Children's Home run by PJL Healthcare Limited in East Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home: SC486879 1 SC486879 Registered provider: PJL Healthcare 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 is registered to provide care for up to 5 children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, 3 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 2023.

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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

Date of last inspection: 15 October 2025

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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: SC486879 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/10/2025 Full Outstanding 29/10/2024 Full Outstanding 07/11/2023 Full Outstanding 17/01/2023 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC486879 3

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Summary of findings

Children receive well planned therapeutic care from staff who understand their needs, promote their wellbeing and support them to make significant progress. Children benefit from warm, trusting relationships, strong educational support, opportunities to develop independence, and a nurturing environment, in which animals play an important role. Safeguarding practice is highly effective, with staff prioritising safety, advocacy and positive risk management. Leaders and managers provide ambitious, reflective and inspirational leadership, fostering a culture of respect, learning and high aspirations. Strong partnership working and creative opportunities, including a carefully planned trip overseas, help children build confidence, achieve positive outcomes and prepare successfully for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff demonstrate an excellent understanding of children’s behaviours and experiences. They show exceptional patience, perseverance and belief in each child’s potential. Therapeutic support from the home’s clinical psychologist further strengthens the ability of staff to provide consistent, accepting and nurturing care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s health and wellbeing are promoted effectively. Staff remain committed to supporting children to access services, resulting in significant progress, including one child recently attending a dental appointment after a prolonged period of difficulty.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff maintain a highly nurturing and child-centred approach. Relationships in the home are warm and trusting. Progress reports, letters and debrief records are written in a warm, personalised style that reflects the conversations staff have with children every day. Children receive and keep many individual letters from staff, creating a valuable record of their experiences and relationships that they may choose to revisit later in life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to develop independence in line with their age and understanding. Staff use learning from previous transitions to improve planning and preparation for children moving towards adulthood. This has contributed to positive outcomes, including one young person moving into semi-independent accommodation and another child moving into an area of the home where they can live semi- independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education is valued and promoted. Children who previously struggled to engage with learning are now accessing education. Staff have shown creativity and determination in ensuring children receive meaningful educational experiences, including arranging alternative provision while school placements were being identified. Children’s achievements are celebrated, and staff work closely with education providers to help them overcome barriers to learning. Inspection report for children’s home: SC486879 4 Animals remain central to the home’s nurturing environment. Children’s relationships with the animals provide comfort, companionship and opportunities to develop responsibility and confidence. For one child, this has developed into a passion that has directly contributed to securing their first part-time job.

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

Children’s safety is central to practice in the home. Staff respond to children’s distress with patience, nurturing communication and a strong understanding of their individual needs. As a result, physical interventions are rarely used and, when necessary, are proportionate and for the minimum time required. Incident records are detailed and reflective, with managers identifying learning opportunities and considering the factors that led to the incident to improve future practice.

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

Children have trusting relationships with staff and feel able to share worries and concerns. Staff have worked effectively to ensure children understand how to make complaints and are provided with clear outcomes and explanations when concerns are raised.

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

Staff are strong advocates for children and work proactively with families and professionals to promote safe and meaningful family relationships. Their advocacy has had a significant positive impact on long-term outcomes for children, including successful planning for future care and support arrangements.

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

Risk assessments, safety plans and behaviour support strategies are detailed, regularly reviewed and focused on prevention. Staff follow safeguarding procedures effectively when children go missing from home, maintaining communication and working closely with relevant agencies to support children’s safe return.

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

Online safety is prioritised. Robust monitoring systems are in place, and children receive regular guidance to help them recognise risks and stay safe online.

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

Professional feedback remains highly positive, with external professionals recognising the home’s dedication and consistency in meeting children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by an experienced and passionate registered manager, supported by a highly skilled management team who are committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for children. Leaders are ambitious for children and focus not only on their immediate needs but also on preparing them for successful futures. Their determination and advocacy have contributed to life-changing outcomes for children, particularly when planning for adulthood and moving on from the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers promote a transparent, reflective and learning-focused culture. Feedback from children, staff and professionals is embraced positively, with learning used to strengthen practice and drive improvement. Staff report feeling valued and well supported through Inspection report for children’s home: SC486879 5 regular supervision, reflective practice and team meetings, resulting in high morale, strong staff retention and a stable workforce for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership working is a significant strength. Managers work proactively with social workers, education providers, health professionals and the clinical psychologist to ensure children receive coordinated and effective support. Professionals consistently praise the home’s communication, advocacy and commitment to meeting children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children benefit from care provided by a knowledgeable and well-trained staff team. Staff apply therapeutic approaches effectively in their day-to-day practice and are supported to continually develop their skills. Leaders maintain strong oversight of practice through regular reviews of incidents, key-work sessions and children’s plans, providing guidance that promotes reflection and continuous improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff are aspirational for children and work creatively to provide opportunities that broaden their experiences and build confidence. This is evident in the well-considered planning and support provided for one child’s trip overseas. Staff carefully prepared the child by researching cultural expectations and customs, ensuring they felt confident and equipped to fully enjoy what was described as a trip of a lifetime.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A particular strength of the home is the culture of respect. Children are encouraged to express their views openly, staff treat one another with kindness and professionalism, and relationships across the home are characterised by mutual respect, care and high regard for one another. This positive culture enables children to feel valued, listened to and supported to achieve their full potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made following this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC486879 6

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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: SC486879 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: PJL Healthcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Mayfield House, East Street, Mayfield, East Sussex TN20 6TZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Alethea Thomas Giles

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Inspectors

Emma Haskell, Social Care Regulatory Inspector (lead) Jade Bianchi, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC486879 8 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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