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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 1 SC390785 Registered provider: My Choice Children’s Homes Limited 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 managed by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 4 children who experience social and emotional difficulties. The provider operates several other homes in the region. At the time of the inspection, 4 children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since January 2018.

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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: SC390785 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/06/2025 Full Outstanding 16/07/2024 Full Good 03/01/2024 Full Good 21/02/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 3

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Summary of findings

Children experience high-quality care in a nurturing home where they feel safe, valued and able to express their wishes. Staff know children extremely well and respond to them with sensitivity, resulting in trusting relationships. Safeguarding practice is strong, with reflective oversight and effective partnership working. Children make excellent progress in education, health, relationships and independence. The leadership of the home is commendable. The registered manager is highly respected and creates a positive, learning-focused culture where staff feel supported and are ambitious for children. As a result, every child is thriving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children experience warm, nurturing care in a home that feels safe, welcoming and genuinely child-centred. The environment is thoughtfully personalised. Children’s bedrooms reflect their identity and achievements, with certificates proudly displayed. Creative spaces such as the art corner, and the summer bucket list, give children meaningful opportunities to express their views and make choices. Photo albums filled with shared experiences help children maintain positive memories and strengthen their relationships with one another.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff know the children exceptionally well and understand their backgrounds, needs and emotional triggers. This enables them to respond with patience, attunement and kindness when children show signs of distress. As a result, children form secure, trusting relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from sensitive, child-focused conversations about important issues. These discussions strengthen relationships and help children make sense of their experiences. Written records are non-shaming and are pitched at each child’s level of understanding. They will provide invaluable life-story material should children wish to revisit their records in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff demonstrate a strong, therapeutic approach, accepting each child fully and providing high levels of nurture. The home has a family-like atmosphere where children can be themselves without judgement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s views, wishes and feelings are consistently sought and acted on, whether through group meetings or one-to-one key-work sessions. Staff also model kindness and respect with one another, contributing to a positive, stable culture that children benefit from.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make exceptional progress through well-structured incentive plans that promote achievement and independence. Targets are meaningful and are linked to care Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 4 plan goals. Consequences are rarely used. When they are, they are proportionate, understood by the child and lead to positive change.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education is a strength. All children attend school full time and are making exceptional progress academically, particularly given each of their starting points. Staff ensured that one child continued to experience meaningful, enriching learning activities while awaiting their school placement, helping education remain a consistent and valued part of their daily routine.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children say that they like living at the home. Their daily experiences are characterised by safety, warmth and fun, and they benefit from a strong sense of connection and belonging.

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

Children are kept safe by staff who respond calmly and sensitively when they experience difficult emotions. Staff use nurturing, attuned approaches, which means physical restraint is rarely needed. There has been only one guiding intervention since the last inspection, and this was necessary, proportionate and brief. Records are clear, and the manager’s reflective reviews help staff understand triggers and adapt their practice.

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

Decisions about the use of bedroom door alarms are risk led and are regularly reviewed, ensuring that restrictions on children’s liberty are only used when necessary.

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

Health and safety arrangements, including with regard to fire safety and the management of sharps, are effective. The home is well maintained, and children know what to do in an emergency. Children feel safe and know how to raise concerns.

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

Safeguarding procedures are followed, with appropriate consultation with external agencies. The manager advocates strongly for children and escalates concerns when needed. One child was supported to access an independent advocate, helping them secure suitable semi-independent accommodation. Leaders recognise that independent advocacy should be offered more consistently and have plans in place to remedy this.

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

Staff address bullying effectively. Their work has helped children understand its impact, and incidents have reduced significantly.

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

Children’s healthcare needs are met well, with safe medication practice and strong engagement with external professionals. One recent medication error by a member of staff providing support at a sister home was thoroughly investigated, with clear learning identified and no harm caused to the child.

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

Staff have been persistent in supporting one child to overcome fears about health appointments, resulting in them attending GP, optician and dental appointments Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 5 recently, which is significant progress and great preparation for them as they approach adulthood.

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

Online safety is a growing priority. Strong relationships enable open conversations, and children complete practical work that helps them understand risks. Online safety is discussed regularly in key-work sessions and young people’s meetings, ensuring it remains an active focus.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by a registered manager who is highly respected by staff and professionals. His unwavering commitment to providing the best possible care directly influences the positive culture in the home. Professionals consistently praise his leadership, and staff are proud of the difference they help children make in their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager works proactively with health, education, social care and therapeutic professionals to meet children’s needs. He seeks specialist support without hesitation and has built constructive links with local services, including the local police community support officer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development, with plans already in place to strengthen independent advocacy and further improve recording systems.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel exceptionally well supported. They receive regular, reflective supervision, benefit from team meetings and therapeutic input, and describe the home as a place in which they love working. Almost all staff have achieved their level 3 diploma, with the final member due to complete imminently. This ensures children are cared for by a skilled and knowledgeable workforce.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The culture is open, transparent and focused on learning. Staff feel confident to challenge practice and raise concerns, knowing these will be addressed professionally. Managers model trauma-informed practice, which supports staff to respond to children with empathy and relational presence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children are cared for by a consistent team, with occasional use of familiar agency staff to maintain stability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff work closely with children’s families to strengthen relationships and support positive contact. This has contributed to improved family relationships for children and has enabled successful moves to semi-independent accommodation for 2 young people. One child now speaks positively about the possibility of returning home in the future, reflecting the impact of sustained partnership work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children experience a nurturing, structured environment where they can safely enjoy childhood. Staff provide routine, boundaries and genuine interest in children’s hobbies Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 6 and interests. Activities such as Scouts and the summer bucket list help children build confidence, friendships and aspirations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers are ambitious for children and speak proudly of their achievements. Staff allow children to take age-appropriate risks, make mistakes and learn, knowing they have a safe and supportive team to fall back on. This empowers children to be brave and contributes to the exceptional progress they are making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Every child in this home is thriving, and this is a testament to the strength of leadership and the dedication of the staff team. Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 7

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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: SC390785 8

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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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Inspectors

Emma Haskell, Social Care Regulatory Inspector (Lead) Rose Joseph, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC390785 9 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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