Children's home run by West Sussex County Council

Inspection report for children’s home: SC037447 1 SC037447 Registered provider: West Sussex County Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to 16 children aged between five and 18 years with learning disabilities. This is a local authority home that provides short- and long-stay accommodation.

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Information about this children’s home

There were five children living at long-stay accommodation and three children staying at short-stay accommodation.

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Information about this children’s home

A suitably qualified manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2007.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 6 February 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC037447 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/02/2024 Full Outstanding 28/02/2023 Full Good 14/04/2021 Full Outstanding 02/09/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC037447 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive exceptional care during their short breaks and when living full time at the home. This is a result of staff knowing children exceedingly well, allowing them to provide personalised care. The relationships between children and staff are strong. This allows children to accept and respond positively to staff guidance and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home has been recently refurbished to a high standard. The garden, sensory rooms and play areas are purposely designed to provide safety and fun for children. Children’s bedrooms have different furnishings that are matched to each child’s needs and reflect their personalities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make significant progress from their starting points because staff are keenly focused on children’s development and their welfare. All children have individualised communication tools, and staff consistently encourage children to use them and expand their skills. Some children who used to spend most of their time in their wheelchairs have become increasingly confident in their own ability to walk unaided. Children’s diets expand because staff consistently encourage children to try new meals. Children’s sleep patterns have also improved. This leads to positive outcomes for children and helps them to meet their developmental milestones.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s admissions and discharges are remarkably well planned. This is because staff understand that working together with professionals, parents, schools and children is a significant element of this process. Before children move into the home, or start coming for short stays, they visit for lunches and sleepovers, and they get to know the staff working at the home. This ensures that each child receives tailored, individualised support. Children leaving the service enjoy memorable leaving parties and are not forgotten, as staff continue to visit them at their new homes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Comprehensive tools are used to gather children’s wishes and views, and this is at the core of staff practice. Staff design social stories for children that allow them to be prepared for activities, visitors and any changes in their daily routine. Children are consulted regularly, and their views are sought about their choices for activities. Children also attend regular clubs where they meet friends. As a result, children benefit socially and emotionally from their stays at this home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC037447 4 The positive impact of family time is well understood by staff. Children benefit from spending time with the people who are important to them. Staff work exceptionally well to facilitate these visits and offer excellent support to parents and families.

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

Children are protected from harm because staff understand their vulnerabilities. Joint working with parents and social workers leads to thorough care planning and the identification and reduction of risks. This helps children to feel safe and enjoy their time at the home.

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

Children’s plans, targets and risk assessments are clear. Staff’s knowledge and their understanding of children’s vulnerabilities allows them to contribute to children’s plans and helps them to identify the most appropriate strategies to support children. Positive and trusting relationships between children and staff mean that any incidents of children becoming upset or finding themselves in situations of potential risk are spotted early and prevented from escalating. Consequently, physical restraint is rarely required. It is only ever used as a last resort and at the least restrictive level.

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

The registered manager swiftly and capably addresses safeguarding concerns that occur. She works closely with safeguarding professionals including the local authority designated officer. Social workers talk positively about the registered manager and trust her to safeguard children.

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

Recruitment practices are very strong. The registered manager goes above and beyond to ensure that recruitment checks are thorough and applies the same standard to checks to agency staff who work at the home. This approach helps to prevent undesirable people from working with children.

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

Staff and the registered manager strongly advocate for children. They are extremely focused on children’s welfare and safety and escalate any concerns to appropriate agencies without delays.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has an ambitious vision for the service and for ensuring that children make the best possible progress. The registered manager is supported by three assistant managers who share the same passion and commitment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager understands the home’s strengths and weakness extremely well. She provides a supportive environment for staff, which helps them to develop and to reach their potential. This is achieved through regular supervisions and appraisals that focus on staff development. The registered manager focuses on reflective practice and positive challenge. Staff are well informed about their developmental goals and supported to achieve them. This leads to outstanding care being provided to children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC037447 5 The strong culture of safeguarding children is promoted in all staff meetings and new research is shared to further strengthen staff practice. Children’s individual focused meetings are effective and ensure good oversight of children’s goals and the progress that they are making towards them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations have been made at this inspection. Staff provide excellent care for children who attend short breaks or live at the home full time. Inspection report for children’s home: SC037447 6

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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: SC037447 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: West Sussex County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1RG

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Inspector

Sonata Brisley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC037447 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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