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

Inspector Fiona Littlefield

Inspection date 25/01/2017 Previous inspection judgement Requires improvement Enforcement action since last inspection None

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the last 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 management team has addressed all the requirements of the last inspection. The children are more settled and have developed positive relationships with staff. They make their views known to the staff in key working sessions. The children attend regular meetings and meet every day for dinner. The children confirm that if they raise an issue with the staff they will be taken seriously. The staff and the managers ensure that risk assessments are detailed and balanced. These include management strategies that are updated after any incident. The management team has a purposeful approach. This reassures the children that their interests come first. The staff have improved the quality of recording on case files. However, the children’s achievements are not routinely noted along with their rewards. This is a missed opportunity to track their progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some new children have joined the home. The registered manager makes sure that she has all necessary information before accepting a new referral. She refers to background reports, including those from specialist consultants, and liaises directly with the placing authority. The registered manager considers the needs and vulnerabilities of each child along with the possible impact of a new arrival. This means that the staff are prepared and able to help a child settle. One social worker said, ‘They are very committed to her. Staff know what they are doing.’ However, the registered manager does not always consider possible pitfalls, such as the loss of key staff and how this might affect a child’s placement. There is no indication that any child has been subject to harm as a result of this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager monitors the quality of care in the home to ensure that she can drive improvement. She relies on specific data, including external monitoring reports, education and health outcomes, statutory reviews and case records. She considers children’s activities and their progress in acquiring life skills. This is balanced with direct feedback from children themselves, their parents and their social workers. The management team is focused on developing a skilled and confident staff group. Consequently, there is a priority on supervision and training. The staff feel valued, and this helps the children feel calm and secure.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have a clear rapport with the staff whom they trust. One child said that it was, ‘the best home that I’ve been in because they don’t give up on you.’ All of the children have allocated key workers. They meet for regularly recorded sessions. In addition, both the staff and the managers engage in constant interaction with the children throughout the day. The atmosphere is lively and occasionally challenging, but staff manage the dynamics in the group effectively. The number of negative incidents is low.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

On occasion, some of the children pose serious challenges, including placing themselves or others at risk. The staff and managers have been meticulous in planning for individual needs and working in partnership with families and other professionals, such as following concerns about possible drug misuse by some children, for instance. The staff combine planning for individual children with targeted room searches. They have also liaised with the police who visit the home regularly for informal chats with the children. Staff have invited specific voluntary agencies to come and talk to the children about drugs and how to keep themselves safe. Consequently, the children are protected.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The majority of the children are in full-time education. Other children have been out of education for a significant period, and while they are receiving some teaching, this is not a full time programme. The staff and managers are aware of their responsibilities to help the children to participate in learning. They have been in contact with the placing authority to try to resolve this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Over time, children manage their personal routines and domestic routines. As a result, they are better able to cope with the demands of a college course or a job. In the case of some children, however, staff and managers have not established a clear daily routine. This means that the children are not prepared for the demands of a full day’s work or study.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff and managers are aware of the importance of maintaining family relationships. They support contact arrangements wherever possible. The parents comment that they are treated with respect as an important part of the team working with their child.

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Information about this children's home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to four children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. This home is owned by a private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/08/2016 Full Requires improvement 16/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 16/06/2015 Full Requires improvement 28/01/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that the registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively, with particular reference to identifying what staff are needed and what planning can be considered to maintain this. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)  Ensure that staff recognise and celebrate achievements, with particular reference to consistently recording children's achievements so they understand their progress. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 31, paragraph 6.7)  Ensure that children foster positive relationships, on the basis of jointly undertaken activities, shared daily life, and domestic and non-domestic routines, with particular reference to staff systematically implementing daily programmes

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Recommendations

that support children to manage a full and productive day. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 6 Residential child care – key principles)  Ensure that children who have been out of education for a significant period are supported to access appropriate education in line with an up- to-date EHC plan. With particular reference to working with the local authority to identify appropriate support for children who have been out of education. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 26 paragraph 5.3)

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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 whom 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 0300 123 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 children looked after 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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