Children's Home run by Autism Sussex Ltd in Bexley

Inspection report for children’s home: 1264841 1 Registered provider: Autism Sussex Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a charitable organisation on behalf of the local authority and provides short-break services for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There are currently 31 children accessing the service on a rotational basis.

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children staying at the home for short breaks at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in December 2017.

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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: 28 January 2025

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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: 1264841 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/01/2025 Full Good 13/12/2023 Full Good 07/03/2023 Full Good 25/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1264841 3

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outstanding

Children thrive in a warm and welcome environment, where they form trusting relationships with staff. These relationships are built on mutual respect and genuine affection, creating a nurturing atmosphere where interactions reflect real care and dedication.

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outstanding

Parents consistently commend the exceptional progress their children make during their short-break stays at the home. They praise the strong, nurturing relationships that staff build with the children and highlight the team’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that each child feels welcomed, cared for and genuinely enjoys their time at the home.

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outstanding

Children benefit from individualised care plans that are designed to meet their needs to an exceptional standard. These plans are continually refined, informed by a thorough analysis of each child’s progress in achieving their individual goals. As a result, the support provided evolves to align with the child’s changing needs.

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outstanding

Parents review all areas of their child’s care, which helps ensure that there is consistency between home and when their child stays for their short breaks.

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outstanding

During children’s short-break stays, they get to access a wide range of enriching activities to reflect their personal interests and hobbies. Staff demonstrate creativity and dedication in supporting children to participate in experiences they had previously found challenging. Families have seen meaningful progress, including significant milestones, such as children attending school in uniform for the first time.

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outstanding

Children develop exceptional relationships with staff, which were clearly evident during the inspection. Staff communicate effectively using each child’s preferred methods of communication, ensuring that every interaction is personalised and respectful. They are highly attuned to children’s emotional states, quickly recognising signs of distress and responding with calm, caring gestures and reassuring language. This sensitive and skilled approach helps children to feel safe, understood and emotionally supported.

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outstanding

Transitions for children beginning their short-break stays are managed exceptionally well. Each child’s needs are carefully considered to ensure that they are supported in maintaining the friendships they have developed while staying at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1264841 4

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outstanding

Staff demonstrate an excellent understanding of children’s needs and associated risks. Risk and behaviour are managed effectively, supported by comprehensive risk assessments and behaviour management plans. These plans appropriately identify areas of children’s vulnerabilities and clearly outline the actions required to mitigate and minimise risk.

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outstanding

Children are treated with dignity and respect. Staff provide skilled and sensitive personal care, tailored to each child’s cultural background, communication preferences and dietary requirements.

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outstanding

There is highly effective multi-agency planning in place to safeguard children. Managers demonstrate strong planning for children who come to stay for short breaks at the home, ensuring that staff, parents, key professionals and the children themselves are fully consulted and involved in the process.

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outstanding

There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home, reflecting the strength of the care and supervision provided.

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outstanding

The manager has secured research-informed physical intervention training, specifically designed for children with additional needs. This innovative and creative approach reflects a commitment to good practice.

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outstanding

Since the last inspection, there have been no physical interventions or use of consequences. Staff are highly responsive to the complex needs of the children, using positive strategies to de-escalate potential incidents effectively. This proactive approach ensures that children are supported in a calm, respectful and emotionally attuned environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is ambitious, creative and deeply committed to delivering exceptional care. They lead the home with thoughtfulness and compassion, fostering a culture where children’s needs, voices and aspirations are at the heart of every decision. Their vision is clearly shared by the staff team, which works collaboratively to achieve consistently positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have fostered a reflective and learning-focused environment, where staff feel empowered and supported to engage in meaningful self-reflection. This culture of continuous improvement is underpinned by access to a wide range of high-quality, specialist training, enabling staff to deepen their professional knowledge and confidently meet the complex and evolving needs of the children they support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager sets high expectations for the staff team, driven by a strong belief in each child’s potential. Their leadership inspires a shared commitment to improving Inspection report for children’s home: 1264841 5 the lives of children through nurturing relationships, personalised care and a relentless focus on quality.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A key strength of the manager’s approach is their dedication to inclusive and collaborative practice. They work proactively to build strong relationships with children, families and professionals, ensuring that care is not only consistent but also responsive and child centred. This results in a home environment where children feel safe, valued and empowered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular supervision that is focused on meeting the children’s needs and receiving feedback on the quality of their practice. Staff are encouraged to be part of all aspects of the home. This is well demonstrated in supervision records and team meeting minutes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers are keen to promote accountability. There is evidence of staff being challenged through their supervision. Staff members comment that they find supervision helpful and say that the manager is ‘amazing and supportive’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has fostered excellent working relationships with external agencies, demonstrating a strong understanding of the legislation and frameworks necessary to deliver high-quality care to children. Their proactive approach ensures that practice remains aligned with current standards and good practice guidance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager vigorously advocates the best interests of children. They confidentialy challenge both professionals and parents when needed, ensuring that the child’s voice remains central to all decision-making processes. This unwavering commitment to child-centred care reflects the manager’s dedication to promoting positive outcomes and safeguarding children’s rights.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

One area requiring minor improvement is the development of the workforce plan, to ensure that all aspects of staff training, qualifications and professional development are formally captured in the required record. Inspection report for children’s home: 1264841 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a workforce plan that can fulfil the workforce- related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1. The plan should include details of the staffing structure, the experience and qualifications of any training completed by staff to enable the delivery of the home’s statement of purpose. There should be agreed timescales for staff to achieve their induction, probation and any core training, such as safeguarding, health and safety and mandatory qualifications. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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: 1264841 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sussex House, 19 High Street, Battle TN33 0AE

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Inspector

Helen Daniel, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1264841 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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