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

Inspection report for children's home: SC037441 1 SC037441 Registered provider: West 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

The home provides care for up to four children who have moderate or severe learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since 2013.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC037441 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/08/2023 Full Good 28/06/2022 Full Outstanding 27/04/2021 Full Outstanding 25/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC037441 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children receive excellent care from dedicated members of staff. The three children have greatly varied needs which require different levels of care and support. However, the highly motivated staff know the children exceptionally well. They provide them with a warm, comfortable and loving home in which they flourish.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Before children move into the home, staff take the time to get to know them and their families. From this initial starting point, considerable efforts are made to build relationships with the children. The staff use their knowledge of the children to create realistic and meaningful targets, which they help the children to achieve. Because of the great help and support of staff, one child, within a few weeks of moving in, has made great progress in their personal care. Children who had previously refused to attend health appointments now feel able to visit the opticians and dentist. This has been achieved by staff patiently working with children to reduce their anxieties, using social stories and inviting health professionals to the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff place great emphasis on children having fulfilled and happy lives. The children have been able to enjoy trips away and join local clubs. Recently, staff arranged to take one child on holiday overseas with their siblings, who are also looked after. This was the children’s first holiday in many years and staff created a lovely opportunity for them to spend meaningful time together. These opportunities have enabled children to enjoy enriching new experiences and create important memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Irrespective of their limited or unique ways of communicating, staff think creatively and explore the children’s wishes and feelings. Staff regularly use social stories to support children to understand what is happening in their world and to manage change. Staff also support children to participate in what are called ‘young people’s meetings’. These discussions are based on themes and include fun activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All the children attend education. Staff are strong advocates for the children, communicating daily with school staff to ensure continuity of care. Staff quickly respond when children start to struggle and support them to move to new schools should this be required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

When children leave the home and new children join, these moves are planned meticulously. One child who left to move to supported accommodation remains in regular contact with staff. Staff continue to feel a sense of responsibility towards this young adult as he was a loved member of the family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work closely and transparently with families and external professionals. They go above and beyond to work with everyone involved in the children’s lives. One social worker described staff as ‘brilliant’ and said that they have been ‘amazing’. Social workers praise staff’s commitment to ensuring that children spend positive time with Inspection report for children's home: SC037441 4 their families. They say staff have worked hard to improve relationships between children and their parents. One parent said staff look after their child’s mental health, and have supported their family to remain close, despite particularly complex challenges.

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

The children are happy and feel safe. They trust the staff who care for them because of the genuine and caring relationships that have been built.

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

Comprehensive individualised safety plans guide staff effectively in how best to care for each child. These are regularly reviewed and disseminated to all staff.

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

Staff immediately respond to children in need and understand that risk is ever-changing. Because of the support of staff, there has been a decrease in incidents of children going missing and incidents of self-harm.

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

Staff manage challenging behaviours well and seek to understand what children are seeking to communicate through their behaviours. They use strategies for de-escalation effectively and skilfully. Consequently, physical restraint is only used in exceptional circumstances. When incidents do occur, they are recorded thoroughly. Managers maintain strong oversight of all incidents to try to identify any patterns and trends and to try to understand how to reduce the risk of restraint being needed in the future.

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

Pre-employment checks for staff are meticulously overseen by the manager and great care is taken to ensure that children are cared for by suitable staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has provided a long period of stability and highly effective leadership. Because the registered manager is leaving, the deputy manager is taking on a greater management role, with support and oversight from the registered manager before they leave. The transition between managers is seamless, having been coordinated exceptionally well, with minimal disruption to children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is aware of the strengths of the home and the areas for development. Senior leaders have worked hard to build a strong staff team. The manager is open to advice and constantly drives improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Senior leaders are highly aspirational, professional, organised and motivated to provide outstanding care to the children. The manager knows the children exceptionally well. He is visible and accessible to children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and leaders set high standards and lead by example. Staff feel well supported. They receive regular, good-quality reflective supervisions and appraisals. Staff are able to discuss practice issues, individual needs of children and their own professional development. As a result, staff feel their own welfare and career are highly valued and invested in. Inspection report for children's home: SC037441 5 Staff and leaders are professionally inquisitive and committed to reflective practice. There is an ever-present desire for continuous improvement. When children move out of the home, staff participate in round-table meetings led by an external expert. Discussions include what went well for the child, what challenges were faced and how it feels to have said goodbye. This approach supports the manager and staff’s motivation to improve practice and outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff are exceptionally proud of the progress that the children have made since moving into the home. The manager has implemented different ways to encourage children’s participation and embedded a culture where children’s views are highly valued.

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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: SC037441 6

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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: West Sussex County Council, Democratic Services, County Hall, West Street, Chichester PO19 1RQ

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Inspector

Jane Balfe, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC037441 7 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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