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

Inspection report children’s home: SC435322 1 SC435322 Registered provider: Acorn Norfolk Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care for up to 28 children who are on 38- and 52- week residential placement options. There is an on-site school that is registered with the Department for Education. There are currently 14 children living at the home. The home specialises in providing care for children who have autism spectrum conditions, complex needs, moderate to severe learning difficulties, communication difficulties and associated challenging behaviour.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left on 29 November 2018. A new manager has been appointed and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 25 February 2020

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC435322 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The shortfalls identified during the full inspection meant that the home needed to make further improvements to provide consistently good-quality care. Although there are some areas of good practice, the issues at the full inspection have not been fully addressed and further shortfalls have been identified at this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Until recently, the staff were consistently failing to follow the provider’s own safeguarding policy. The lead safeguarding staff had not ensured that information was shared promptly with the designated officer. Safeguarding records were poor quality. Failure to share concerns promptly and to ensure that the staff understand and act in accordance with safeguarding policies and procedures have the potential to result in children being harmed. The most recent safeguarding records provide clarity and show that the staff’s actions have been timely. However, this improvement cannot yet be considered as sustained and the requirement that was unmet at the last inspection remains unmet at this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home uses agency staff. However, managers have failed to ensure that agency staff profile checks give assurance that all necessary safe recruitment checks have taken place. Although sufficient checks were in place for some agency staff, for others there was no confirmation of references, employment history, reasons for leaving past employment or overseas checks. Failure to adhere to safe recruitment practices increases the potential for unsuitable people to work at the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have not received supervisions with sufficient frequency. This includes instances when staff were returning from a period of suspension. This means that the staff have not received the full support that they need to carry out their roles. In addition, some agency staff have not received the induction that the organisation intends these staff to have. This does not equip temporary staff to carry out their roles effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite several arrangements that were put in place by the management to encourage improved medication administration, errors continue to be made. There have been 13 medication errors since the last inspection. These errors have the potential to have a serious impact on children’s health.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Notifications to Ofsted are generally submitted in a timely manner. However, managers failed to notify Ofsted of a whistle-blowing concern that was raised in June 2019. This prevented Ofsted from having an accurate oversight of the home to ensure that suitable action was taken to safeguard the children. Inspection report children’s home: SC435322 3 A communal area that is used by the children is not fit for purpose as it is in a state of disrepair, for example flooring has lifted, the walls are damaged and there is mould and mildew on the walls. This does not provide children with a homely and nurturing environment in which to enjoy activities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have access to the training that they need. They benefit from face-to-face training that includes safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Monitoring of training is effective, with staff being allocated places on refresher and update courses as necessary. The proportion of staff who have achieved a suitable level 3 qualification has improved. However, a significant number of staff have not achieved this qualification within the requisite timescales.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The number of restraints has reduced since the last inspection. There is good management oversight of the patterns of restraint incidents. This information is used to provide targeted support to the children who need it most.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child has been provided with a bespoke package to meet his specific needs and to manage his associated risks. Part of this package includes the child supporting the maintenance team, after he successfully interviewed for the position. This has increased his confidence and improved his sense of well-being. This is an innovative idea that has led to very positive outcomes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The incidents of children going missing are managed well. The staff are vigilant and ensure that missing children are returned safely and quickly.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to make some good progress. There have been four admissions to the home since the last inspection. These admissions have been planned effectively, with consideration given to gradually familiarising children with the home prior to their admission. This reduces children’s anxieties and gives them time to become familiar with the school site, their new home and the staff who will be working with them. Inspection report children’s home: SC435322 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/11/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/08/2018 Full Inadequate 07/03/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC435322 5

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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

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(vii)) 30/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)) 20/03/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC435322 6 The registered person must make arrangements for the safe administration of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23(1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, make sure that medicines are given to children as prescribed. 30/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (‘the Level 3 Diploma’); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1 April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1 April 2014, 1 April 2016. (Regulation 32(4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b)) 30/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; 20/03/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC435322 7 the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction; and

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Requirement Due date

that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(1)(a)(4)(b)) 30/03/2020

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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;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

(in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry).

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation— must include details of—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter; and

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40(4)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 20/03/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC435322 8

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Information about this inspection

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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: SC435322 9

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorn Norfolk Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Merchants Place, River Street, Bolton BL2 1BX

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Inspectors

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector (Lead) Ashley Hinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC435322 10 to 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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