Children's home run by Norfolk County Council

Inspection report children’s home: SC068955 1 SC068955 Registered provider: Norfolk County Council Children’s Services

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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 local authority home provides a therapeutic model of care for up to two children. The children have had traumatic backgrounds that have left them vulnerable. The manager of the home was registered with Ofsted in June 2016.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC068955 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/08/2017 Full Good 27/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/08/2016 Full Good 07/01/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC068955 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, 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

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 28/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b)) 14/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 28/12/2018

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Recommendations

 All staff must have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5) Inspection report children’s home: SC068955 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The overall experiences of the child who lives at the home are positive. Strong and positive relationships exist between the staff and the child based on open and honest communication. The child receives therapeutic care from staff who promote her well- being and meet her needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff gain the child’s views and opinions daily. This is an inclusive approach to involving the child in planning her care. She has become more settled at the home, resulting in a decrease in challenging and difficult behaviours.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff understand the importance of education. They work hard to arrange a suitable timetable for the child. The child attends education every day and is making progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are strong relationships between the home and other professionals. Collaborative work enables all of the professionals involved with the child’s care to ensure that she is safe and looked after well. The headteacher at the child’s school said, ‘I really cannot speak highly enough of the staff. They are team players, and they have been central in organising the multi-agency group. They advocate really well for [the child] and are not afraid to challenge others on her behalf.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child regularly sees her family. Staff work therapeutically to help the child and her family to improve their relationships. Staff take the child to and from family visits and offer advice and guidance over the phone if any issues arise during a visit.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The strong relationships between the child and the staff mean that the child will tell the staff if she is unhappy or wants to make a complaint. However, on two occasions the child made allegations against staff that the manager responded to but did not notify Ofsted of. Failure to notify Ofsted of significant incidents affects Ofsted’s ability to monitor safeguarding concerns effectively.

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

The child sometimes displays difficult and challenging behaviours. The staff de-escalate these behaviours to good effect. Physical interventions are rare, with only one recorded since the last inspection. The staff use positive reinforcement with success, and sanctions are used sparingly.

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

There has been involvement from the police and the youth offending service following incidents with the child. The home responds appropriately to these incidents, and risk assessments and behaviour management plans are updated accordingly. The home works collaboratively with other professionals to keep the child safe and reduce unwanted behaviour. Inspection report children’s home: SC068955 5 The manager ensures that safeguarding records are clear and up to date. The staff follow clear safeguarding guidelines and they are well trained and equipped for their roles. They understand their responsibilities to safeguard the child and promote her well- being. There have been no incidents of the child going missing since the last inspection.

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

The home has a welcoming and friendly feel. It is well decorated and comfortably furnished throughout. However, essential fire safety measures were found to be lacking as one fire door did not close securely. The manager made immediate plans to have this rectified due to the risk this poses to the child and the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is registered with Ofsted. He has the relevant qualifications, skills and experience to manage the home effectively. The home is fully staffed, and all but one of the staff have the necessary level 3 qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Internal monitoring of the quality of care that the home provides is comprehensive. External monitoring visits are thorough and the reporting is concise. Appropriate challenge is raised by the independent visitor, and actions for the manager to improve the quality of care are detailed in the reports.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by the home’s management team. The child is discussed at regular team meetings. Feedback from a broad range of professionals was positive. The child’s social worker said, ‘The home has achieved significant changes with [the child] and the staff are managing her emotions and behaviour through therapeutic support. Significant incidents have reduced, and she is able to appreciate the changes that she has made.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is piloting a therapeutic model of care, which is detailed in the home’s statement of purpose. However, the statement of purpose was not submitted to Ofsted. Therefore, the statement of purpose held by Ofsted is not current or accurate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive practice-led supervisions in accordance with the organisation’s policy. However, not all staff have received an annual appraisal. This leaves staff without formal opportunities to discuss any needs or issues that they require support with, and to set goals and targets for the coming year.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC068955 6 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: SC068955 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Norfolk County Council Children’s Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Norfolk County Council, Chief Executives, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich NR1 2DH

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Inspector

Ricky D’Arcy: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC068955 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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