Children's Home, Residential special school run by SES Turnstone Limited in Norfolk

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

The management team has addressed the one requirement and three recommendations from the last inspection. An assessment of the home’s location has been updated to include strategies that prevent the children from coming to harm on the nearby busy roads and to improve internet safety. Outstanding complaints have either been resolved, or there is a clear date to achieve an outcome. The registered manager has developed a schedule to ensure that the staff receive regular supervision. The management team has compiled a joint training and qualifications matrix. This means that the professional development of all staff is monitored.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some of the children have moved on as the result of planned moves. The staff and managers are careful to ensure that this is dealt with positively and go to see the children in their new placements. New children join the home following an extensive admissions process. The senior managers see the child in advance, and if they agree to the placement, the child visits the home to meet the staff and children. As a result of this meticulous approach, the children know what to expect and settle quickly.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children make good progress because they have excellent relationships with the staff, who know their needs and vulnerabilities well. The children respond well to them and conversation is playful, but purposeful. Detailed assessments, which are regularly updated, identify individual risks and match them with robust management strategies. Both teaching and care staff work as a team. They share information consistently so that the children remain protected. The staff have developed creative ways of helping the children recognise the dangers of internet safety. This means that the children learn to safeguard themselves from abuse.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have complex needs, and this can result in challenging behaviour. The significant drop in the number of physical interventions and the use of sanctions indicates that the children are more self-controlled as individuals and calmer as a group. Some of the children attribute this to education. One child said, ‘I love English as they are teaching me words that I can use and I feel more confident.’ Some professionals think that the improvement is also due to persistently applying daily routines. One social worker said, ‘He loves school but has to work through a morning routine otherwise he can’t join the others. This is basic, and has taken months but it is working.’ All of the children attend full-time education and make excellent progress in core subjects against their starting points. This greatly enhances their self-esteem.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children are encouraged to join activities in the community. These include sports activities, police cadets and drama groups. Some of the children have part- time jobs. This encourages them to balance their progress in the home alongside leisure pursuits. They gain a realistic idea of how to cope with a college course or a job. This helps the children to plan for the future positively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team is ambitious for the service. Its members regularly scrutinise a range of data alongside feedback from the staff, parents and the children. They are proud of the children’s achievements, but also are aware of areas for improvement. For instance, until recently, the staff have not received individual supervision sessions that allow time for reflection on their practice. Some of the children’s case files have gaps in records. As a result, they do not provide a clear picture of the progress that the child is making. These shortfalls have not posed any risk to the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both parents of the children and their social workers speak positively about the home, feeling that they all work as a team. The mother of one child said, ‘Staff and managers have really stepped up and keep me in the loop.’ The children are aware of this and it helps them feel secure.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is managed and run by a private company. It provides residential care for up to eight children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. Education is provided on the same site.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 13/06/2016 Full Good 13/07/2015 Full Good 24/02/2015 Full Good 06/11/2014 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:  Ensure that staff receive individual supervision which allows them time to reflect on their practice and discuss matters relating to the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’ page 61, paragraph 13.2)  Ensure that staff record information on individual children in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) This is with particular reference to completing records so that there is a clear picture of the progress a child is making.

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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, work- based 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

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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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