Children's home run by Southern Adolescent Care Services Ltd in Crawley

Inspection report for children’s home: SC038522 1 SC038522 Registered provider: Southern Adolescent Care Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

Little Trees is a privately own children’s home and is registered to provide care for up to three children. The home provides care for children with social and emotional difficulties up to the age of 18. There were two 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 October 2024.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC038522 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2023 Full Good 17/10/2022 Full Good 03/11/2021 Full Good 29/07/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC038522 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The relationships between the children and staff are positive. They are characterised by natural and genuine interactions. Staff’s approach is empathetic and playful, while setting clear boundaries. This supports the children to feel comfortable to talk to staff about sensitive topics and worries. Children say they trust staff to support them when they need it. For example, one child sought advice from staff about her personal relationships and challenges in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to see their families and those who are important to them. Staff update parents regularly about the progress of the children. One parent was very complimentary about staff and their child’s progress since moving to the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well met. Children attend all primary health care appointments and actions from health assessments are followed up to ensure children’s health needs are prioritised. Children are supported to administer their own medication when appropriate to do so, to encourage their independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use a therapeutic approach to care for the children. Staff and children have access to a wide range of specialist support, including clinical psychologists. This helps staff to better understand the children’s needs and keep them safe. It also supports children to access therapeutic support if needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress and have positive life experiences. Staff support children to engage in their hobbies and interests, including horse riding and volunteering at a dog shelter.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are passionate about supporting children to access education and achieve their hopes, future careers and dreams. The manager has advocated for one child to secure a college placement in line with their interests. When it is not possible to access mainstream education, the children use the company’s own educational resources, such as online tutoring. This meets children’s educational needs while waiting for a suitable school placement. Children learn to become more independent (such as learning to cook, budget and clean), which is strengthening the children’s opportunities for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is clean, well maintained and has a homey feel. Children’s rooms are decorated to their liking.

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

Staff keep children safe and take children’s concerns seriously. They know the children well and support them to manage their emotions and behaviour. Children feel protected, including when they experience distress, anger or unwanted behaviours. There is a good risk assessment process, planning and joint working with professionals before children move in. A director of children’s services was positive about the planning prior to a child Inspection report for children’s home: SC038522 4 moving to the home and also shared that staff ‘are calm, kind, consistent and trauma informed. This is exactly what the [child] needs’.

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

Key-work sessions are informative for children. They are recorded in a child friendly way and written to the children rather than about them. Staff explore topics that are relevant to each child to help them learn to make safer life choices. These topics include relationships, sexual health issues, going missing from home and keeping safe online. For example, a child was able to decline peer pressure because of the support they had received from staff.

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

There has been minimal physical intervention since the last inspection. When restraints are used, this is as a last resort to keep children and others safe. The incidents are well documented, and the rationale of the restraint is explained. Staff are trained in the home’s preferred model of de-escalation and restraint practice.

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

There is a high number of safeguarding and missing from home incidents in this home. This is linked to the children’s vulnerabilities and complex needs. There is excellent multi- agency work, including the police, social workers and other external professional agencies, and this is one of the manager’s and staff’s strengths.

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

Risk assessments and behavioural support plans are informative. They guide staff on how to manage risk. There is good management oversight. The risk assessments are updated regularly and in line with the children’s changing needs, behaviours and known risks. Some incident reports do not detail management actions, particularly when there are allegations against staff. However, the internal investigations are robust and well documented.

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

When there are staff practice concerns, the manager immediately addresses this to improve practice. Safer recruitment practices are good. This ensures that children are supported by safe adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced, highly skilled and aspirational for children. Since managing the home, she has provided the staff and children with stability. Staff feel that the manager offers clear guidance of her expectations to ensure that children receive good quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have the required training and skills to meet the children’s needs. As the children’s needs evolve and develop, additional training is provided to staff. This ensures that staff can continue to provide good quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers work with professionals to ensure that children’s needs are met. There is good use of the internal resources alongside multi-agency work. This enables the staff to adapt to challenges that arise. Professionals speak highly of the support and dedication of the manager and staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC038522 5 The manager is aware of the weaknesses and strengths within the home. She has good monitoring and quality assurance systems in place. These are tailored to the staff’s professional development needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported and valued. Supervision and appraisals are regular. Staff can access therapeutic support sessions, which enables them to better understand the children’s needs. The progression and training opportunities for staff are good. One member of staff said, ‘The support I have received both professionally and personally has been incredible.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC038522 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Incident reports should include actions the registered person will take to manage any assessed risks on a day- to-day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: SC038522 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Southern Adolescent Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Maybrook House, Third Floor, Queensway, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 4AH

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Callard

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Inspectors

Claudia Poienar, Social Care Inspector Lisa O’Donovan, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: SC038522 8 regulates and inspects 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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