Children's Home run by My Choice Children’s Homes Limited in West Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home: 2736862 1 Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Ltd

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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 provides care for up to six children who experience social and/or emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, six children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 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: 6 December 2023

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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: 2736862 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/12/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2736862 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good-quality care because staff use an approach that fully considers children’s individual needs and interests. Children appreciate the support that they receive from staff. One child said that this is the best home they have lived in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are enrolled in full-time education. There are some occasions when children struggle to attend school and staff support them with positive guidance and encouragement. There are clear expectations that children should be in education, and this is helping children to achieve well and plan for their futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a homely environment. They contribute to the decor by producing artwork that is displayed in communal areas. This gives children a sense of ownership and pride in their surroundings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from positive relationships with managers and staff. As a result, they feel comfortable to express their wishes and feelings and have confidence that their voices will be heard. Children know how to make a complaint if they are unhappy about any aspect of their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have plenty of opportunities to spend time together when this is in line with their preferences. One child has a particularly strong relationship with an older child who mentors and guides them. Children participate in planning meals and activities. Mealtimes and activities are recognised as particularly important opportunities for children to enjoy social experiences with each other and with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s independence is promoted by staff, supporting them to learn important life skills. One child lives semi-independently in an annex close to the main home. The child and their social worker speak very positively about the suitability of the arrangement. However, there is no clear plan in place that staff can follow to ensure that there is a consistent approach to helping the child to achieve the goals that are important to them.

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

Overall, arrangements for safeguarding children are sound and they promote children’s welfare. If there are any concerns about children’s safety and well-being, they are appropriately shared with external professionals, and safety plans are implemented.

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

Children do not go missing from the home. Staff carry out effective prevention work with children that helps them to learn how to manage their emotions and express how they are feeling. As a result, behavioural incidents reduce over time.

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

Children benefit from being looked after by staff who provide clear and consistent boundaries. One child said that even though they hurt staff sometimes, they know that Inspection report for children’s home: 2736862 4 staff will keep them safe. They said that the support they receive after incidents is good. Incidents that result in the use of physical restraint are rare because staff make effective use of de-escalation techniques.

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

The semi-independent flat is being used to good effect for one child. Managers and the child’s social worker described the careful planning that took place before the child moved in. However, there is no written risk assessment to demonstrate that managers have assured themselves that the child can live in the flat safely, for example, confirmation that the child knows what to do in the event of a fire. There has been no impact on the child’s safety and well-being as a result of this shortfall.

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

Most children say they feel safe at the home. Children’s care and support plans provide clear guidance about the most appropriate behaviour support strategies to use to help children stay calm. On one occasion, those strategies were not successful, which resulted in an incident involving two children. One of the children said it bothers them when this happens, and they do not always feel safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers are passionate about children’s welfare and progress. They have high expectations for children and staff. They offer proactive support when this is needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the home was registered, the garage has been converted into a semi-independent flat. Managers updated the statement of purpose to reflect this but did not inform Ofsted. This inhibited the regulator’s ability to seek assurances that all the sleeping accommodation is suitable for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals speak positively about the quality of care that children receive. The management team promotes partnership working by involving external professionals in children’s care planning. The social worker for one child said, ‘This is a joint effort. It is the perfect setting for the child, and they have gone from strength to strength.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The quality of information in records written about children is good. However, some records are incomplete or difficult to find. This has the potential to have a negative impact on children who seek to read records about their time in the home in the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular reflective supervision. One staff member said they know what their development goals are and they praised managers for helping them to achieve those goals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team understands the home’s strengths and areas for development. They ensure that there is always an experienced staff member on shift to guide and lead new staff. This contributes to children’s protection and sense of security and provides opportunities for the development of new staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2736862 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 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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b)) 31 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI, as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so, if any of the following events take place or are expected by the registered person to take place—

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Requirement Due date

the premises of the home are significantly altered or extended, or additional premises are acquired. (Regulation 49 (g)) 31 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(xi)) 31 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2736862 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff help each child to prepare for any move from the home, whether they are returning home, moving to another placement or adult care, or to live independently. This includes supporting the child to develop emotional and mental resilience to cope without the home’s support and, when the child is moving to live independently, to develop practical skills such as cooking, housework, budgeting and personal self-care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2736862 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Ltd

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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

Sonata Brisley, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Helen Simmons, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: 2736862 8 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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