Children's Home run by Crusoe Care Limited in East Sussex

Inspection report for children's home: SC434573 1 SC434573 Registered provider: Crusoe Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home that provides care for up to 2 children who experience emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, 2 children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2026.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC434573 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/06/2025 Full Outstanding 29/05/2024 Full Good 21/06/2023 Full Good 13/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: SC434573 3

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Summary of findings

Staff build positive and trusting relationships with children and support them to make good progress in line with their care plans. Staff safeguard children effectively during challenging times and make sure they have the support they require.

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Summary of findings

Children’s moves are generally well planned. However, one child moved on at short notice after the manager gave notice on their placement. Leaders did not engage meaningfully with the local authority to prevent this or to support the child to settle in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they like living in the home. They feel supported and safe, and they enjoy spending time with the adults who care for them. Staff consistently demonstrate a nurturing approach that has enabled children to develop trusting relationships. Many staff have worked at the home for a number of years. Therefore, children benefit from good continuity of care from familiar staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to achieve in education. One child has achieved the academic grades to secure a place at college. Another child is not currently accessing formal education, but staff have worked with the child’s professional network to ensure that a new school placement is secured for them. Staff provide educational opportunities such as museum trips and have advocated for the child to receive regular tutoring at home. This helps the child to achieve their academic potential and ensures they maintain a good routine in readiness for them to start school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand, promote and act on children’s views, wishes and feelings. They use a range of approaches to support children to express themselves. Staff are sensitive to children’s individual needs and take time to understand their lived experiences, including grief and loss. Staff meaningfully support children and normalise open conversation following bereavements and disappointments, enabling children to process their feelings in a healthy way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to attend local community groups, such as activity clubs and cadets. One child volunteers at the local youth group. This helps them to develop a strong sense of identity, belonging and social inclusion, both at home and in the local area. Staff supported another child to sell their artwork at a local event, which boosted the child’s self-esteem and sense of achievement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a homely, family environment that is well maintained. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their own tastes and there are lots of photos displayed around the home depicting children’s experiences and providing a reminder of positive memories. Children’s certificates are also displayed in appreciation of their achievements. Inspection report for children's home: SC434573 4 This recognition helps to promote children’s self-confidence and creates a greater sense of belonging for children.

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

Staff have a good understanding of children’s individual needs and vulnerabilities. Their practice is guided by detailed, up-to-date risk assessments that clearly outline strategies to respond to and manage any identified risks. In addition, children are supported to develop their own understanding of risk, including staying safe in the community and online. This helps children to make safer choices and promotes their independence while maintaining appropriate safeguards.

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

Staff use their trusting relationships with children to support them when they are upset. As a result, physical interventions are rarely used. When children are physically held by staff, this is a last resort and is used proportionately.

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

Staff help the children with understanding prosocial behaviour. Staff regularly talk to children about keeping themselves safe and being kind to others. However, on one occasion, staff missed an opportunity to educate a child on the impact of racism following an incident in school.

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

Since the last inspection, there has only been one occasion when a child has made a complaint about staff practice. The registered manager responded to this sensitively and consulted appropriately with the local authority designated officer. The child received a meaningful response and staff ensured that they repaired their relationships with the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has worked in the home for many years. They are suitably experienced and know the staff and children well. This knowledge informs their decision- making and leadership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has good oversight of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. They have introduced effective monitoring systems that support their oversight of practice and enable ongoing staff development in areas that benefit children. For example, when there were concerns about staff confidence in safeguarding, the registered manager arranged mock interviews which explored safeguarding scenarios. This helped leaders target areas for staff development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by leaders. They are helped to develop their care skills through detailed supervision discussions, team meetings and training centred around children’s needs. The registered manager has good oversight of staff training needs and arranges additional training based on the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When children move into the home, leaders ensure that there are meticulous plans in place to ensure a smooth transition. Children visit the home and meet staff before Inspection report for children's home: SC434573 5 moving in and leaders engage with children’s social workers to gather information about their needs. Most children have a positive experience and are supported to build the foundations for a stable and lengthy stay. However, on one occasion, leaders failed to engage meaningfully with the local authority before ending a child’s placement. This resulted in a sudden and unplanned ending shortly after the child moved in. The manager understands the impact of this decision and has taken steps to ensure that the learning from this child’s experience is taken forward. Inspection report for children's home: SC434573 6

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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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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 the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that effective and collaborative care planning is in place for children moving on from the home. Care planning arrangements must be made in the best interests of children so that children experience positive, well-planned endings. 1 November 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff encourage positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies in line with children’s relevant plans. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13) Inspection report for children's home: SC434573 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: SC434573 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Crusoe Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Crusoe Care Limited, 25 Clinton Place, Seaford, East Sussex BN25 1NP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Timothy McIlwaine

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Inspector

Stephanie McDonald, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC434573 9 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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