Children's Home run by HeadStart Residential Care Ltd in East Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home: 2690173 1 Registered provider: Headstart Residential Care 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 by a private company. The homes is registered to care for up to five children. The children may have autism, learning Difficulties, communication needs, social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in November 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been a manager in post since May 2023, but they have not applied for registration .

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2690173 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2690173 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were three children living at the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector was informed that a fourth child is due to move in soon. The staff have developed positive relationships with the children in a relatively short time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Plans for children are thorough. The manager ensures that the staff are able to meet the needs of the children before they move into the home. The staff undertake a 12-week assessment with the new children to fully understand their needs. Involvement of the child’s support network is encouraged, this includes behavioural specialists, occupational therapists and education professionals. The assessment is detailed and reflects the child’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children have not settled at the home due to their particular complex needs. This has meant that, on occasion, children have moved on to somewhere better suited to their needs. The managers and staff reflect on these endings to help them understand what can be improved. This reflective approach helps them better prepare for future admissions. When the children move on, this is well planned and there are good opportunities to say goodbye.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All staff understand the importance of education well. One child attends the on-site school. The manager is in the process of ensuring that the other two children are also enrolled at the start of the school term. While the children have not been in school, the staff have supported them to develop emotional security and to develop routines to make them school-ready. The staff support the children with their communication and their understanding of the world around them. Staff celebrate the children’s individuality and value their achievements. The children’s certificates are displayed at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have autism and complex learning needs. Some of the children are non-verbal. The staff are intuitive. They observe the children closely and understand their particular form of communication. The staff encourage the children to learn to use alternative communication systems such as the Picture Exchange Communication System and Makaton. The staff are sensitive and patient.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the children to spend quality, safe and purposeful time with their families and loved ones. Children enjoy a wide range of activities, such as going swimming, horse riding and helping at the on-site farm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children live in a clean and tidy purpose-built home. Children’s bedrooms are generally comfortable and personalised. However, one child’s bedroom had a strong odour that has been intermittently present for some time. Despite this issue, the child still sleeps in this bedroom. Inspection report for children’s home: 2690173 4

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

Staff safeguarding practice is good. The staff are aware of their responsibilities to keep children safe and know how to report any concerns. Managers have dealt with the very small number of concerns quickly and effectively. The manager works with the professional network to keep the children safe.

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

Staff manage tricky situations well and apply clear, consistent boundaries. This helps the children to understand expectations and contributes to them feeling safe. The staff understand that the children use behaviour as a means of effective communication, and they seek to understand, and address, what the children need. Incidents are rare, but when they do occur, staff act swiftly to keep everyone safe. The consistent and effective approach of the staff has helped children make progress from their starting points. One child, who previously regularly required physical intervention to keep them safe, has only needed this level of support once in 10 months.

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

Staff create individualised and detailed risk assessments and behaviour support plans for the children. They follow these effectively, and the documents are reviewed regularly.

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

The staff are highly motivated. Their love and affection for the children were apparent across the entire inspection period. Not all staff were fully aware of the children’s diagnoses and the potential impact of these for the children. Staff said that they would benefit from greater understanding of, and training on, the specific needs of the children, such as pica and fragile x syndrome.

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good

The manager has been in post since May 2023. The manager has yet to submit an application for registration. Although the manager was working for the same organisation, a thorough management handover did not occur. Two new children moved into the home in the same month as the new manager began his role. His focus at the home has been on settling and supporting these new children.

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good

Safer recruitment of substantive staff is generally managed well. However, managers were not able to demonstrate the same rigour relating to the recruitment of agency staff. Consequently, there is potential for the provider to not be aware of, or scrutinise, information that may have a bearing on the suitability of staff.

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good

Staff supervision is not taking place in line with the workforce development plan or statement of purpose. Some staff are struggling professionally and personally. However, no follow-up supervision sessions have taken place. The manager has not had regular support and supervision sessions since taking up their role. The lack of regular supervision sessions and updates from senior leaders is reported to be contributing to staff feeling undervalued. Inspection report for children’s home: 2690173 5 The new manager is ambitious for the children in his care, and he works collaboratively with staff. The manager is aware of areas for development. The team is stable and consistent. Staff refer to peer-on-peer support as fundamental to their work. The staff are committed to the children’s welfare and well-being. However staff spoke of morale being low.

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good

Staff are provided with relevant training, the majority of which is provided online. However, staff do not have training in the specific needs of the children, and they report that training is not of sufficient quality. Inspection report for children’s home: 2690173 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 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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(g)(i)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff receive regular supervision sessions. Furthermore, ensure that staff are informed about the particular diagnoses and associated needs of the children in their care. 12 October 2023

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children’s home: 2690173 7  The registered person should ensure children live in a warm and welcoming environment with a homely feel. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure good employment practice for agency staff. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguard children and minimise potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Inspection report for children’s home: 2690173 8 Unique reference number: 2690173

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Headstart Residential Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1, Swanwood Park, Gun Hill, Heathfield TN21 0LL

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Inspector

Jane Balfe, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2690173 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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