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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC029865 1 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It provides care for up to 4 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 3 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 19 October 2023.

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Inspection date: 11 March 2026

Date of last inspection: 9 September 2025

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Inspection date: 11 March 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 11 March 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC029865 2 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff take effective action to promote and maintain children’s safety. There is clear evidence of coordinated multi-agency working, demonstrating that decisions are consistently made in children’s best interests. Regular safety meetings support strong planning arrangements and contribute to positive outcomes, ensuring that children are kept as safe as possible.

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Findings from the inspection

When safeguarding concerns arise, they are responded to promptly. Appropriate strategies are implemented to reduce risk and strengthen children’s safety, including targeted interventions designed to develop children’s understanding of personal safety and risk.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff ensure that the plans they create for children align clearly with their individual core care plans. This enables staff to consistently work towards children’s agreed goals and targets.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are making clear progress in their education. Staff have worked tirelessly with external professionals to secure the most appropriate educational provision for one child. As a result, the child’s attendance has improved, with plans in place to increase their timetable in the near future. Staff have also successfully helped another child re-engage with education following a significant period of non-attendance. There are education plans in place for children around their part- time timetables.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff actively promote children’s identity and self-expression. Through close collaboration with a child’s family and involved professionals, staff supported the child in having their hair cut in a way that enabled them to express themselves more authentically. This intervention had a positive impact and contributed to improved emotional wellbeing for the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff ensure that equality and diversity remain open and ongoing topics of discussion. They use everyday opportunities, such as sharing aspects of their culture and experiences, to help children develop an understanding of individuality and difference.

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Findings from the inspection

The monitoring of children has improved. Staff now limit the use of door sensors to overnight only and provide more thorough, proactive supervision during the day. This approach reduces unnecessary surveillance and ensures that monitoring has less impact on children’s everyday experiences.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for children. Staff share this commitment, which is reflected in their positive views of how the Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC029865 3 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Findings from the inspection

manager leads the service and the strong relationships the manager has built with staff and children.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager assists staff in reflecting on and learning from incidents that do not go as planned. A culture of learning and teamwork, rather than blame, has been embedded effectively. As a result, staff feel confident approaching the manager when practice has not gone as expected. They can seek advice, guidance and additional learning to improve future practice. However, the manager appropriately challenges and manages instances where staff practice falls below expected standards.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has introduced monitoring and reviewing tools that have strengthened and improved oversight of the home. However, some discussions regarding key decisions are not clearly recorded or easily accessible. Furthermore, oversight of incidents does not always take place in a timely manner. These gaps in recording limit other professionals’ ability to fully understand the circumstances of incidents and the manager’s rationale for the decisions made.

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Findings from the inspection

All requirements and recommendations from the last inspection have been met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC029865 4 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/09/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/01/2025 Full Good 12/12/2023 Full Good 07/02/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC029865 5 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must promptly carry out their review and oversight of incidents.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that any discussions regarding decisions made for children are clearly recorded. 23 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC029865 6 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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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

Louise Webling, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC029865 7 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspector

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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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