Children's Home run by East Sussex County Council in East Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC031410 1 SC031410 Registered provider: East Sussex County Council

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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 operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to 7 children with learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. At the time of this inspection, 7 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 30 October 2025.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection on 21 April 2026. Following that inspection, an assurance visit took place on 27 May 2026, due to concerns about the number of medication errors being notified to Ofsted. At this visit, serious and widespread concerns were identified, resulting in a compliance notice being issued in relation to the management of medication.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was brought forward following concerns received from another agency regarding the care provided to a child. The visit also provided an opportunity to review the home’s progress in addressing the compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors reviewed a range of records relating to the concerns raised. This included care plans, records of strategy meetings, recommendations made to improve practice, correspondence between the provider and partner agencies and discussions with the child’s parent.

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This monitoring visit

The parent reported that they do not feel listened to and remain worried about their child’s safety. They described occasions when staff have not consistently followed the child’s plans. This has the potential to compromise the child’s safety and negatively affect their day-to-day experiences. The parent also expressed concerns about delays in responses from leaders and managers and said that measures that are put in place are not sustained. During the inspection, the parent raised a further Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC031410 2 concern regarding staff not following their child’s care plan. Leaders have commenced an investigation into this matter. The ongoing concerns have adversely affected the parent’s confidence in the home and impacted on their wellbeing.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have responded to concerns raised by an agency and has maintained communication with the parent and external professionals. They have recognised the parent’s concerns and have introduced several measures intended to strengthen oversight and provide reassurance about their child’s care. However, a recent incident remains under investigation. As a result, the parent continues to have limited confidence in the home’s ability to provide safe and consistent care. Leaders and managers continue to work with the parent to rebuild trust and strengthen relationships.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken action to improve medication practice. An independent review of medication systems has been completed, additional staff training has been delivered and daily management meetings have been introduced to improve oversight of medication administration and incident recording. The temporary employment of registered nurses has also supported staff in meeting the complex health and medication needs of some children. These actions demonstrate progress towards meeting the compliance notice, although, changes are not yet sufficiently embedded to evidence sustained improvement.

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This monitoring visit

Two children were seen during the visit. Both were involved in various activities supported by staff. One child was very inquisitive and spoke with the inspector. The other child communicated happiness through their body language and the vocal noises they made. Children’s bedrooms are well presented and reflect their taste and character. The home was in good condition and is as homely as it can be.

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This monitoring visit

Staff talk positively about changes to the leadership and management arrangements since the full and assurance inspections. They describe improved communication, greater collaboration and increased management oversight. However, some staff remain uncertain about longer-term arrangements.

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This monitoring visit

Staffing pressures continue, with some staff working additional hours to maintain safe staffing levels. Reduced staffing availability at weekends has affected some children’s opportunities to take part in activities, spend time in the community and enjoy family time. Leaders and managers recognise these gaps and are taking steps to improve staffing capacity.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements made at the last full inspection were not reviewed during this visit and, therefore, remain in place. Inspectors reviewed progress against the compliance notice. Although leaders and managers have implemented a detailed action plan and taken steps to address identified concerns, improvements have not yet been fully embedded or consistently sustained in practice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC031410 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/04/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/04/2025 Full Good 03/12/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC031410 4

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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, 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

* The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 23 August 2026

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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; 23 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC031410 5 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

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)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Aspects of this requirement were raised at the last inspection and are restated. 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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure the quality of recording incidents and ensure that staff have the skills to write clear, concise records. Additionally, ensure that the manager has oversight of the recordings.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 23 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 23 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC031410 6 This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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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

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 23 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that –

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected. (Regulation 21 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to ensuring that children receive personal care safely and without interruption from other children. 23 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC031410 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: East Sussex County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: East Sussex County Council, County Hall St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE

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Inspectors

Vevene Muhammad, Social Care Inspector Kelly Marchmont, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC031410 8 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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