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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC037454 1 SC037454 Registered provider: West Sussex County Council

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by the local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to five children who have experienced social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2024 and is suitably qualified.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection in May 2024, one child has moved on from the home. Three children remain living at the home, although one child has not returned to the home for some time and is living with family. A transition plan is under way following a review of this child’s care planning.

p.1

This monitoring visit

All the children’s care planning needs have been reviewed. Where appropriate, meetings with the children’s professional networks have been held to ensure that the children are being cared for in the right place.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The staff have reviewed all the children’s risk plans to ensure that they reflect the current risks for the children and give guidance to staff to reduce these risks. Some children continue to go missing from home and this is a concern. Senior leaders have escalated these concerns with the children’s professional networks, and they are working together to try and reduce the risks for the children.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The children have all made progress in their education. One child has completed their exams and another child has gained their functional skills certificates. Plans are being considered for their future, with college interviews being arranged. Staff are working with the virtual school to support one child who has struggled to engage in face-to-face tutoring, to explore a bespoke approach for this child. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC037454 2 The staff have built on relationships with the children. A staff member who is a newly allocated key worker for one child has spent time working with the child and their family to build their relationships and improve their communication. The staff are more confident in role modelling and discussing boundaries and acceptable behaviour with the children.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The registered manager has reached out to local support services to increase the staff knowledge around drug and alcohol misuse and there are plans for additional staff training. Work has also begun with children to educate them around the risks of using drugs, smoking and drinking alcohol. A practitioner recently attended the children’s house meeting and engaged the children in an educational session.

p.2

This monitoring visit

There are improved oversight and quality assurance systems in place to review the quality of care for children. This filters through to the staff so they are informed of updates to children’s plans and provide the right support. Senior leaders have ensured that there are support mechanisms in place for the registered manager to continue to deliver the improvement plans they have for the home and staff.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The home is currently undergoing minor refurbishment and improvements have been made to both the interior and exterior. The children’s bedrooms are tidy, and any urgent repairs needed have been completed.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The registered manager has ensured that all serious incidents have been notified to Ofsted and the local authority safeguarding team when needed, and action has been taken to ensure safeguarding processes are followed.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The staff continue to access learning and development opportunities. The registered manager has invited other professionals, such as the looked after children’s nurse and the local authority designated officer, to attend team meetings to support staff development. However, some staff have not yet completed essential refresher training as this is being sourced to ensure that the staff receive the right training. Therefore, this part of the requirement will be repeated to allow time for this to be achieved.

p.2

This monitoring visit

There are continued shortfalls in the safer recruitment processes to ensure staff are suitably vetted. Therefore, this requirement is repeated. Two requirements were not reviewed as part of this inspection and are restated. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC037454 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/05/2024 Full Inadequate 03/05/2023 Full Good 08/11/2022 Full Good 02/08/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC037454 4

p.3

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.

p.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff have the skills and experience required to support the children’s needs. 25 August 2024

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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,

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d)) 25 August 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC037454 5 In particular ensure that all staff, including agency staff, are suitably vetted and that safer recruitment processes are in place.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.5

Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not reviewed as part of this inspection and is restated. 25 August 2024

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

p.5

Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the use of appropriate consequences to promote positive behaviour and learning for children about acceptable behaviour.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not reviewed as part of this inspection and is restated. 25 August 2024

p.5

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.

p.5

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC037454 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: West Sussex County Council

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.6

Inspector

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC037454 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7