Children's home run by My Choice Children’s Homes Limited in Mid Sussex

Inspection report for children's home: SC426530 1 SC426530 Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private organisation and is registered to provide care for up to four children with social and/or emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023.

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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

Date of last inspection: 11 October 2022

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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: SC426530 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/10/2022 Full Good 22/06/2021 Full Good 20/02/2020 Full Good 24/10/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC426530 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are settled in the home. They say they feel safe and have good relationships with staff. Children’s individual safety plans are a strength. One child has been telling staff what makes them anxious and what staff can do to help them. Staff respond in a positive and nurturing way. This helps to build children’s trust and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence skills. Staff prepare them well for the future and advocate strongly for them. For example, children help with cleaning, washing their own clothes, budgeting for food shopping, and planning and cooking meals. One social worker said, ‘If staff continue working with him [the child] to improve his independent living plans, his outcomes will be positive.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are sought regularly and are valued. Staff listen to children and support them to influence the way they are cared for. For example, through key- work sessions and children’s meetings, children choose meals, activities including going to clubs, and incentives around their behaviours. However, there are missed opportunities to capture these experiences and children’s progress to help them remember their time in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children personalise their bedrooms and have items and photos that connect them to their families. However, some areas of the home require tidying, and a refresh and repairs. For instance, fencing is damaged, some areas of the home are cluttered, bedding is stored in the kitchen and the home does not feel cosy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress from their starting points. Not all children have an education placement, however, the registered manager and staff work in partnership with the virtual school to engage children in educational tasks. They challenge local authorities to find suitable school and college placements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported well when moving on from the home. For example, when a child’s needs could no longer be safely managed due to an escalation in their behaviours, the manager worked closely with external professionals in the best interests of the child to move them safely. This reduced any negative impact on the other children.

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

Staff understand the organisation’s safeguarding policies and practice. They know how to raise concerns and who to contact for immediate advice or support. Staff are aware of the process to keep children safe when they go missing from the home and missing-from-home episodes have reduced. The registered manager has listened to children and worked with the local authority to increase the free time children can have to be away from the home safely. Consequently, children feel trusted. Inspection report for children's home: SC426530 4 The process for recruiting new staff is thorough. The organisation has a good system in place to ensure that all the necessary checks are carried out prior to new staff joining. This reduces the potential for unsuitable adults to be employed at the home.

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

There has been one complaint since the previous inspection. This was taken seriously and acted on immediately. The registered manager and staff are aware of their responsibilities to ensure that there are effective health and safety processes in place. Consequently, children, staff and visitors are protected, and the home is safe.

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

Safeguarding incidents are managed effectively to ensure that children and staff are safeguarded. There are strong links with the local authority designated officer and children’s risk management plans are detailed. Furthermore, changes are made in the home to ensure that safeguarding procedures are robust. For example, staffing levels are increased if a child makes allegations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She is dedicated and understands the needs of the children. She is a strong advocate for children, ensuring they receive good-quality care and that the best outcomes can be achieved for all children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has effective monitoring systems in place. Leaders and managers review case records for all children and records of key worker and children’s meetings, as well as those for incidents and safeguarding concerns. As a result of this monitoring and oversight, the management team has knowledge of the children’s day-to-day experiences and a well-rounded view of the progress that the children make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders provide staff with a thorough induction to help them to do their job well. Staff are supported through training to provide a therapeutic model of care. Children were observed being given hugs and time to talk and be listened to by staff. This provides children with an environment of care and nurture.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff ensure that children’s health needs are met to a high standard. Children have access to health services and therapists who have strong links with the home. This collaborative way of working informs strategies to support children to manage their behaviour and supports children’s ongoing health needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Positive partnership working helps to build trust and engagement. Social workers are positive about their working relationships with the registered manager and staff and say that they are kept well informed. External professionals say that communication with the home is excellent. This demonstrates a culture of openness that ensures that children benefit from meaningful joint work. Inspection report for children's home: SC426530 5 There has been a delay in the registered manager notifying Ofsted of serious incidents. The incidents have been managed well, and all other necessary actions have been taken to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively. However, the failure to notify Ofsted within required timescales means that the regulator was unable to fully assess these incidents and the actions taken at the time. Inspection report for children's home: SC426530 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)(e)) 30 November

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home provides a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children. In most cases, children’s homes should be a homely environment. This is in relation to redecorating the home and keeping it free from clutter. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should recognise and celebrate the experiences, memories and achievements of the children. This is in relation to keeping memory books, photos and evidence of progress. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.7)

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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: SC426530 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: My Choice Children’s Homes Ltd, Unit 3a, Mill Green Business Estate, Mill Green Road, Haywards Heath RH16 1XQ

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Inspectors

Hannah Cox, Social Care Inspector Thobekile Bandama, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC426530 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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