Children's Home run by Norfolk County Council in Norfolk

Unique reference number SC068076 Inspection date 08/01/2013 Inspector Louisa Bayley Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 09/05/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This children’s home provides short-term placements and is owned and run by the local authority. It is registered for two young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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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

This home was judged as outstanding at the full inspection in May 2012, with no requirements or recommendations raised. Since that time, the home has made good progress in continuing to develop, supporting improvement in outcomes for young people.

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Progress

The manager uses consultation with families, professionals and young people to gain an understanding of their views of the care provided. The feedback from the consultation has been positive. Young people say that staff always listen to them and support them in all aspects of their care. They say staff seek their views, consider and act upon them. The manager has made a number of changes as a result of consultation. Examples include, changes to the physical environment, such as new flooring and furniture.

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Progress

Young people’s feedback from the In Care Council has led to action taken to address identified shortfalls. Many young people in short-term placements do not benefit from a holiday. The manager has identified this as a target within the development plan, with a focus on providing a short break for those young people who have been living in the home for more than three months. This has taken place for a young person, who enjoyed a fishing weekend away from the home, with a member of staff. This helps young people to feel valued and treated equally to those in longer term placements.

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Progress

The manager and staff work well with a range of professionals to support young people’s needs and promote their safety and well-being. Strong relationships with the local police ensure there is a consistent, agreed strategy in place in the event young people go missing from care. Creative working with mental health professionals has led to recognition that some young people will access services and support if it is available in the home. As a result, individuals who had previously refused specialist health support have been able to engage, meeting their health needs.

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Progress

The manager has implemented improved systems to identify individual’s needs through placement planning and risk assessment. Local and environmental factors, such as the ethnic majority are considered, with a focus on the likely impact on the individual being placed in the home. Consequently, young people’s needs relating to their ethnicity and culture are given due thought, informing their care planning.

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Progress

The development plan clearly identifies the areas for improvements. The manager and staff have already met a number of the targets, supporting improvements in outcomes for young people. An example is the access to training for staff to enable them to use a secure information sharing system. As a result, young people are likely to be further safeguarded as staff knowledge is increased.

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Progress

An area identified for improvement is to ensure that sanctions for poor behaviour are clear and are understood by staff and young people, promoting the likelihood of the sanction being effective.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that sanctions and rewards for behaviour are clear, reasonable and fair and are understood by all staff and children. (NMS 3.8)

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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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