Children's home run by Norfolk County Council in Norwich

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged as good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection there were requirements and recommendations made in relation to:  education for children;  staff training;  internet access.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All of the children are in education. Two are involved in further education which is clearly linked to their future career hopes. They are also doing part-time work which is relevant to their training. This helps them to prepare for future full-time work and boosts their self-esteem. One of these children is working at a prestigious catering establishment and was picked out for this work by the chef, who visited his college. Both of the boys are building social relationships outside of the home. One recently went on holiday with his girlfriend and her family. The staff are understandably proud of the progress that these two children are making as they move towards independence. The other two children are in alternative education provisions. One child attends regularly. The other child’s attendance can be sporadic. Nevertheless, he has made significant progress in his education based on his starting point when he first moved into the home. Overall, the children are

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

making good progress in their education and training.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have had training, or it is booked in for some who have missed it. This ensures that the staff are up to date and informed regarding the care that they provide for children. Plans are in place to provide internet access in the home, but this has not been completed yet. The senior and the staff have been thinking about and preparing the safeguards which will need to be in place to protect the children when they use the internet.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No children have moved out of or into the home since the last inspection. The staff have continued to build relationships with the children in the home to varying degrees. The two older children have been at the home the longest. The social worker for one of them said that the child is settled, happy and gets on well with staff. He also said that he has ‘nothing but admiration’ for the staff and how they work with the child. One of the other children has reduced his criminal activity and also his risk-taking behaviour. While there are still some issues, his social worker said that he has made a ‘massive improvement’, based on his starting point when he first moved into the home. The other child has always been reluctant to engage with staff and in the life of the home. He was always clear that he intended to leave care when he became 16. He is 16 now and is still at the home. However, he is frequently away from the home and there are concerns about his safety in the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

community. Through regular strategy meetings and joint agency working, the staff have developed some limited knowledge and oversight of what the child does and where he is when he is not at the home. There is an acceptance among agencies that this is not ideal, but that he is safer than he would be if this work had not been done. Throughout this he continues to attend his education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is on long-term sick leave. He is expected to return in the next few weeks. The senior has been covering the management of the home with support from the responsible individual and a registered manager from another home. These arrangements have been effective. The senior has a sound awareness of the strengths and areas for development in the home. There are regular visits from an independent person, who monitors how the home is operating. In addition, a review of the quality of care has been undertaken. This has included the views of children, their parents and social workers, and the staff. However, these views have not been evaluated in a way that informs the review effectively. This means that some potential information on how the home is operating, or how it could improve its care of children, is not being processed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have not been any complaints since the last inspection. There is a low use of sanctions and there has been only one incident of restraint since the last inspection. These measures are all used and recorded appropriately. When incidents do occur, the staff manage them appropriately and help the children to reflect on what happened. This helps to reduce the frequency and duration of incidents.

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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 13/10/2016 Full Good 14/03/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 19/11/2015 Full Requires improvement 25/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

Ensure that the review of the quality of care enables the registered person to identify areas of strength and possible weakness in the home’s care which will be captured in the written report (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4). This is with particular reference to evaluating the views of children, their parents, the placing authorities and the staff.

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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

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 and looked after 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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