Children's Home run by Norfolk County Council in Norfolk

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has met the requirements and recommendation from the previous inspection. The statement of purpose now sets out the procedures to follow for young people to move into the home in an emergency. In addition, there is a thorough assessment of any young people who may potentially move into the home. This considers the ability of staff to meet the young person’s needs and the potential impact on the existing group. It provides clarity in the processes for young people to move into the home. Also, it is more likely young people will only move in if their needs can be met effectively and will not have a negative impact on those young people already living in the home. The registered manager is actively monitoring the timely receipt of important paperwork, such as the records of statutory reviews. This helps to ensure that staff and young people have up to date information about placements and care plans.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have made good progress since the previous inspection. They are all in full time education and most have 100% attendance rates. Where there are issues at school, the staff work with schools to address these. There has been a significant improvement in some young people’s behaviour. While there continues to be some behaviour issues, staff deal with these in a measured and appropriate way. A placing social worker spoke of staff maintaining boundaries, but ‘not making a drama’ out of things. Staff work effectively with other agencies, such as the police, to address behaviours without criminalising young people. There has been a very settled period at the home. Since the previous inspection there have not been any incidents of young people being missing from care and no physical restraint. There have been no complaints and only two sanctions. Consequently, young people live in a calmer and more pleasant environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

For one young person the progress has been so significant that the plan is now for him to return to live with his family. Another young person, who moved into the home since the previous inspection, has settled very well and begun to make friendships and develop his social skills. He was able to influence the pace of his introduction to the home, which included choosing the colour of his bedroom, staff visiting him in his previous placement and finding out about his interests, and a visit to meet the young people already living there. This was a success; his social worker said that he has settled very well, quicker and calmer than expected. He likes living in the home and has good interactions with staff. No young people have moved from the home since the previous inspection but staff continue to support a young person who had moved out before then. Moving in and out of homes can be an anxious and trying time for young people. This good planning, in which they are

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

involved, helps to reduce the stress that this can cause and makes the moves more likely to be successful.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager monitors the progress of young people and the practice of staff and addresses any issues. Staff saw an increase in the anxiety levels of one young person, so the manager amended staffing patterns to allow more individual support. This has helped the young person to settle again.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and the assistant manager monitor records and, when necessary, intervene to ensure that practice is effective and appropriate. They carry out weekly and monthly monitoring, which looks at the progress young people are making and the functioning of the home. This feeds in to six-monthly reports. The process for monitoring is thorough and effective. However, the reports do not include the opinions of placing authorities or staff, nor do they clearly identify any actions which are necessary to maintain or improve the quality of care. Staff are involved in reviewing the function of the home through team meetings and there is a focus on improvement, but not including these specifically in the review of the quality of care does limit its effectiveness to some degree.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Overall, the home has improved its effectiveness since the previous inspection and this has resulted in improved outcomes and progress for young people.

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Information about this children's home

This home is owned and run by the local authority. The home offers flexible-term care and assessment for up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

16/02/2015 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

The registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided for children and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. The system must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(c)(5)) 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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