Children's home run by Rubicon Children and Family Services Ltd in Lewes

Inspection report for children’s home: SC403905 1 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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SC403905 Registered provider: Rubicon Children and Family Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and provides care for up to 5 children. It specialises in supporting children who may have diagnoses of moderate learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or autism and who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 5 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2019.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC403905 2 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2025 Full Outstanding 14/11/2023 Full Good 28/02/2023 Full Good 05/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC403905 3 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children in this home consistently make exceptional progress. They are supported by staff who know them extremely well and are committed to providing strong and outstanding care. Staff demonstrate genuine warmth and pride in the children in their care, which is reflected in the respectful and positive way they speak to and about them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children who had previously experienced several moves before moving into the home are settled, secure and flourishing. Their progress from their individual starting points is exceptional, sustained and clearly evidenced across key areas of development. The therapeutic approach adopted by leaders and managers is deeply embedded in practice and in the culture of the home. This approach is evident in plans for the children, as well as the interactions between staff and children, resulting in tangible and positive emotional and behavioural outcomes for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Transitions into the home are individualised and meticulously planned. When children move on, they are supported with unwavering advocacy and care that mirrors that of a committed and nurturing parent. Children are exceptionally well prepared for future transitions, with carefully planned, child-focused work that promotes stability and emotional readiness.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children who were previously disengaged from education are now successfully and meaningfully re-engaged, attending full time and developing a renewed enjoyment of learning. Others are making strong progress, including attending college and developing aspirational plans for their futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The work by the staff in repairing and strengthening familial relationships is a notable strength. Thoughtful life-story and therapeutic work support children to process their experiences and rebuild meaningful connections. Staff extend their support beyond the child to actively engage families, facilitating restorative conversations and helping parents to acknowledge and repair past experiences, which promotes healing and long- term relational stability.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The team of staff are strong advocates for children and challenge partner agencies to ensure that they receive the right services at the right time, often being the driving force behind requesting support services and specialist assessments for children when these become needed. Partner agency working is purposeful, well-coordinated and outcome- focused, contributing to sustained improvements in children’s health, education and emotional wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Feedback from a range of stakeholders is consistently complimentary about the standard of care provided. Professionals state that the needs and outcomes of children are placed firmly at the centre of practice. One team manager, who supports two of the children living in the home, says that their experience of joint working is overwhelmingly positive Inspection report for children’s home: SC403905 4 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

and that their children receive excellent care, noting that leadership is particularly strong.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Family members speak overwhelmingly positively about the care provided to their children. Families recognise that their children are receiving high-quality and nurturing care and describe their children as experiencing ‘a home from home’. They particularly value staff’s commitment to maintaining relationships and the regular, meaningful communication that keeps them informed about their child’s daily experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Research-informed practice is increasingly and purposefully embedded across the service and is carefully aligned to the specific needs of individual children. This drives practical, evidence-based adaptations to day-to-day care that positively influence children’s experiences and outcomes. As a result, practice is dynamic, reflective and evolving to better meet the changing and complex needs of the children.

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

Safeguarding practice is exceptionally strong, systematic, and deeply embedded in the culture of the home. Allegation management is effective and subject to rigorous managerial oversight. Leaders and managers respond immediately to concerns, following clear procedures and working in close partnership with safeguarding agencies to ensure that children are protected.

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

Staff demonstrate a high level of professional curiosity and remain open-minded when considering all safeguarding concerns, ensuring that no concern is minimised or dismissed. Records are comprehensive, analytical and reflective, and they are used proactively to strengthen practice, inform risk management and continually enhance safeguarding arrangements. Consequently, children report feeling safe, heard and taken seriously when they express worries or concerns.

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

Staff have an excellent understanding of children’s individual vulnerabilities, lived experiences and presenting risks. This knowledge directly informs responsive and proportionate safeguarding practice. When incidents occur, leaders and managers ensure that prompt and decisive action is taken, alongside thorough reviews and reflective learning. Follow-up work with staff and children is purposeful and restorative, enabling children to reflect on incidents, understand consequences and develop greater insight into their behaviours. This helps children develop emotional resilience, accountability and safer decision-making over time.

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

There is strong and consistent management oversight of all incidents and safeguarding concerns. Leaders and managers provide clear direction and effective support, both during and after incidents, ensuring that children’s needs are fully understood and responded to.

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

Staff are highly confident in their safeguarding responsibilities and are well versed in relevant procedures, including those relating to children who go missing. Although Inspection report for children’s home: SC403905 5 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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

missing-from-home incidents are now infrequent, responses are individualised, well- coordinated and focused on prevention, demonstrating a proactive safeguarding culture.

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

The home’s successful implementation of a therapeutic care approach has contributed to a notable and sustained reduction in incidents. Staff understand that children’s behaviour is often a symptom of their internal world, and they know how to support them in ways that are tailored to their individual needs. Staff are highly skilled in de-escalation and relational practice, enabling them to manage complex behaviours sensitively and effectively. As a result, physical intervention is now rarely required, and, when it is used, it is proportionate, well recorded and subject to scrutiny from leaders and managers.

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

Children benefit from highly effective risk assessments and behaviour support plans that are dynamic, individualised and regularly reviewed. These plans are informed by multi- agency input and the child’s voice, ensuring that safeguarding strategies remain relevant and responsive. Partnership working with external professionals is a particular strength, with timely information-sharing and coordinated planning that promotes children’s safety and wellbeing.

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

A culture that prioritises skilled staff practice, listening and advocating for children increases children’s sense of safety, stability and trust in the adults who care for them. As a result, incidents of concern continue to steadily decrease, and children experience better outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager provides inspirational and highly effective leadership. She has transformed the culture of the home through a clear, child-centred vision that places stability and meaningful progress at the forefront of practice. Her leadership is aspirational, reflective and firmly grounded in a deep understanding of trauma-informed care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is supported by two skilled deputy managers who know the home exceptionally well and demonstrate genuine passion and care for children. Leaders and managers lead by example, modelling professional curiosity, empathy and high expectations, thereby cultivating a motivated and skilled staff team. The staff team is long-standing and stable, and staff report high job satisfaction in their roles. Staff unanimously recognise the manager as the driving force behind the home’s sustained improvement and the positive experiences and outcomes achieved by the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The oversight of leaders and managers is rigorous and highly effective. There are strong and consistent systems for oversight and monitoring, including detailed analysis of incidents. Monitoring systems are not merely procedural but drive continuous improvement and strengthen practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from supervision that is reflective, challenging and supportive, enabling them to critically consider the impact of children’s lived experiences and adapt their practice accordingly. Inspection report for children’s home: SC403905 6 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers invest significantly in staff development and training, wellbeing and professional growth, resulting in a confident, safe and highly competent workforce that manages complex needs with skill and assurance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit hugely from the support and supervision of an on-site therapeutic lead, who has been highly influential and integral to shaping the home’s practice. This support provides expert guidance and therapeutic insight that significantly enhances staff’s understanding of the children’s needs; this, in turn, strengthens the consistency, sensitivity and effectiveness of care, resulting in notable and improved outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a clear and ambitious ethos underpinning the home, characterised by high aspirations for children and an uncompromising commitment to their progress. This commitment extends throughout the staff team and registered manager and includes a present and passionate responsible individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The support and advocacy of leaders have resulted in transformative outcomes for children and their futures. Leaders and managers have influenced care planning for children who move on from the home; they are now thriving in their new homes because of the tenacious support they received and subsequent changes made to their care plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers demonstrate excellent professional judgement and accountability, as well as a relentless drive for continuous improvement. The home is exceptionally well led, with a strong culture of reflection, learning and high expectations. As a result, children receive consistently outstanding care in a stable, nurturing, and aspirational environment. Inspection report for children’s home: SC403905 7 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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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: SC403905 8 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Rubicon Children and Family Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Clarke Brownscombe, 2 St Andrews Place, Southover Road, Lewes BN7 1UP

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Inspector

Alexia Hosker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC403905 9 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspector

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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