Lansdowne Secure Unit

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC031490 1 SC031490 Registered provider: East Sussex County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This secure children’s home is operated by a local authority and is approved by the Secretary of State to restrict children’s liberty. The home can care for up to seven children, aged between 10 and 17. It provides care for children accommodated under section 25 of the Children Act 1989, who are placed by local authorities. Admission of any child who is under 13 years of age requires the approval of the Secretary of State, under section 25 of the Children Act 1989.

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Information about this children’s home

The commissioning of health services in this home is the statutory responsibility of NHS England under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Education is provided on site in dedicated facilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post is currently vacant.

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This monitoring visit

There are no children currently living in the home and there is a three-month condition attached to the home’s registration. This means that the home must inform Ofsted three months in advance of admitting children to the home. This condition was imposed as a result of the provider’s decision to close the home for a period of time. The provider has now notified Ofsted of its intention to admit children to the home. The purpose of this visit is for Ofsted to assess its readiness to provide care for children in line with regulations and guidance.

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This monitoring visit

The provider took the decision to close the home temporarily on 1 February 2023. This was to allow time to review the management arrangements for the home and to recruit sufficient, suitable staff and to recruit and register a manager. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC031490 2 A new manager was appointed in December 2023 and has begun the process to apply to register with Ofsted. The provider has stated that it will not admit children to the home until it has a registered manager in place. The new manager has had the opportunity to evaluate and review the effectiveness of the service. She has established new systems and processes to keep oversight of the quality of care provided to children. She has also been able to recruit new staff. The home now has sufficient staff to care for children.

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This monitoring visit

Since closing on 1 February 2023, the senior leadership team has implemented a robust service development plan. There has been a restructure of the whole team in order to provide a more holistic approach to the care of children.

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This monitoring visit

The education department has been newly reformed. The provider stated that the curriculum has been refreshed to support children to fully develop their knowledge, skills and qualifications.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have already completed their mandatory training. They will also be receiving tailored training based on the individual needs of the children who will be living in the home. The manager has already met with the home’s therapeutic service to outline the home’s vision and the plans for staff to provide positive, nurturing care. There are plans in place to drive these developments forward.

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This monitoring visit

Extensive improvements have been made to ensure that the home is safe and secure. The gardens and external areas are bright and colourful. The home provides a suitable environment to meet the needs of children.

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This monitoring visit

One requirement and three recommendations made at the last inspection have not been reviewed at this visit. They will therefore remain in place and be considered as part of the next full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC031490 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/11/2022 Full Good 14/12/2021 Full Good 03/08/2021 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC031490 4

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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 with 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 in paragraph (1) 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to ensuring that risk assessments have up-to-date, accurate information, to support staff to manage risks. They will also be used to help children to understand how to keep themselves safe. 30 January 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should improve the quality of mathematics education, through appropriate training and sharing of good practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)  The registered person should ensure that there is a full and accurate record of safer recruitment checks for agency staff who work in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 60, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that all children’s care records are up to date, complete, signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 61, paragraph 14.3) Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC031490 5

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC031490 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: East Sussex County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE

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Inspector

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC031490 7 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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Inspector

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