Children's Home run by Anderida Adolescent Care Ltd in East Sussex

Inspection report for children's home: SC028526 1 SC028526 Registered provider: Anderida Adolescent Care Ltd

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care for up to two children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. It is owned and run by a private organisation. At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since October 2018.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 25 October 2023

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC028526 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/10/2023 Full Good 31/03/2023 Full Good 07/09/2021 Full Outstanding 23/07/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC028526 3

p.2

improvement to be good

This area is judged as requires improvement, primarily due to shortfalls identified in this report that indicate children have not received consistent responses to areas of identified risk.

p.3

improvement to be good

The home is split across two houses. One house has recently been refurbished and the other is currently undergoing refurbishment and redecoration. Cleanliness and hygiene in the home are not maintained to a good standard. Children’s bedrooms and bathrooms are not routinely checked for cleanliness or hazards. This has resulted in managers and staff being unable to identify and reduce risks and remove items that could cause harm.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children know how to make a complaint. They are supported to share their views on things that are important to them. Staff take time to explore their wishes and the changes they would like to make in the home. When changes are required, children are kept informed of the progress that is being made so that they know that their views have influence.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children have fun. Staff encourage and support them to access activities and to develop individual interests. Activities provide opportunities for children to learn new skills, socialise and be part of their community. One child has been able to access equine therapy and from this has developed an interest in animal care.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children’s education is prioritised. Staff work closely with external professionals to identify the barriers to children engaging in education. Leaders and managers work with the local authority to ensure that children receive the assessments needed to understand their educational needs. While awaiting formal education opportunities, children are supported to engage in structured learning activities in the home and local community.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are supported to prepare for moving on from the home. The knowledgeable staff identify the skills and support children need to be independent. Children are involved in creating clear plans and identifying opportunities for their personal development. When plans to move on evoke feelings of worry or anxiety, children are supported to understand the changes and reassurance is given.

p.3

improvement to be good

Creative support strategies help children and staff to develop empathy in their relationships. When difficulties arise in relationships with peers or adults, a variety of strategies are used to help children and staff reflect on what needs to change. Staff use positive affirmation letters to help children explore the potential consequences of their actions and develop their self-esteem and self-worth. Inspection report for children's home: SC028526 4

p.3

improvement to be good

Complex care arrangements has resulted in the manager being unable to maintain effective oversight of risk management and behaviour support strategies. Shortfalls in the oversight of incidents, restraint and risk management have resulted in Ofsted not being notified of several incidents which have involved police intervention.

p.4

improvement to be good

Physical restraint is used to manage children’s behaviour. Children are provided with the opportunity to talk through the incident. However, managers do not routinely speak to staff about their use of restraint measures. There are some inconsistencies in the recording of incidents and records do not accurately reflect the behaviours that have led to the use of restraint. This compromises the registered manager’s ability to consider all factors relating to the use of restraint and to evaluate its proportionality and ensure safe practice.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children’s vulnerabilities are understood. A series of risk assessments and support plans provide guidance to staff on the interventions to use in response to issues such as self- harm, poor mental health and going missing. These plans outline relevant background that helps staff to understand children’s presenting needs. However, at times, children have received inconsistent responses to safeguarding incidents. On one occasion, a lack of preventative action from staff could have resulted in harm to a child.

p.4

improvement to be good

Room searches are carried out sensitively. When concerns are raised that children may be in possession of unsafe items, room searches are carried out promptly. Children are encouraged to be present or to provide consent to searches. Staff are considerate of children’s right to privacy, dignity and advocacy.

p.4

improvement to be good

Effective action is taken when allegations or concerns are raised. Managers take prompt action to ensure the relevant professionals are notified, and investigations and findings inform future practice. Children, social workers, staff and parents are kept informed of the outcomes of investigations.

p.4

improvement to be good

Safer recruitment practices are effective. Staff working in the home are checked to assess that they are suitable to work with children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not maintained effective systems to monitor and have oversight of the quality of care and the use of physical interventions. Monitoring systems that are in place to review care planning and incidents have not identified the shortfalls found.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive effective supervision that helps them to reflect on the impact of their work. Supervisions focus on the things that matter to children. However, supervision has not routinely been provided for staff or the registered manager in line with the organisation’s required timescales. As a result of this, staff have been unable to reflect on the changing Inspection report for children's home: SC028526 5 needs of children and managers have been unable to provide advice and guidance to ensure consistency in care and to update children’s relevant plans.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive mandatory training relevant to their role. Some essential training has not been completed in line with the organisation’s policies. New staff members are supported to engage in a range of learning opportunities to develop the knowledge required to meet the needs of children in the home. However, long-serving staff have not had opportunities to refresh their knowledge in areas such as mental health, managing self-harm and protecting children from risks of exploitation.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers are reflective and open to feedback. They recognise that the systems in place have not proved to be effective in ensuring the home continues to provide a good quality of care to children. They can identify improvements they need to make to the monitoring systems already in place and have plans to review these systems.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers are caring and child-focused. They take pride in the trusting relationships they build with staff, children and their families. Managers work effectively in partnership with external professionals to ensure they understand what external support is available to children in the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC028526 6

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi)(d)) 11 March 2025

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

p.6

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(ii)(b)(i)(ii)) 11 March 2025 Inspection report for children's home: SC028526 7 The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.6

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

p.7

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.7

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.7

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

p.7

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.7

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 11 March 2025

p.7

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.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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)) 8 April 2025

p.7

Recommendations

 The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs Inspection report for children's home: SC028526 8 of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)  The registered person should ensure that a record of supervision is kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

p.7

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: SC028526 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Anderida Adolescent Care Ltd

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Anderida Adolescent Care Ltd, Neville Mews, 6a Neville Road, Eastbourne BN22 8HR

p.9

Inspector

Georgia Carty, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC028526 10 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.9

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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10