Children's home run by Norfolk County Council in Norwich

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires Improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has Declined in Effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the previous inspection shortfalls were identified relating to placement decisions, safeguarding training, monitoring, the accommodation and risk assessment. Since the previous inspection one young person has moved into the home. No young people have moved out of the home. There was an appropriate assessment of the young person who moved into the home to ensure that his needs could be met alongside those of the young people already at the home. This helps to make sure that placement decisions do not have negative effects upon young people. The young person was able to decide on the time and pace of his move into the home. He has settled well and is taking part in activities both with staff and with a community drama group.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All staff have had initial safeguarding training and on-going top up training. A number of staff are booked onto further safeguarding training over the next year. Consequently, staff are kept up to date with relevant information to help them protect young people. There is a new format for monitoring the progress of young people. So far this has been carried out for two of the four young people in the home. It is a detailed process which provides information to help staff formulate and review young people’s plans so that they are appropriate. New baths have been fitted to the home. The bathrooms have not yet been re-decorated, but this is due to be done now that the baths are in place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are still shortfalls with risk assessment in the home. For one young person there is identified risk taking behaviour related to drug use, suicide ideation and sexual activity. He is at times refusing to return to the home and staying with an adult friend about whom very little is known. Although his parent has given permission for the young person to stay with his friend at times, there has not been any assessment of the potential impact of this on his safety. Staff are keeping in contact with the young person when he is away by mobile phone and text. They have kept his parent and social worker informed. However, the lack of assessment of risk means that insufficient consideration has been given to his safety and how to reduce any risk. This leaves the young person in a vulnerable position. The home has been mostly settled since the last inspection. There have not been any physical interventions, very few sanctions and no complaints. Some young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people are involved with the youth justice system as a result of previous behaviours, but a recent incident has resulted in further involvement for three young people. The home have responded appropriately to such incidents. They work in co-operation with the police to try and help young people understand the implications of their behaviour. Incidents of young people going missing from care have reduced, but as noted above one young person has been seen absent from the home on a number of occasions. These are deemed to be unauthorised absences in line with the police protocol.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

While there have been several areas of improvement since the previous inspection, the potential impact of shortfalls in the risk assessment and reduction process is significant.

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Information about this children's home

This home provides medium to long-term residential care for up to six young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is owned and operated by the local Children's Services Department.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard with particular reference to having comprehensive risk assessments and implementing them, the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a) (i) that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. 30/04/2016

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This 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 Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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