Children's Home run by Rubicon Children and Family Services Ltd in East Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home: 2666309 1 Registered provider: Rubicon Children and Family Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to provide care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since December 2021.

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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: 2666309 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/07/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2666309 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive compassionate care and affection from staff who are committed to building and maintaining meaningful relationships with them. Staff are curious and invested in children’s lives and wishes. Staff interactions with children are playful and respectful, which makes children feel secure and cared for and enables them to make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children moving into and out of the home receive careful preparation and support. Children visit the home and meet the staff before they move in. Children already living in the home are consulted about these changes and are given ample time and opportunity to express their views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to achieve the goals that are important to them. The goals are broken down into manageable steps. Two children are working towards owning their own pets. They are receiving support with the first steps, which are to understand the responsibilities and budgeting associated with this. In another example, a child is being helped to improve their ability to communicate verbally and has been provided with a ‘talking flash card’ device to help them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children speak positively about the wide range of activities that are available to them. One child described feeling more confident in social settings since they joined a trampolining club. Another child is passionate about singing and performing. Staff recognise that this is an important part of the child’s expression and identity. The social worker for one child told inspectors that the creativity of the staff team and their ability to engage children in new hobbies were ‘impressive’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are prioritised, and children learn the importance of physical activity and a balanced diet. Children’s emotional well-being is also promoted. A specialist therapeutic intervention was used to gain a better understanding of one child’s behaviour, and the learning has provided the basis of planning for this child’s care. As a result, the child has been able to start building healthier and more trusting relationships with adults.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment is welcoming and homely for children. There is plenty of space for children to enjoy, both indoors and in the large garden. Some ongoing renovation work has been planned with the children in mind. For example, a personalised sensory and play area is being created for one child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have created a culture of positivity towards education. One child is receiving sensitive support to prepare them to attend school again after a significant period of learning outside of a formal education setting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At times, children struggle to live together harmoniously as a group. Activities are carefully planned to give all children quality time with staff. However, there are Inspection report for children’s home: 2666309 4 times when the atmosphere in the house is unsettled, and children feel antagonised by each other. Staff are aware of this dynamic and address issues when they arise.

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

Children’s safety is a priority, and there is a reflective culture that promotes safeguarding within the home. Managers have developed suitable guidance about how to manage allegations against staff.

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

Children know how to make complaints and can identify adults that they trust and feel comfortable speaking to. Complaints made by children are taken seriously, addressed and responded to. This includes complaints directed towards external agencies. Staff supported one child to access an independent advocate to enable them to submit a complaint to their placing authority about arrangements for family time.

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

Risk management is effective and is underpinned by the attachment-based principles that are at the core of the home’s ethos. Risk and vulnerability are carefully considered on an individual basis before a child moves into the home. However, planning lacks thorough consideration of the possible impact on children who already live at the home. This means that there is limited guidance for staff about how to address newly presenting issues when they arise.

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

Incidents of physical restraint are scrutinised by managers to ensure that the use of the measure was safe and proportionate. There has been a small number of occasions when staff have carried a young child out of a room when they are at risk of harm. These incidents are recognised as physical restraints and recorded as such. However, the length of these holds is not recorded. As a result, the records of these incidents do not demonstrate that they are as carefully reviewed by managers as other physical restraints.

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

Recruitment practices are thorough and safe. The use of agency staff is well planned so that experienced staff are always available to lead shifts. This ensures that children’s care is consistent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been changes in the management structure since the last inspection. Leadership roles are better defined, and this has created more stability for staff and children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective management monitoring and oversight mean that managers have a well- rounded view of the impact of the care that children receive. Quality of care review reports completed by managers are thorough and thoughtful. A key part of the monitoring and review systems is a positive approach to learning from incidents, and this demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive good-quality supervision that is regular and in keeping with the home’s Inspection report for children’s home: 2666309 5 reflective ethos. Therapist-led team supervision plays an important role in supporting staff to understand and empathise with the children. It has also had a direct impact on improving outcomes in relation to children’s safety and well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are supported to access and contribute to their records. Managers recognise that the structure and purpose of some records could be improved if they were written in language that is more child-focused. They have also identified that the record-keeping system could be simplified so that staff can continue to prioritise time with children. Managers are taking steps to address these shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they enjoy working at the home. They are positive about the support they receive from each other and from managers. Staff are provided with opportunities to discuss challenges arising and explore possible solutions as a team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and leaders have developed strong relationships with external professionals and advocate effectively on behalf of children to ensure that they have the best support to meet their needs. One social worker said that the transparency and good networking enable sound decisions to be made about the child’s care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2666309 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 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 requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that risks are assessed thoroughly before children move into the home and that those risks are considered alongside the needs, risks and vulnerabilities of children already living in the home. 17 October 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are supported to understand the nature of records kept by the home and how to access them. Staff should understand their important role in encouraging the children to reflect on and understand their history, according to their age and understanding. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)  The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36) Inspection report for children’s home: 2666309 7

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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: 2666309 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Rubicon Children and Family Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Clarke Brownscombe, 2 St. Andrews Place, Southover Road, Lewes BN7 1UP

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Louise Whichelow-Ellis

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Inspectors

Tash Williams, Social Care Inspector Helen Simmons, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: 2666309 9 regulates and 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 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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