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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC399222 1 SC399222 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

This local authority home provides short-term emergency support for children at times of crisis or significant periods of change in their lives. The home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home reopened in April 2023 following a period of being non-operational. One child has lived in the home since then.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 26 August 2022 and is suitably qualified.

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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: SC399222 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/08/2017 Full Good 09/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/11/2016 Full Good 01/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC399222 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The care offered at this home for children is based on short-term emergency stays. Therefore, children’s education and health needs are prioritised and arranged around this. For example, one child’s education placement ended during their time at the home, interim arrangements were suitable to fill the gap while a permanent education plan was made. Such as, home tutoring so that learning opportunities were not missed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager has ensured that there is thorough care planning in place to support the child to make progress and have positive experiences during their stay. This ensures that the child can make progress towards their goals and build on relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Risk plans are in place and guide staff on support strategies to reduce risks while balancing appropriate boundaries. These boundaries are naturally tested, and the staff reflect with the child to understand natural consequences as part of their development and maturity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a focus on developing the child’s skills to increase their independence, for example using public transport and spending time with friends. The staff are proactive in providing support and education in these areas so that the child can use these skills when they move on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious and tidy. However, it has not been personalised to provide a place of nurture and warmth. For example, doors are numbered or have magnet card locks on the wall to be opened. Some staff also wear identity badges around the home, including carrying key cards. This does not present a sense of homeliness for children.

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

The staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and can demonstrate this in their practice to promote children’s safety. The registered manager has discussed safeguarding practice with one child, including the importance of honesty and the impact that not being truthful may have. This has led to this child understanding the importance of safeguarding matters and their relationship with staff.

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

The staff have meaningful discussions to explore relevant topics that are a part of the child’s care planning approach and support their progress. For example, where there are concerns about fire safety, the staff team has asked the local fire brigade to meet with the child and discuss fire safety. This work has then been continued by the staff to reduce the risks. Inspection report for children’s home: SC399222 4 Staff manage behaviour incidents well and respond quickly to support the child. The registered manager ensures that she has oversight of all incidents, and that care plans are updated to guide staff to help reduce the impact of further incidents.

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

The staff listen to and encourage the child to express their views and opinions about their care. This includes when a child may wish to make a complaint. Staff ensure that the child is kept updated throughout this process and provided with an outcome.

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

There are suitable checks in place to ensure that internal staff have been safely recruited. However, there are some gaps in ensuring that the same scrutiny has been applied to agency staff, such as checking their employment history and verification for leaving any previous employment when they have worked with children or vulnerable adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff team are dedicated and committed to the vision for the home and the goals they wish to achieve to support children during their short stay at the home. This includes ensuring that children can reflect on their time at the home as a positive experience in their care journey.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff feel supported by the leadership team and each other and enjoy working in the home. Equally, the registered manager feels supported by her senior leadership team and can delegate tasks effectively to other managers and team leaders with confidence in their abilities to ensure consistent leadership while maintaining her oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and management team ensure that all staff have an opportunity to have meaningful and supportive supervision and additional support following incidents or times of difficulty. This supports their development and provides reflection. This is also extended to agency staff to ensure that they receive the same support and feel part of the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been an ongoing recruitment drive, and this has been effective, with a full team in the pipeline. Regular agency staff are working in the home and there are plans to reduce their deployment as new staff join following their recruitment checks being finalised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a focus on enhancing staff’s knowledge, skills and experience to improve practice. For example, expert practitioners, such as the local authority designated officer, are invited to staff team meetings to provide training and discussion for staff in keeping children safe. All staff have completed mandatory and additional training, as well as attending a thorough induction and being supported through a well- planned probation period. Inspection report for children’s home: SC399222 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, 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider should ensure that the presentation of the home and staff practice provide a caring and nurturing environment for children balanced with the health and safety needs of the children. 29 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— 30 November Inspection report for children’s home: SC399222 6 full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider should ensure that they can evidence that suitable vetting has been carried out on agency staff working in the home and they are satisfied this meets the requirements.

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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: SC399222 7

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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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Inspector

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC399222 8 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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