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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 1 SC390785 Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home that provides care for up to four children who may experience social, emotional or mental health difficulties. The provider operates several other homes within the region. There were four children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since January 2018.

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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 requires improvement to be 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/01/2024 Full Good 21/02/2023 Full Good 09/02/2022 Full Good 01/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living at this home and have developed positive and trusting relationships with staff. Interactions between children and staff are relaxed, fun and natural. Children seek out staff to spend time with them and share their views, wishes and feelings. Regular home meetings provide further opportunity for consultation with children. As a result, children feel listened to and understood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has moved into the home since the last inspection. Leaders and managers ensured that the child’s needs were carefully assessed, and their risks understood. The needs and views of other children already living in the home were sensitively considered against the presenting needs and risk of the new child. When the child did move into the home, they received a warm welcome, as their arrival was celebrated with a moving-in party. This ensured that all children had positive experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress with their education. One child who recently moved into the home is enrolled at a local school and is attending full time. When children are not accessing formal education, their specific needs are carefully considered to inform individualised plans. As a result, two children who have experienced gaps in their learning have both begun to access home tutoring that is suitable to their learning needs. Plans are kept under review to ensure that access to education for children remains a priority.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are sensitively supported with their health needs and regularly attend planned medical appointments. When new health concerns arise, referrals are made to relevant services to ensure that children receive appropriate support. Children are encouraged to access activities outside of the home and to explore their interests. One child regularly attends a local gym with staff, promoting their physical and mental well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time with their families in line with agreed plans. Staff maintain effective communication with these family members and share information appropriately. Children are supported by staff to maintain positive relationships with their families and those who are important to them. One parent described the staff members as friendly and supportive, who understand the needs of their child well.

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improvement to be good

Safer recruitment processes have not been consistently followed. This resulted in a new member of staff working with children without a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in place. Although immediate action was taken to withdraw the member of staff from the home until a valid DBS check is in place, this shortfall compromised the safety of children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 4 Children live in a comfortable home. There is suitable space for children to relax, play and eat together. However, one child’s bedroom had a broken blind and a stained mattress. Although action was taken to address this, there are some further maintenance issues in the home and garden that also need to be resolved.

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improvement to be good

Staff promote positive behaviour and children are encouraged to be respectful towards each other. When conflict has occurred, staff take action to support children and encourage them to reflect on their behaviour. There have been no incidents requiring physical intervention. However, children’s plans do not contain enough information to inform staff of appropriate de-escalation strategies in supporting children’s behaviour.

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improvement to be good

Children rarely go missing from home. When they do, there is an effective response from staff, who will search the local area and notify relevant authorities. The registered manager ensures that independent return home interviews are completed in line with statutory guidance. Trusting relationships between children and staff promote a positive and safe environment. As a result, one child has stopped going missing from home.

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improvement to be good

Leaders, the registered manager and staff respond appropriately when safeguarding concerns arise. There is a focus on learning when improvements to safeguarding responses are identified. There have been no allegations of harm made by children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is overseen by an experienced and passionate registered manager. He is supported effectively in his role by senior leaders. The registered manager understands the needs and progress of children well. Children trust the registered manager and will share their worries or concerns with him.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a strong understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. Monitoring systems in place enable the manager to maintain effective oversight of activity in the home. The registered manager has made improvements in the quality of written records and documents within the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager works closely with external professionals to ensure that there is a joined-up approach in supporting children. There is good communication with external professionals and information is shared appropriately. One professional spoke positively about how the registered manager advocates for children during meetings and the timeliness of sharing reports.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a consistent core staff team in place, which further strengthens positive relationships with children. Staff are supported by the registered manager and receive regular practice-based supervision sessions. Children’s needs are central to conversations. Staff enjoy working in the home and value the importance of their role in supporting children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 5 Staff attend regular training to ensure ongoing professional development. Staff have completed training in specific areas relevant to children’s individual needs. This ensures that children receive care and support from a skilled and knowledgeable staff team. Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 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 recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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) (3)(d)) 30 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. 30 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 7 (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vii)(c)(i))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies in line with the child’s relevant plans. Specifically, plans should provide more detail around preventative and de-escalation strategies to support children’s behaviour. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13)

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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: SC390785 8

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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: Unit 3a, Mill Green Business Estate, Mill Green Road, Haywards Heath RH16 1XQ

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Inspector

Chris Warren, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 9 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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