Children's Home run by My Choice Children’s Homes Limited in West Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 1 SC390785 Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to four children who may experience social, emotional or mental health difficulties. The provider operates several other homes in the region.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2018.

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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 good

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/07/2024 Full Good 03/01/2024 Full Good 21/02/2023 Full Good 09/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make exceptional progress because staff have formed secure relationships with them. In some cases, this has taken a considerable amount of time. For one child, the staff team’s tenacity has enabled them to trust adults. The child has grown in confidence and has begun to speak about their feelings. Staff use key-work sessions to have meaningful conversations about issues that are important to children. These sessions also help to strengthen relationships between children and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s views, wishes and feelings are given high priority. Children’s voices are heard, and their preferences are always considered when making decisions about care, activities and meals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff show consideration and kindness towards the children and each other. This contributes towards the ‘family feel’ of the home and the supportive team culture. Interactions between children and adults are warm and nurturing, and children are treated with unconditional love and care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s healthcare needs are managed very well. There is clear documentation to ensure that children’s medication is administered safely and that there is close liaison with external agencies and healthcare professionals. On occasions when children are fearful or reluctant to attend health appointments, staff are relentless in their support to help them reconsider. One child’s phobia of the dentist has emerged recently, and staff have sought therapeutic input to provide the child with additional support to attend their next appointment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are encouraged to participate in various activities. For example, some children enjoy going to gymnastics club at school, and others enjoy going to the gym every day. This helps to keep children physically fit and has had a positive impact on their mental health. It has given some children more positive ambitions for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All children attend education suited to their individual needs and care plans. Most of the children also access and engage in therapy and have regular contact with their families. One child requested additional family time, and they now enjoy time on their own with their parent, which has improved their relationship. Another child enjoys activities and events with their siblings, who live in the organisation’s other homes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children thrive because they experience stability at this home, including in the senior leadership team, the management team and the staff team. Children speak very highly of the care and support that they receive. They say that they feel safe and well looked after.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home environment is warm and welcoming. Children’s bedrooms are personalised, with displays of certificates and achievements on the walls. Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 4 While the registered manager and staff are strong advocates for the children, the children have not been offered their own advocates. Children have not been affected by this, but it is a missed opportunity for them to learn that they can receive support from an independent adult.

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

Children become increasingly safe because staff get to know them well and understand how to support them when they are struggling to manage their emotions. Staff make effective use of de-escalation strategies, and this has reduced the frequency of behavioural incidents. Staff have not used physical intervention since the last inspection.

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

The registered manager’s review of incidents is reflective. Potential triggers for children are identified, and guidance is provided to staff about adapting their approach to reduce the risk of a recurrence. Support for children post-incident is delivered in an empathetic way, giving the child the opportunity to reflect on the incident and how they were feeling at the time. This helps children to identify safer ways of expressing themselves.

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

The culture of the home is that mistakes happen, but they can be learned from, without any fear of judgement or chastisement. Children have occasionally expressed fear of having to leave the home when things have gone wrong. However, the manager and staff team are deeply committed to ensuring that children feel loved and wanted. This gives children a deep sense of belonging.

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

Staff understand the risks and vulnerabilities of the children and respond to any safeguarding concerns swiftly. Staff work in line with safeguarding policies and escalate concerns to children’s professional networks when necessary. As a result, children receive effective wraparound care and support.

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

Recruitment practices are thorough and follow safer recruitment principles. This ensures that children are cared for by adults who are suitably experienced and of good character.

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

Children’s use of the internet is closely monitored through parental controls. As a result, children can access the internet safely in the home. However, children are not provided with sufficient support about how to stay safe online, and this has the potential to make them unsafe when they are away from the home and in the future.

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

Prevention of incidents is an important theme in children’s care plans and risk assessments. Children rarely go missing, but when they do, staff follow protocols and liaise with relevant professionals to ensure the safe return of the child as soon as possible. On occasion, managers have failed to notify Ofsted about serious incidents. Although incidents that have been notified to Ofsted have been managed well, failing to notify Ofsted of some incidents limits the regulator’s ability to monitor the management response. Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is fiercely ambitious about what the children and staff team can achieve. Being looked after by a consistent group of adults has created a solid foundation for children, and they are thriving in all areas of their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff report feeling valued and supported by the registered manager. The registered manager and staff speak passionately about giving children the best quality of care and helping them reach their full potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is an open and honest culture that promotes the message that there is always room for learning and development. Everyday practice, formal supervision sessions, and team meetings are extremely reflective and focused on improving children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff training and input from therapists equip staff with a trauma-informed approach to meeting children’s needs. When they are ready, staff are actively encouraged and supported to progress to more senior roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is committed to ensuring children’s welfare and safety. They support children in understanding their behaviour and potential consequences and help them learn to identify the triggers. The registered manager does not give up on children who might challenge the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager uses robust quality assurance processes and has highly effective oversight of the home. There is a strong senior leadership team available for support. The responsible individual spends lots of time with the children and knows them extremely well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The independent person, who visits monthly, does not spend sufficient time with the children to ensure that they are capturing children’s views on the care that they receive. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that the visitor has a well-rounded view of children’s experiences. Leaders are aware of this shortfall and are taking steps to address it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager models effective, proactive and consistent collaboration with external professionals. Relationships between the home and children’s professional networks and children’s families are transparent and mutually supportive. This has resulted in excellent partnership working to provide the best outcomes for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 6

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Statutory requirement

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.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (2)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b)) 26 August 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all children have access to appropriate advocacy support, and where possible, this should be provided by a person chosen by the child. Looked-after children are entitled to an independent advocate to advise them and ensure that they have the support needed to express their views, wishes and feelings about their care and lives. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.16)  The registered person should ensure that children are supported in accessing the internet safely. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.19)  The registered person should notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in Regulation 40(4)(a)-(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home that the

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 7 registered person considers to be serious (40(4)(e)). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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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: SC390785 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3a Mill Green Business Estate, Mill Green Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1XQ

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Inspector

Emma Haskell, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 9 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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