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

Inspection report for children's home: SC037441 1 SC037441 Registered provider: West 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 provides care and accommodation for up to four children who have moderate or severe learning disabilities. The service provides a mix of permanent placements and short-break care.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. Since the last inspection two other children have received care in the home on a short-breaks or shared-care arrangement.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since February 2013.

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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: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC037441 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/06/2022 Full Outstanding 27/04/2021 Full Outstanding 25/02/2020 Full Good 16/10/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC037441 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection in June 2022, two children have remained living in the home and two children have moved on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children make progress in ways that enhance their lived experience, such as being more independent with personal care or learning how to budget for an item they want. Goals are meaningful and are reviewed regularly with professional and family networks. The broad range of children’s progress is recognised and celebrated by staff who are proud of their achievements and efforts.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are sensitive to the day- to-day challenges of living together and the impact that children’s emotional needs can have on each other. They ensure that children understand how to be kind to one another and that they are involved in decisions about their home. Staff speak about the children warmly and with positive regard for their well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and staff have regular meetings, with discussions which are thematic and child-led. There are opportunities during these discussions for children to express their wishes and ideas, such as where to go for their summer holiday or what they would like on the menu. The in-house cook caters for the children’s preferences to make mealtimes more appealing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Short stories that describe social situations, personalised pictures and symbols are used to support children’s communication and understanding. This helps the children to express themselves and to understand boundaries and routines in the home. Children are also supported with their learning. Creative solutions have been found to support educational opportunities when mainstream options are no longer available.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are sensitive and rigorous in their approach to addressing children’s health needs, some of which are complex. The support provided to one child following a recent medical procedure demonstrated that staff are aware of and able to respond to the physical and emotional impact of a child’s experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff enable children to have access to independent advocates, and welcome the feedback they receive. Children are consulted so that they are actively involved in their current care and making plans for their future. One child’s social worker said, ‘[Name of child] gets so many opportunities. She can walk much further, uses communication tools she is getting a voice and more independence.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care plans are designed to ensure that the staff can support children effectively. Risk assessments are completed when children move into the home, but do not fully consider possible outcomes or identify strategies to avoid any difficulties that may arise. This has not had an impact on children. Inspection report for children's home: SC037441 4

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

The home is welcoming and provides a homely environment for the children to thrive in. There is ample space for the children to relax, socialise and play. Children are encouraged to personalise the communal spaces in the home and their bedrooms. There is an office for staff on the ground floor where confidential information is displayed on walls and noticeboards which at times may be seen by children and visitors. This means that children’s information and privacy may be compromised.

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

Some areas of the home are locked. This has been appropriately risk assessed to keep children safe. For those children who may be restricted by this, there are measures in place so that they can access all areas of their home, for example, some children have keys to the front door.

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

Plans in place to guide staff when children are experiencing difficulties mean that there is a quick response to children’s behaviour when needed. Staff very rarely use behavioural consequences to support children’s development and boundary setting. On some occasions, staff need to physically hold children. This is done sensitively and only when necessary. Any incidents are followed by reflection and are used as a learning opportunity for staff and children.

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

Children are helped to understand risks and this has contributed towards developing their independence. One child who frequently went missing from the home no longer goes missing, and is allowed independent time in the community to visit the local shops.

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

The staff advocate for children when they are unhappy or wish to make a complaint. One child was supported to complain to their local authority regarding a change in their family-time arrangements. The child’s views were acted on in accordance with their wishes.

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

Staff are confident in their safeguarding responsibilities. They have a sound understanding of child protection procedures and demonstrate good practice when concerns are raised about children’s welfare. Children’s individual needs and vulnerabilities are well understood, which enables staff to respond appropriately and with respect for the children’s dignity.

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

Children live in a safe environment. Personal evacuation plans are in place for all children, taking into account their individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers demonstrate a commitment to professional development, to drive improvements to the care that children receive. They have developed positive working relationships with external providers to diversify the training and support Inspection report for children's home: SC037441 5 opportunities available to the staff. One example of this is the commissioning of a psychologist to support reflective practice in the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has positive relationships with parents and carers. The security and trust that has been built through these relationships has meant that one child has made continuous progress and has a wide range of opportunities available to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager challenges external professionals when this is in the children’s best interests, and this is welcomed by other professionals. Feedback from professionals working with the children is positive and they praise the home. One said, ‘The staff are so lovely, the manager is out of this world. They go the extra mile all the time.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision is reflective and considers the dynamics between the children and the staff. Team meetings provide an opportunity for staff to scrutinise their practice and offer feedback to one another in a supportive environment. This allows staff to respond to children empathically and has contributed to unity among the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive specific training that is suited to the needs of the children in their care. Communication tools are well embedded and staff skilfully use these to optimise opportunities for the children to communicate their views and wishes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are sufficient staff to support children effectively. The use of unfamiliar agency staff is kept to a minimum to aid consistent care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has completed a comprehensive overview of the quality of care children receive, as required. However, this has not been sent to the regulator within the required timescale, which prevents the regulator having timely oversight of the care provided. Inspection report for children's home: SC037441 6

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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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

help each child to understand how the child’s privacy will be respected and the circumstances when it may have to be limited (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(a)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider should ensure that confidential information relating to children is not displayed where others can view it. 10 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed (Regulation 45 (1) (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider should ensure that the quality of care review report is submitted within the timeframe specified. 10 November Inspection report for children's home: SC037441 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. This should be clearly evidenced in children’s care planning documents. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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: SC037441 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: West Sussex County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, West Street, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1RG

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Inspectors

Tash Williams, Social Care Inspector Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC037441 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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