Children's Home run by Break Charity 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 judges that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the home has gone through a difficult period because of the challenging behaviour exhibited by some of the children. This has had an impact on life in the home for other children as well as for those directly involved. While matters are well on their way to improving they are not yet at the level that they were when the home was last inspected and judged as good.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children feel that things are improving. Despite this being a challenging time for the staff, they have maintained a child-centred approach to their work. The managers and the staff have reflected on the challenges they have faced and how they responded to them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two new children have moved into the home since the last inspection. One of these children has since moved out. Her placement was ended after three weeks due to the dynamics within the group of children. The manager carried out assessments to identify if the two placements were likely to be suitable before the children moved in. These assessments identified potential risks such as the dynamics between the children but did not include possible actions to mitigate and manage them. Despite this, the level of challenging behaviour that has been experienced could not have been reasonably predicted. There has been an increase in the instances of police being called to the home. The local police officer is of the view that the calls were appropriate and made only when necessary. He says they have dramatically reduced recently. The manager and staff team has looked at what had happened during this unsettled time and has identified actions to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

improve in the future. This includes refresher de-escalation and restraint training for the staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents between the children have included some allegations which were appropriately referred and investigated. There are ongoing tensions between some of the children. This has resulted in challenging behaviour which is still occurring and is described in some documents as bullying. It fits clearly within the description of bullying in the home’s bullying policy. However, these incidents have not been recorded as bullying in the home’s bullying records. This is despite the home’s independent visitor raising this as an issue in the report of their visit in October 2016. Bullying has not been included in the risk assessment for one of the children who is subject to it. Further to this, two of the children have made complaints about the behaviour of other children. The complaints include not being able to get to sleep because of noise disturbance, verbal abuse and being hit. The manager and the staff have taken action in response to the complaints. This includes ending

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

one child’s placement, removing another’s audio system speakers and talking to him about his behaviour. However, not identifying and recording these incidents as bullying and not including this in children’s risk assessments does limit the strength and effectiveness of the response.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following the November visit, the home’s independent visitor reported that records of physical intervention were missing details about the children’s views and the outcome of conversations between the child and the manager. Despite this, at the time of the inspection the information was still missing for the records that the independent visitor had identified. It was also missing for two of the three subsequent entries. In addition, details of discussions with the staff were also missing, and one record did not describe the measure of physical intervention used. Failing to have clear records of physical interventions prevents effective monitoring by the managers and others to ensure that it is done in a way which is in children’s best interests. By not having discussions with the children and the staff following physical interventions the managers can miss opportunities to identify ways of reducing the number or length of interventions. Not responding to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

issues such as physical intervention and bullying records, which the independent visitor had identified, prevents monitoring from being effective in improving the outcomes for children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The service has commissioned an assessment of one child to determine if the home can continue to meet her needs, or if another placement would be better for her. A decision had been made that she should move, but this was delayed to avoid her facing disruption over the Christmas period. At the request of the placing authority, the service is reviewing this decision. The assessment is a very positive strategy as it will, at the very least, allow a planned move and provide information for the child’s placing authority about her future placement. It may also help the home to identify the services and resources that will meet her needs and avoid the requirement for a move.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff have positive relationships with other agencies such as placing authorities and the local police. These help to ensure that children’s needs are met collectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Shortfalls identified in the previous report have all been addressed:

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 The fire extinguisher has been serviced, which helps to ensure that children are protected from fire.  The independent visitor’s reports are sent into Ofsted. They identify relevant issues and include a view on how children are safeguarded and how their well- being is promoted. This is a good monitoring process but depends upon the reports being acted upon.  The home is no longer using bedroom door alarms and the statement of purpose reflects this.  The registered manager is in the process of completing a review of the quality of care, which is due at the end of January 2017.  All appraisals are up to date unless there has been a valid reason for a delay (such as staff absence). This helps to ensure that staff receive the training and support needed to provide good care for children.  There is always a manager or senior member of staff available in the home or on call. Consequently, the staff have access to someone with knowledge of the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

home, the children and the staff group.  Complaints records are completed and include details of actions taken, which helps in monitoring the efficacy of the system and the practice within the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Addressing these matters has led to better safeguards for the children.

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Information about this children's home

This children's home provides accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a registered charity that also owns a number of other children's homes.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 06/09/2016 Full Good 16/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 24/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/01/2015 Full Good

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard: In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference to taking account of matters identified in the independent visitor’s reports, the registered person must: 2(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 28/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

12. The protection of children standard: In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to ensuring that children’s risk assessments include all relevant information and that impact risk assessments identify measures to manage risk, the registered person must ensure that staff: 2(a)(i) 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. 28/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes all of the information required under this regulation. This relates in particular to the description of the measure. Further, that the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so, has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(iv)(b)(i)(ii)) 28/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must implement the policy for the prevention of bullying in the home, this relates in particular to identifying and recording incidents of bullying. (Regulation 34(3)) 28/02/2017

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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 that 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

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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