Children's Home run by BREAK in Norfolk

Unique reference number SC060743 Inspection date 03/01/2013 Inspector Louisa Bayley Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 23/08/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for four children who have learning disabilities, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned by a registered charity.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress .

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Progress

Ofsted judged the home good at the full inspection in August 2012. Since that time, the manager has made good progress in addressing the requirements and recommendations raised during the inspection. This has led to continuing improvement in the quality of care provided for young people.

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Progress

The manager has updated the Statement of Purpose, providing parents, placing authorities and other professionals with accurate information about the home.

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Progress

Staff now ensure proper records of restraint and accidents are placed on individual’s case files, providing a full and accurate account of incidents in the home. The recording of restraints now includes detail of the effectiveness of methods used and debriefing with staff and young people. Consequently, practice is reviewed, training needs identified and due consideration is given to whether a different approach could be used in the future. There have been three incidents of physical restraint since the last inspection. Restraint is used only as a last resort, to prevent injury to young people and those around them. There has been a decrease in incidents of missing from care. A social worker said: ‘Staff do everything they can to keep young people safe.’ This now includes requesting welfare visits from social workers and identifying the need for strategy meetings where patterns of unauthorised absence are established. In the time since

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Progress

the last inspection, there have been only three events of unauthorised absence. The staff follow the organisational procedures and are proactive in establishing where young people have been and why.

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Progress

There has been an improvement in the frequency of staff supervision. This means that staff receive the support they need to work effectively with the young people in the home.

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Progress

The home provides a warm, welcoming environment, which meets individual’s needs. Young people say they are happy living in the home and they feel safe. They are able to access a wide range of opportunities and experiences, based on their individual wishes, preferences and skills. Young people talk animatedly of the holidays they have had with staff, their community activities, and skills they are developing.

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Progress

The staff in the home proactively advocate for the young people in their care. Despite a number of challenges faced by individuals, the staff remain creative in their approach and determined in their focus in securing meaningful education provision. A social worker said: ‘The staff are 100% willing to try everything they can to support young people make progress.’ As a result, young people have access to educational programmes that meet their needs.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

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