Chichester College

Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Chichester College 1 Chichester College Chichester College, Avenue de Chartres, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1SB Inspection of residential provision Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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residential accommodation

The college offers a diverse range of technical, vocational, and academic courses. The college is currently accommodating 55 students in halls of residence on the main campus and a further 14 with local families through the homestay provision.

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outstanding

How well 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 college provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the college contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for young people.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 20 September 2022

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Chichester College 2

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: outstanding

Residential students benefit from having positive, caring and friendly relationships with staff. Interactions show that students have built strong relationships with staff over the academic year. The residential staff know the students incredibly well and seek to support them in all aspects of their education and living experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: outstanding

Student voices are integral to the day-to-day running of the college. Students can, and do, raise concerns directly with residential staff. In addition, there are a series of surveys that students can complete throughout the year, as well as individual welfare meetings that take place at least termly. There is an effective and influential student representative group specifically for residential students. Issues that are raised via delegated representatives are responded to effectively. The residential representatives also form part of an executive meeting, where wider college issues are discussed.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: outstanding

There are various activities available for residential students. In addition to activities and games in the accommodation, such as pool tables, games consoles, and organised group sessions, there is a gym and a well-furnished student union. Recently, an orchestra and art club have provided additional opportunities for students. There are also a range of off-site activities provided throughout the year, chosen following discussion with students. These have included paintball, trips to theme parks and film studios, and local activities, such as playing golf and spending time at the beach.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: outstanding

Support for students’ well-being is a particular strength of the provision. When students require additional support, a wide range of professionals ensure that they receive a bespoke, student-led response.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: outstanding

The welfare team ensures that students have access to a person who they feel confident and safe with in the provision. The welfare team also assists students in connecting with other support groups, including those that provide assistance to young carers. If necessary, students are supported in accessing local authority children's services and statutory mental health services. Bespoke assessments for students with additional needs consider both the residential environments and the specific risks or challenges that their course may pose. This means that students who may struggle physically, emotionally, or medically can still participate in the course they would like to take and are active members of the residential community.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: outstanding

Effective reporting mechanisms mean that students’ needs are identified quickly, and swift action is taken when necessary. Students are fully involved in this process and are encouraged to share their views. This additional support has helped students remain in their accommodation and complete their courses, even when they initially felt unable to do so. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Chichester College 3

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How well young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Residential students are confident in their environment and actively approach staff for support, knowing that they will be listened to. Through consultation and surveys, residential students consistently indicate that they feel safe both in the on-site accommodation and the wider college campus. Homestay students say that they feel safe and supported and have positive relationships with hosts.

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How well young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Residential students benefit from a proactive response to any safeguarding concerns. The safeguarding and welfare team has particularly strong oversight of all issues and ensures that students receive effective, well-coordinated support. Close liaison with the residential staff means that they are confident in how to support residential students if they are worried or upset. Welfare meetings provide a supportive environment where residential students can express any concerns that they may have.

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How well young people are helped and protected: outstanding

The safeguarding team is committed to ensuring students’ safety. The team works closely with the local authority designated officer if there are any concerns about staff or volunteers. Any concerns linked to contracted agency staff, such as catering and cleaning staff, are also managed effectively.

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How well young people are helped and protected: outstanding

The use of college community support officers (CCSO) provides an extra layer of safety. Students talk to these staff, who are more independent, about any concerns they may have. Joint working with the CCSOs and the local police means that there is an excellent understanding of any risks in the local community. Residential students are supported through various means to understand their own personal safety and how they can maintain this both on the college grounds and when they are out in the local area and further afield.

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How well young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Positive behaviour is encouraged. When students’ behaviour is of concern, a multi- agency meeting is held, with the students’ best interests at the centre of any decision-making. Strategies and targets are identified, all of which are designed to be achievable for students. All relevant staff are involved in this process, and staff are clear that these meetings are always about identifying solutions and making lives for students better. As a result of this oversight and comprehensive response, negative behaviour is minimal, and students rarely go missing.

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How well young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Health and safety processes are well managed. There are robust procedures and rigorous checks to ensure that the site is kept safe. There is a suitable plan for progression and further development of the residential areas.

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How well young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Safer recruitment practices for college staff and host families are robust. This ensures that students are protected from being looked after by unsuitable people. Responses to concerns or inappropriate behaviour by any adult are excellent, which means that students stay and learn in a safe environment. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Chichester College 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers lead by example and have extremely high expectations for the quality of residential students’ academic and lived experiences. Residential staff are proud of the work they do and the outcomes that students achieve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Governors have an active role across the campuses and are confident in providing critical oversight and challenge when necessary. There is a clear focus on student experience, and their views are sought to inform any developments.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff in the residential accommodation are supported by a strong senior leadership team that understands the pressures of their roles. Staff benefit from regular supervision and appraisals, as well as a wide range of training opportunities, which assist them in meeting students’ individual needs and enhancing their experience living at the college.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Host families say that they feel well prepared to take care of students. Hosts are unanimously positive about the support they receive from staff. They know who to go to should they need support and guidance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Monitoring systems are comprehensive and focus on students’ experiences. Students’ voices are central to any changes and developments. Streamlining records and information has led to a better understanding of students’ views, identifying when changes are needed and swiftly acting on these. For example, food tasting sessions are provided to determine students’ preferences for the canteen. Additionally, staff are trained and equipped to offer a wide range of enrichment activities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders ensure that there is strong and reflective evaluation of the services provided throughout the residential provision. The college core beliefs and values are actively promoted and form part of the evaluation, which is reflective of the service provided. Staff are ambitious for any student who attends the residential provision, no matter how short the course and their stay. The head of accommodation is constantly striving to ensure that residential students have the best experience possible. This is reflected by how enthusiastic students are and the number of them who recommend the college to their friends.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders have strong links with other professionals, particularly in relation to student health and well-being. Links with child and adolescent mental health services, local police, the mental health charity that provides counselling at the college, and specialist health services ensure that all students receive the care and support they require. Leaders challenge partner agencies if they do not feel they are making decisions that are in students’ best interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Understanding difference is central to the leadership of the provision. Students who feel that they have experienced discrimination report being well supported. They feel that the staff do all they can to re-educate students and help them understand Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Chichester College 5 differences. There are excellent support services for students with additional needs. These ensure that they have equal access to the courses that they would like to study.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff work consistently and effectively to make the college an inclusive place to stay and study. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Chichester College 6

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Children Act 1989 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 national minimum standards. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Chichester College 7

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accommodation details

Social care unique reference number: SC042625

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Inspectors

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Inspector Mark Newington, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Chichester College 8 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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