenged, to ensure that good research-based practice is embedded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that staff get the training that they need to provide exceptional care. Staff have embraced learning from a therapeutic parenting course that was delivered by a mental health service. They put this into practice when interacting with the children. This creates a calm, relaxed atmosphere where children seek the staff’s company and learn how to socialise positively together.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The responsible individual knows the children well and demonstrates genuine care and concern for them. She is proud of the staff and the children’s achievements. These achievements are celebrated at an annual local authority awards ceremony. Two children from the home were nominated for awards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All records are scrutinised monthly and children’s care plans are audited and shared with staff. This ensures that a continued high standard of care is provided. The staff are highly motivated to achieve the best results for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Social workers and children’s family members highly praise the registered manager and staff. A social work team manager said that the home is social workers’ preferred choice for children. A parent recognised the progress that her child has made, saying, ‘They [the staff] are really amazing, I couldn’t thank them enough.’

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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: SC068179 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: County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE

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Inspector

Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC068179 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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