Children's Home run by Springfield Road Children’s Homes Ltd in East Sussex

Inspection report for children's home: SC412296 1 SC412296 Registered provider: Springfield Road Children's Homes 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 owned and run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 4 children who may have social, emotional and mental health difficulties needs. There were 3 children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2025.

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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: 11 December 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC412296 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/12/2024 Full Good 12/03/2024 Full Good 28/09/2022 Full Outstanding 21/04/2021 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC412296 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have left the home since the last inspection. Staff provided positive endings for these children, and their moves out of the home were well planned. This helped one child develop skills they needed to become more independent. For the other child, this helped them to return to their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in an environment that is well maintained and homely. Children's bedrooms have been decorated since the last inspection, and this gives the home a child-focused feel. Staff know children well and speak about them fondly. The interactions between staff and children are warm and natural.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are creative in encouraging children to participate in activities. This has led to improved social outcomes for children. One child's involvement in rollerblading has enabled them to form a friendship. This has helped improve their confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are consistently supported to engage in education. One child does not attend school. Managers have been proactive in working with education professionals to find the best provision for this child. One child receives regular tutoring. This is helping them to improve their life skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have made extensive efforts to form positive relationships with one child's family. As a result, they trust the staff and feel confident and content in the care their child receives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence. One child enjoys cooking and baking with staff. Children's access to snacks is restricted by staff. This limits opportunities for children to develop independence in managing their own choices.

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

Staff understand children's safety and wellbeing needs. They take extensive measures to protect one child who is vulnerable to exploitation. Staff demonstrate an understanding of the child by adapting their approach and liaising effectively with multiple agencies. Staff are diligent and work as a team to safeguard this child and the other children in the home effectively.

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

Staff support children when they go missing from home. They follow protocols and collaborate closely with the police and other agencies. Staff take proactive steps to locate children, return them home safely and work with them to reduce risks of exploitation. Staff have created relationships with children's professional networks and know who to contact and update when children go missing from home, ensuring a multi- agency approach to managing these risks. Inspection report for children's home: SC412296 4 Staff regularly talk to children about everyday risks, helping to build their awareness of these. However, staff do not always talk to children to reflect on learning following incidents or about keeping safe online.

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

Risk assessments and care plans are kept up to date and compiled with support from other professionals. However, risk assessments are generalised and lack specific details relating to risks to children. On occasion, this has prevented staff from managing incidents effectively due to the risk assessments not providing clear guidance.

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

Staff receive behaviour management training to help them manage incidents and use restraint as a last resort to keep children and others safe when needed. Staff have a good knowledge of individual risks and are quick to notice changes in children's behaviour. Despite this, on one occasion, staff lacked the confidence to manage and physically intervene during an incident. There was no impact on the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home's manager is new to this position and has recently registered with Ofsted. The manager has a clear vision for the development of the home and has plans in place for the improvement of oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high aspirations for children and is a strong advocate for them. She listens to children's views and escalates concerns if responses from partner agencies are not satisfactory. This ensures that children receive the right support that meets their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has fostered a stable staff team that feels able to share its views. There is no use of agency staff, and there are minimal staff changes. This means that children benefit from continuity of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from social workers is positive. One child's social worker stated, 'The home is everything for the child.' Another social worker said, 'The child is starting to understand and identify [their] feelings since moving here.'

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular, reflective supervision that helps them to do their job well. There is a culture of reflective practice during staff handovers. This has helped the team to constantly develop its practice in the home. Staff enjoy their job and are committed to the wellbeing of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Any low-level staff concerns are addressed by the manager in an appropriate and time- efficient manner. This helps encourage staff to reflect on what has happened. The manager shows professional curiosity and is diligent in her approach. Inspection report for children's home: SC412296 5

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Statutory requirements

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

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that there is consistent management oversight of incidents to identify any required actions and learning and support needs of staff and children, and that staff are confident in what action to take if a child is at risk. 28 February 2025 Inspection report for children's home: SC412296 6 Specifically, the registered person should ensure that risk assessments and safety plans are detailed and summarised in a way that makes it clear what action staff should take if a child is at risk.

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children's home's premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child's privacy or access to any area of the home's premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that decisions to limit a child's access to any area of the home are only made where this is intended to safeguard the child's welfare. This includes keeping clear records of why restrictions are in place, and that case managers are in agreement with the arrangements. 31 January 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should consider how and when they support and monitor children's internet access to help them use the internet safely. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 29, paragraph 5.19)

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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 Inspection report for children's home: SC412296 7 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: SC412296 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Springfield Road Children's Homes Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 5 Cornfield Terrace, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 4NN

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Inspectors

Steph McDonald, Social Care Inspector Shirin White, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC412296 9 regulates 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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