Children's home run by Clover Childcare Services Limited in North Norfolk

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has Sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has addressed the recommendation made at the last inspection. The workforce plan states that the supervisions will be monthly. The monthly supervisions and annual appraisals are taking place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people continue to receive a high quality of care. They speak highly of the staff. One young person said: ‘The staff are caring and they listen. When you get upset they help you, they give you support.’ Young people continue to engage in education. Staff support them to attend and accompany young people in the classroom when needed. There is a clear expectation that all young people will participate fully in learning, which helps them to achieve their educational potential.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A long term resident has recently moved out. This has had a knock on effect for staff and young people alike. Some young people have struggled in the immediate wake of this move. The impact is akin to a family member moving out. This is a result of the familial ethos of the home and reflects the strong relationships young people have developed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person who moved out did so in a planned manner. The staff worked with him in advance of the move to assist him to cope with the effect of this huge change. The staff team continue to offer support to him since his move. This further reflects the ethos of the home, with a member of staff stating: ‘This is down to the owners. They are of the view that children do not leave home just because they turn 18. They move on when they are ready.’ This has ensured that the young person has a safety net that would otherwise be absent. This also conveys a powerful message to the other young people who are in the home and struggling with concepts about their futures and life after the home. They see that the service is committed to supporting them into adulthood.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No new residents have moved into the home since the last inspection. The manager declined one prospective placement due to the potential impact on the existing group of young people. This careful and considered decision making significantly contributes to the stability and progress of the young people in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager completes internal monitoring reports. These do not reflect the views of young people, parents and other stakeholders. The manager recognises this and has identified it as an area for improvement. Notwithstanding this shortfall, there is strong culture of continuous improvement within the home. Despite a series of outstanding inspection judgements there is no complacency. Leaders and managers continue to strive to identify areas for improvement, whilst keeping the needs of the young people at the centre of the service. For example, they have developed new probation sign off forms and introduced a new format for capturing sanctions and consequences. Both are an improvement on previous systems.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are occasions when staff need to physically intervene to meet the needs of the young people. When this happens, staff spend time with young people afterwards to explore their feelings about what has taken place. This provides the young people with the opportunity to reflect on their behaviour. The young people recognise that the staff intervene to support them and keep them safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No young people have gone missing since the last inspection. There has been one incident when two young people went off site for a short period. The location of the home presents a risk to the young people. The road outside of the front gates is a fast, unlit road without paths. Despite this, the location risk assessment does not currently include the use of the gates as a means to assist in the management of that risk. They are not closed and therefore offer no discouragement or obstacle to young people who may choose to try and leave the site. This does not protect the young people as far as reasonably practical from the risks posed by the location.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people say they feel safe. They are able to identify people they can turn to if they want to raise concerns. The staff have a thorough knowledge of the whistleblowing process. Senior managers are visible presences within the home and are known by staff and young people alike.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

On occasions, case records are not as thorough as they should be and they lack some pertinent information. As a result, the records do not offer as clear and comprehensive an overview of incidents as they should.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Feedback from external professionals is outstanding. One social worker stated: ‘They go out of their way to meet the children’s needs. They are absolutely brilliant in that context.’ An independent advocate said: ‘I have seen my young person interact with the carers and it is really relaxed, there is humour, there is a lot of care. It is good. It is a home from home.’

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and operated by a private company and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

05/03/2015 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 the registered provider must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2) (b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. This is with particular regard to ensuring that the risks associated with the road are adequately assessed and responded to and are reflected in associated risk assessments. 11/04/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that records of incidents are clear and thorough and recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62 paragraph 14.4)  Ensure that any review completed under Regulation 45 that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children, includes an evaluation of the feedback gathered from young people, families and external professionals. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 64 paragraph 15.2)

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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

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Information about this inspection

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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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