Children's Home run by Break Charity in Norfolk

Inspection report children‟s home: SC025718 1 SC025718 Registered provider: Break

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children‟s home provides accommodation for up to four children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a registered charity that also owns a number of other children‟s homes.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 21 to 22 November 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children‟s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 17 January 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

none Inspection report children‟s home: SC025718 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Children receive good-quality care and make significant progress in their education.  Professionals and parents report that partnership working with the home is of a high quality.  The children say that they feel safe and listened to.  The staff provide stability to those children who have previously found it difficult to settle.  Staff set consistent boundaries and challenge unwanted behaviours.  Children are encouraged and supported to take part in a wide variety of activities, both in the home and in the community.  The children benefit from staff who understand the importance of and facilitate family contact.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children‟s home‟s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Repairs are required in the home to ensure that the children‟s physical environment is maintained to a high standard.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/01/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 06/09/2016 Full Good 16/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 25/11/2015 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC025718 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, the 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who understand the children‟s home‟s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(2)(c)(i)) 30/03/2018

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive consistent care and make good progress at this home. Staff build positive relationships quickly because they are experienced and skilled in engaging children. All of the children have good-quality individual placement plans that include the children‟s views and ensure that their future ambitions are considered. This results in the children recognising that the staff are committed to supporting them to achieve their full potential. A child said, „I get on well with staff, we all do. If they can help in any way they will. I think this is a good home. I have lived in over 11 places and this is the best one.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is an area in which all of the children have made good progress. Prior to moving into the home, some of the children were not attending school regularly. All of the children now attend schools in the community full-time and achieve high attendance. A teacher said, „He is doing amazing actually: his behaviour has improved and he appears to be able to regulate his emotions better. The fact that he feels settled shows in his presentation and behaviour at school. No issues at all with the home.‟ A social worker commented, „Staff have built good relationships with the school. She has aspirations and intends to go to college. The staff encourage this and fully support her to do well and achieve.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff provide stability to children who have previously found it difficult to settle. This has resulted in them successfully maintaining long-term placements. One child has Inspection report children‟s home: SC025718 4 resided at the home for over two years and is content in the knowledge that she will remain for the foreseeable future. Parents report that their children are happy and making good progress. One child has moved in since the last inspection and has received excellent support throughout his transition. His parent said, „I‟m very happy with this home and so is my son. He has said, “If I am not able to come back to you, Mum, this is where I want to stay.” He has very good relationships with the staff. He feels safe. They never let him down and are supportive to all the family.‟ The consistent care provided enables the children to develop trusting relationships and reduces their anxieties.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals and parents report that partnership working with the home is of a high- quality. Social workers report that the communication is excellent, that they receive monthly detailed reports and that there is no delay in the reporting of any incidents. One commented, „The reports are good quality, they highlight what is working well. Parents also receive a copy, which is very helpful. The communication from the staff has always been very good.‟ An independent reviewing officer said of one child, „The staff supported her through a very difficult period after she suffered a family bereavement. They worked well with the school by communicating effectively to ensure she was supported throughout this experience.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage and support the children to engage in a range of stimulating opportunities and activities, both at the home and in the community. During this inspection, the children spoke about how much they enjoyed a holiday abroad this summer in Croatia. One talked enthusiastically about her love of acting and attending the local drama theatre group; another spoke of being in a football team and winning their recent game. All the children benefit from enjoying quiz nights in the home and participating in activities they enjoy such as roller skating, swimming and rock climbing. These trips and associated activities ensure that the children grow in confidence and learn new skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to learn independence skills in line with their age and ability. They are encouraged to become involved in basic house-keeping tasks, such as keeping their bedrooms tidy and helping with clearing up after meal times. This helps the children to take pride in their environment. One of the older children said, „Staff have taught me how to cook. I know how to use the tumble dryer and washing machine. Next year I will be old enough to go on the independence programme. I will learn how to manage my money and cook at least three times a week for myself.‟ This ensures that the children learn valuable future life skills to aid them to move on to independent living.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff facilitate contact in line with the children‟s care plans. They understand the importance of maintaining contact for both the children and their families. All of the children, their parents and professionals spoken with described this as a strength of the home. A child said, „Staff always support me to see my mum and I can now see her on my own.‟ Staff are proactive and innovative. For example, they are in the process of finalising the arrangements for a grandmother to visit the home during the daytime to see where her grandson lives. A parent commented, „They really promote family contact by supervising in the community to enable normal family events to take place, such as meals out.‟ This means that they work in partnership to ensure that safe contact is Inspection report children‟s home: SC025718 5 encouraged and maintained.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The children receive high-quality support in a safe environment. The home experienced an unsettled period last year due to the level of challenging behaviour displayed. The staff work in a consistent manner and, by implementing boundaries successfully, they have achieved a calm and happy home for the children. One of the children said, „I‟m happy here and staff keep me safe. If anything is bothering me, the staff get it sorted out.‟ Feeling safe enables the children to settle and take advantage of the services and support provided.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Two requirements set at the last inspection relating to risk assessments have been met. All of the children have individual behaviour risk management plans which work alongside an improved group risk assessment. These plans are comprehensive and updated accordingly. They identify any potential risks such as the dynamics between the children and include possible actions to mitigate and manage. Alongside this, any incidents that occur which may involve the possibility of bullying behaviour are now fully included in the child‟s individual risk assessment. This ensures that the staff have the necessary guidance to follow to reduce risks further.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The children are given a child-friendly guide to the home when they are admitted. This guide contains details on how to access an independent advocate, alongside information about how any actions taken will include their views. Children spoken with report that they know how to complain and were able to explain the procedure. All said that they have no current complaints to make, and when they have in the past, they were fully included in the process and listened to.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children rarely go missing and there have been two incidents since the last inspection. Each child has a detailed missing-from-home information record, and the home has an updated missing person policy. The staff followed the correct procedures and the children‟s placing authorities were requested to complete an independent return home interview. Working together to understand the reasons behind these incidents helps to reduce the likelihood of a recurrence.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The children receive rewards for positive behaviour and sanctions for negative behaviour. Records show that the manager ensures that sanctions and rewards are effective. The staff undertake one-to-one work with the children to enable them to recognise unacceptable behaviours. As a result, the children learn how to regulate impulsive behaviour and are receiving far more rewards than sanctions.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff manage challenging behaviour well. Since the last inspection, there have been only two incidents requiring physical intervention. A previous requirement set due to the record-keeping on physical interventions being unclear has been met. The records on these two interventions provide an account of the presenting behaviour, steps taken to de-escalate, the measure of interaction applied and include a discussion with the child and staff following the event. This approach enables the manager and the staff to reflect Inspection report children‟s home: SC025718 6 fully on the incident, and aids them to identify alternative approaches to reduce the likelihood of any further incidents occurring.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have been no safeguarding incidents since the last inspection. Staff spoken with have a clear understanding of safeguarding procedures and the whistle-blowing policy. The designated officer said, „There have been no concerns regarding this home.‟ All of the staff have received mandatory safeguarding training and recognise that they have a duty to safeguard children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The dedicated registered manager has been in post since February 2009. The manager is well supported by the duty manager and together they run a good-quality service. They recognise that they have a committed, strong and resilient team and praised them for the dedication shown through a difficult period last year. Staff spoken with are equally complimentary about the manager. One said, „He is very caring and supportive of all his staff. He allows staff to do their jobs and he oversees well. If he needs to address any practice issues, he will.‟

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All of the staff either hold a relevant level 3 diploma or are working towards this required professional qualification within the necessary timescales. Senior staff who have achieved their level 3 qualification also have the level 5 diploma. New staff receive a comprehensive induction, and all of the staff have access to a wide range of training opportunities. This helps them to develop their understanding of the specific needs of the children, as well as other emerging issues which may affect the children. This high level of investment in development helps the staff to feel valued and enhances their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is stable and consistent, and the rota is staffed to meet the individual needs of the children. Staff spoken with have a good understanding of each child‟s individual history. They show good insight into the children‟s needs and behaviours and treat them with dignity and respect. The children are relaxed and happy in staff members‟ company and use appropriate banter while engaging. During this inspection, it was evident that the children have developed good, trusting relationships with staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring in the home has improved. The manager has addressed a requirement set at the last inspection due to failing to act on matters identified in the independent visitor‟s report. Any suggestions now made by the independent visitor are recorded in detail on an action plan alongside the name of the member of staff who will be responsible for completing. Records show that these actions are followed within the set timescales and being implemented effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend monthly team meetings and receive regular good-quality supervision. Time is spent in discussing both the children‟s individual needs and any new incidents. By working together as a team, the staff ensure that they remain consistent in their practice and interactions with the children. The house is homely in appearance and the two lounges and kitchen area offer a Inspection report children‟s home: SC025718 7 comfortable, inviting environment. The children‟s bedrooms are personalised and generally well maintained. However, there is some staining on one of the children‟s bedroom carpets and both the bathrooms require redecoration and modernisation. Repair to these areas will ensure that the physical environment remains a high standard throughout the home.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the „Social care common inspection framework‟, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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‟. Inspection report children‟s home: SC025718 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Break, Spar Road, Norwich NR6 6BX

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Inspector

Lynne Drage, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC025718 9 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children‟s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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