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 judges that it has improved in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection the registered manager has left the home. The acting manager has been appointed as the manager and will commence the registration application process.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has addressed both of the recommendations that were made at the previous inspection by:

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Ensuring that the staff now receive supervision in line with the home‟s supervision policy. This provides staff with a space in which they can reflect on their practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Redecorating several areas of the house to ensure that it has a more homely feel and encourages the children to have a sense of pride in their home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although no children have moved in or out of the home, the manager regularly reviews the group dynamics assessment to evaluate, on an ongoing basis, the continued compatibility of the children. This enables the manager and the staff to identify and act upon any negative/positive changes in the children‟s behaviour and/or interactions. The staff then update the children‟s risk assessments as required.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both of the children continue to make good overall progress. The manager speaks positively about the relationships that the staff build with the children. The children‟s records reflect this, as the staff write the records as though they are speaking to the child. One child‟s report starts with, „Over the last 11 months [child] has made us laugh „til we cry. His personality is infectious and we hope that he continues to have the high ambition, drive and determination that he possesses – he can have a bright and positive future.‟ This reinforces children‟s self-worth.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One of the children has significantly increased his level of attendance at his education provision. He has also secured a college placement for September 2017. He is now participating in more activities that are organised by the staff than he chose to previously. His parent describes the positive changes by saying, „He has done well here. This is the best home he has been in. They are a good bunch of carers. He is happy. They [the staff] get on with him and they do very well with him. He has had many moves and not got on, but this home has really helped him. You can see in how he is and acts that he wants to do things. Staff supported him in researching courses and he got a place on the course in September.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Unfortunately, despite the improvements in his education and home life, the child has continued to make poor decisions when out in the community with his friends, and the courts have required him to remain in custody until his next court date. A professional said, „He was really settled and I saw huge changes. He is a hard-to- place child and he has now had a stable period and built relationships. He would not unpack in previous homes because he felt that he would not be there long enough. Now he is taking ownership of his bedroom. It is really positive. He says he “feels safe and secure”. He is very articulate, so for him to say he is happy in a placement is a really big thing. He respects the staff and he gets consistent messages. Although it is sad, where he is now, I believe that his positive relationships with the staff at the home are what have prevented this occurring sooner.‟ The child‟s parent said that his child being in custody is „no fault of the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The other child is now fully engaging with his home tuition and he is managing to interact with the two different tutors who deliver his varied timetable. This division of the sessions ensures that the child benefits from the different approaches and personalities of the tutors and minimises the chances of the child becoming disengaged. The child has now undertaken some functional tests in literacy and numeracy. This is a marked improvement on the situation at the last inspection. A professional spoke about the positive changes and said, „The transformation that has occurred in six to eight months, he seems a different person. They have contained him and made him very settled. He says he wants to stay there as long as possible.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been nine episodes of children going missing from home. Two occurred when a child stayed out overnight and failed to make contact with the home. He returned safe and well on both occasions, but refused to say where he had been. The other episodes related to the other child, who the staff reported as missing due to the level of known risks. The manager has now negotiated an increased level of unsupervised time and family contact, including overnight stays, for one of the children. In addition to strengthening the child‟s relationship with his family members, the increased contact has led to a reduction in the child‟s late returns.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been no use of physical intervention since the last inspection. The staff utilise their positive relationships with the children and de-escalation techniques, such as deflection and humour, to defuse any heightened behaviour. A child named his key worker when asked who he would alert if he felt unsafe or had any concerns.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The home has a full complement of staff and the staffing structure now includes a social work post. The aim is that this post will support the manager in the further development of the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Professionals and relatives say that they have positive working partnerships with the manager and her team. They also speak highly of the manner in which the manager and the staff work with the children and their families. Their comments include:

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 „They have advocated for [child], regarding education and contact, in a way that the local authority has not. I have seen his confidence grow and he now attends meetings and will speak up.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 „They [the staff] communicate quite well and that hasn‟t been the case in the other homes my child has lived in.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 „It is of note that staff from the home describe [child] as a lovely young man and are able to see past his challenging behaviour. Many other resources would have written [child] off as a lost cause. However, they continue to see his potential and support him as best they can. Maybe this is why he has stayed at [the home] for almost a year.‟

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children‟s home is registered to accommodate two children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 01/11/2016 Full Good 01/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 17/08/2015 Full Good 25/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 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

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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