Children's Home run by Flying Spur Limited in Norfolk

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged as requires improvement at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . Since the last inspection, a new manager has taken up his post at the home and has registered with Ofsted. The staff and the children speak positively about the new manager and the impact he is having following a period of interim management arrangements. Having clear management in place by someone who is accountable for the operation of the home is an important aspect of providing good-quality care for children. At the previous inspection, shortfalls were identified in relation to:

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 staff inductions  staff recruitment checks  records of physical intervention and sanctions  the education arrangements for children  records of internal investigations  records of decision making for new placements  a policy in safe internet use  the location risk assessment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Appropriate recruitment checks have been carried out on those staff who have started at the home since the last inspection. The home has also provided them with a full induction. These measures help to ensure that the children are not looked after by adults who may pose a risk to them, and that the staff are sufficiently prepared to provide good, safe care for the children. There have not been any incidents of physical intervention since the last inspection. All of the staff have either received training in de-escalation and physical intervention, or are due to complete this training in April 2017. The staff record sanctions appropriately and the registered manager reviews them. He makes comments and suggestions about sanctions, such as encouraging a more restorative approach in some cases. Any omissions to the records are identified by the monitoring in place, and those who completed them are asked to fill any gaps.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This all helps to ensure that the use of physical intervention is safe and appropriate and that sanctions are effective. The responsible individual has appointed a new independent visitor to undertake monthly visits to the home. Following the visit, the independent visitor writes a report detailing areas of potential improvement. However, he does not record his opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and whether the conduct of the home promotes the children’s well- being. Three of the children at the home are not in full-time education. Two of these have only recently moved in and are due to start mainstream education after the Easter holidays. The third has been out of education for a considerable time. However, the manager and the staff have been chasing her placing authority to arrange suitable education for her. A placement was identified and introductions began, but this fell

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

through. The manager and the staff continue to advocate on the child’s behalf. There has been one incident which the registered manager has discussed with the designated officer for safeguarding in the local authority. This was eventually dealt with as an internal matter. The registered manager has kept appropriate records to show what action has been taken and the outcome. This provides clear evidence to help improve practice and inform any future action should any further issues arise. Two children have moved into the home since the last inspection. Managers have kept records to show that they have considered their ability to meet these children’s needs and the potential impact of, and the impact on other children, of them moving into the home, as well as the protective factors which they can implement to help make the placement successful. One of the children was able to visit the home with her family before her move, and the other child had to move in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

more quickly. The social worker for one of these children spoke about the staff and other children making the new child feel welcome and helping them unpack. One child has moved from the home since the previous inspection. Managers decided that her placement was not sustainable due to the impact on other children. However, they did extend the placement so that she did not have to move near to Christmas, and extended it again to allow a suitable alternative to be found. The child keeps in contact with staff. These arrangements are likely to have made the move more manageable for the child. The location risk assessment has been reviewed and amended to include clearer reference to the risk associated with the nearby road. This will help the staff to reduce the risk of the children being involved in accidents. There is an internet policy for the home, but this does not cover children’s use of the internet

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

sufficiently well. It does not detail how the children’s suitability to have access to the internet will be assessed, how they will be supported to understand the risks associated with the internet, or their use of the internet through mobile phones. There are plans to provide internet access for the children in the home. The managers have been considering how they can help the children to use this safely. However, lack of a clear and detailed policy can lead to an inconsistent approach to helping the children use the internet safely. There has been a very recent rise in episodes of children going missing from care and taking part in challenging behaviour in the home. The staff are taking appropriate actions when the children go missing to try and find them and get them back to the home. A local police officer has come into the home and spoken with the children, but this has not had any effect. The registered manager is in the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

process of arranging a meeting with the police missing from care co-ordinator and the children’s social workers. The registered manager and the staff are trying to address the challenging behaviour, but it is currently affecting those children not involved. Their sleep is being disturbed, and this is having an impact on their ability to concentrate at school. Managers are aware of this and are currently trying to find ways of further supporting these children. The children say that the staff are supportive of them, always there for them to speak to and are trying to deal with the disruptive behaviour. It is too soon to assess whether the actions being taken by managers and staff will lead to a reduction in children going missing and episodes of challenging behaviour.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to six children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is privately owned by an individual.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

16/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and whether the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44(4)(a)(b)) 31/05/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Support children to be aware of and manage their own safety, both inside and outside the home, to the extent that any good parent would. Staff should help children to understand how to protect themselves, feel protected and be protected from significant harm. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9). In particular, this relates to having, and implementing, a policy on safe internet use, including assessing whether and how children can access the internet.  Staff should support the other children living in the home to respect children’s privacy. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.17). In particular, this relates to ensuring that some children’s behaviour does not impact on those not involved.

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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 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

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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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