Children's Home run by Stanfield Care Services Limited in Norfolk

Unique reference number SC451152 Inspector Michael Mulvaney Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered manager Margaret Georgina Marshall Date of last inspection 10/09/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 28/01/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

Some of the young people are making steady progress at the home. The staff work with the local school to promote educational outcomes. The school staff report that it has good contact and communication with the home on a day-to-day basis. This results in the young people maintaining their educational placement, which gives them a better chance to gain academic qualifications.

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This inspection

There is a satisfactory level of personalised care provided at the home. The plans for some young people are progressing well, resulting in a reduction of risk-taking behaviour. This means that they are safer in the home and in the community. Some young people report that staff do not support them in the way that they would want and they would like more support to help them progress. Some young people report that the home is like a family home, with people getting along with each other. Young people have maintained contact with their family and within their community. This meets their assessed needs and helps to promote their individual identities, their local networks, and contact with their family home.

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This inspection

Staff make positive relationships with young people in the home, encouraging good behaviour with rewards. This helps the young people to develop safe relationships with important adults who work with them to develop good behaviour both at home and in the community. The staff are resilient and have persevered with the poor behaviour of some young people to offer a stable home. In some cases, placements have ended due to unacceptable behaviour. This has meant that some young people have moved more quickly than expected into independent living. The home has worked with those young people to support their move.

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This inspection

Because staff are proactive in managing behaviour the home does not use physical intervention on a regular basis. When physical intervention is used, it is well recorded and reviewed by the Registered Manager and staff. This enables them to 3 of 5 reflect on the use of physical intervention and see if there is a pattern arising. The young people do receive sanctions for their behaviour. All staff understand the sanctions and rewards process, however, the young people feel they need help to better understand the reasons for some sanctions.

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This inspection

There is support for some of the young people with their pathway plan towards independence. This helps to provide the young people with confidence in their own skills ahead of any planned move into the community. Young people know how to make and keep appointments with doctors and other health professionals. This is an important life skill which helps maintain their health and their progression towards independent living. The home is looking at further developments in respect of independent living accommodation to increase opportunities for the young people to gain these important skills.

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This inspection

The home provides an appropriate standard of accommodation which meets the young people’s needs. As a result, the young people feel a sense of pride in the home which helps build their self-esteem. There is consultation with the young people at residents’ meetings and key-work sessions, these are discussed at staff meetings to consider issues arising from them. This helps young people to feel listened to and this improves their self-esteem.

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This inspection

There have been improvements in the leadership and management of the home since the last inspection. For example, the Registered Manager has completed a National Vocational Qualification at level 5, which has strengthened their theoretical and practical skills for managing the home. The external monitoring has improved, which supports the manager in moving forward with improvements. Staff competence and practice are assured through regular training and effective supervision, which promotes a better quality of care. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a private organisation.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/09/2014 Full good 12/12/2013 Interim good progress 16/07/2013 Full adequate Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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Information 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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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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