Children's home run by Chailey Heritage Foundation

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC396813 1 SC396813

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Registered provider: Chailey Heritage Foundation

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a charity. It provides care for up to 27 children with profound physical disabilities, sensory impairments and complex medical needs who may also have special educational needs and/or disabilities. At the time of the inspection, 13 children were staying in the three bungalows. This includes children who live at the home long term and those who attend for weekly boarding and short breaks.

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Information about this children’s home

A non-maintained special school is also on site, catering for children and young people aged three to 19 years. Adults receive residential care in Care Quality Commission-registered homes on the same site. A team of nurses, therapists and specialists, provided by Sussex Community Foundation Trust, is also based on site and provides medical support. The inspector only inspected the social care provision at this setting.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2024.

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Inspection date: 9 October 2024

Date of last inspection: 7 November 2023

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Inspection date: 9 October 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC396813 2

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC396813 3

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are looked after by staff who provide them with good-quality, nurturing care. Managers and staff are deeply committed to ensuring that children’s welfare is at the centre of their work. This is especially true during difficult times. A child who lived at the home has recently passed away. Staff are receiving good-quality support from managers, and this enables them to provide individualised support to children to help them come to terms with the loss of a friend.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have invested time and energy into making sure that decisions to use CCTV and equipment that restricts children’s access to parts of the home are subject to regular and meaningful review. Children’s plans are clear about why the measures are needed to ensure children’s safety and about the other options that have been considered. Staff who know children well are part of the process and ensure that children’s views are integral to the decisions that are made.

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Findings from the inspection

When safeguarding concerns arise, managers act swiftly to ensure children’s safety. They carry out thorough investigations, involving external safeguarding agencies as necessary.

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Findings from the inspection

Recruitment procedures have been strengthened to reduce the risk of unsafe adults being employed to work at the home. The team of staff responsible for this area of practice create clear records, and the registered manager has oversight to assure herself that all relevant checks have been completed.

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Findings from the inspection

All staff, including agency staff, receive supervision regularly. As a result, managers can be confident that staff know how to safely care for children in line with their care and support plans. The registered manager is taking steps to ensure that records of agency staff supervision are completed to a consistently high standard. Positively, the use of agency staff has been streamlined so that children are looked after by as few different adults as possible.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager makes excellent use of management monitoring systems to ensure that she has well-rounded knowledge of the quality of care that children receive and the impact it is having on their outcomes. Monitoring and oversight systems are adjusted when they are not providing the registered manager with assurance that processes continue to be effective. For example, the registered manager now reviews all children’s plans to make sure that they are updated regularly and clearly describe how staff should care for children and keep them safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Working in partnership with external professionals is given high priority. In one example, managers are liaising with medical professionals involved with a child who is currently in hospital. This is to ensure that the child can return home as soon as Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC396813 4 possible and that staff have the knowledge and skills that they need to safely meet their changing needs. External professionals speak very positively about the standard of care that children receive and the excellent communication from managers.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/11/2023 Full Good 30/11/2022 Full Good 21/09/2021 Full Good 13/08/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC396813 5

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Chailey Heritage Foundation

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Inspector

Helen Simmons, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC396813 6 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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

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