Children's Home run by Supercare Residential Ltd in East Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home: 2778271 1 Registered provider: SuperCare Residential Ltd 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 with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 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

Date of last inspection: 26 November 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2778271 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/11/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2778271 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last full inspection, one child has left the home. This decision was made in the best interests of the child and to ensure that they could live in a home where their needs could be better met. The decision was not taken lightly and could not have been predicted before the child moved into this home. The manager and staff were able to identify a more suitable home that would best suit the child’s needs to achieve longer- term stability. The manager worked with the child’s professional network to ensure that the move was as positive as possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Before children move into the home, their needs and staff’s skills are carefully considered to ensure that each child is best placed in the home and that their needs can be met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Despite only living in the home for a relatively short period, the children have made educational, emotional and behavioural progress. This is because they receive consistent and reliable care that helps them feel safe and secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are not currently in education. However, the company has a dedicated in- house tutor who successfully advocates with other agencies to meet the children’s educational needs. Appropriate school provisions are being identified for some children. While children are waiting for educational arrangements to be agreed, tutoring is provided as a short-term measure. Children enjoy the tutoring sessions and are making progress from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children can voice their views and opinions in different ways, including through key-work sessions and feedback forms. Furthermore, each child has an advocate to ensure that their voice is heard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met, and they attend all primary health appointments. Medication is understood well, and staff are clear on the medical protocols that they must follow to meet the children’s health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities and are developing relationships with each other. For some children, this is a significant achievement, and they are benefiting from a stable home environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support family time and do all they can to enable the children to develop positive relationships with family members. When appropriate, the dedicated therapy team works with parents to help support them in making their child’s time at the home as successful as possible. Inspection report for children’s home: 2778271 4

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

When children make allegations against staff, the manager takes appropriate steps to safeguard all parties and to keep them updated with the progress of any subsequent actions taken. Unacceptable staff conduct is addressed, meaning that there is a commitment to ensuring that only suitable and appropriate staff work in the home. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of how to respond should they be concerned about staff practice, and they are confident about taking action to keep children safe should this be necessary.

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

Managers promote a safeguarding culture in the home, keeping safeguarding at the forefront of practice. Regular discussions during supervision sessions test staff’s safeguarding knowledge and ensure that they are up to date with current practice.

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

Physical interventions are used only when necessary and for the minimum length of time. Staff use the positive relationships they have with the children to de-escalate situations. A dedicated therapy team provides guidance to staff, giving them the strategies they need to manage behaviours and risks. These interventions are effective and have resulted in a reduction in incidents, as well as children learning to manage their emotions more effectively.

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

Consequences are not used to manage children’s behaviour. Staff reward positive behaviours, and they use reward charts to motivate children to make better choices or carry out daily tasks. This approach is effective and helps children to develop consistent and constructive routines.

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

Staff understand children’s individual needs and know how to support them. Clear guidance is in place to help staff respond to children’s individual needs. Children receive a high level of staff support, but this is managed sensitively to prevent children from feeling that their personal space is not respected.

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

Children have not gone missing from the home. However, protocols are in place should this happen.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the children well. He is child focused and has the children at the forefront of his practice. He recognises the progress children make and has high aspirations for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is relatively new to care, following recent staffing changes and the home going through a period of recruitment. Despite these changes, there are sufficient staff to support children, supplemented using consistent agency staff when needed. Staff feel supported. They receive excellent guidance from the manager, and they focus on enabling children to thrive. Inspection report for children’s home: 2778271 5 Parents and social workers compliment the achievements of the staff and managers over such a short length of time. Managers are quick to secure the professional help that children need, as they have access to in-house resources, including therapists, a dietitian and a tutor.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s monitoring and review systems are effective. He reviews incidents and considers the responses from staff. He seeks to understand children’s behaviour and what they are trying to communicate. The manager has appointed a new independent person to provide better external oversight and scrutiny and help further develop practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Specialist training is provided to staff to ensure that they understand and can meet the children’s individual needs. This also gives parents confidence that staff will care for their children well and meet their needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2778271 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: 2778271 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SuperCare Residential Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 to 4 Packhorse Road, Gerrards Cross SL9 7QE

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Inspector

Lisa O’Donovan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2778271 8 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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