Children's home run by Norfolk County Council

Assurance visit report: SC068955 1 SC068955

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for up to two children, aged eight to 17 years, with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager of the home was registered with Ofsted in April 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 16 October 2019

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC068955 2

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The care of children

One child lives at the home. No children have moved in or out of the home since 1 April 2020.

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The care of children

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to changes in staff practice. The pandemic affected how the child accesses education, as the tutors were not permitted in the home during the national lockdown period. Despite this, the staff have promoted the importance of educational engagement and have worked well with external agencies to ensure that the child receives the education that she is entitled to. The manager liaised well with education providers to ensure that education remained a priority.

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The care of children

The child’s social, physical, emotional and mental health needs are well understood and effectively managed by the staff team. Therapeutic support is provided at the home and the staff team receives clinical supervision. This ensures that the child’s mental health needs are addressed and that the staff receive appropriate support to enable them to respond to the child’s needs in a therapeutic manner. When the child is resistant to accepting support, the staff continue to find ways to ensure that she is well supported.

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The care of children

External professionals were highly complimentary of the care provided by the staff. A theme of the feedback that was provided by external professionals was that the staff refuse to give up on the child. Professionals recognise that the child’s progress is due to the fact that she lives at the home. The child has had fewer hospital admissions, shown improvement in educational engagement and has been able to manage her emotions in a safer manner.

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The care of children

On occasion, the child displays behaviours which can place her and the staff at risk. These behaviours have decreased in recent months. The positive relationships between the staff and the child have enabled the child to become more accepting of staff support. This helps to keep the child safe.

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The safety of children

A COVID-19 protocol is in place. The processes detailed in the protocol promote safe working practices that reduce the risk of infection transmission. The staff and the child understand the measures introduced and feel safe because of them. The child does not feel overly restricted by the limitations of COVID-19, except for more limited access to some activities that she previously enjoyed.

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The safety of children

Incidents at the home are shared with Ofsted and other professionals as appropriate. Good information sharing enables agencies to work collaboratively and to ensure that required safeguards are maintained.

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The safety of children

Risk assessments are detailed and provide measures to reduce risk. They are reflective of the child’s current and emerging risks and are understood by the staff team. Assurance visit report: SC068955 3 The staff work well to manage the child’s complex needs and, at times, high-risk behaviours.

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The safety of children

The staff understand how trauma can affect behaviour. Furthermore, the staff’s understanding of attachment theory enables them to focus on factors that underpin behaviour. This provides the staff with an enriched understanding of the child and helps them to successfully de-escalate incidents and promote safer behaviours.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has met the requirements and recommendations that were raised at the last inspection.

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Leaders and managers

Internal monitoring is good. The independent visitor’s reports provide a detailed evaluation of incidents, outlining the effective way that the home deals with them. The reports provide a thorough evaluation of the experiences of the child and the quality of care provided by the home. Internal reports undertaken by the manager detail the strengths of the home and the areas for development. These evaluations help to drive improvements at the home.

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Leaders and managers

The staff said that the manager is accessible, approachable and receptive to new ideas. The staff feel supported both personally and professionally by the manager.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has effective gate-keeping processes. She has ensured that no other child has been placed at the home since March 2020 due to the complexities of appropriate placement matching with the child who currently lives at the home. This demonstrates good leadership and management.

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Leaders and managers

Records are up to date and reflective of the needs of the child. Allegations and safeguarding concerns are responded to and recorded appropriately.

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Leaders and managers

Staff receive regular supervision. In recent months, supervision has not always been held face to face due to the implications of COVID-19. The manager is aware of the limitations of such arrangements. The home is appropriately staffed and currently there are no vacancies. Staff continue to attend training and, in the absence of face- to-face training, online training has been provided. Assurance visit report: SC068955 4

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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: County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich NR1 2DH

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Inspector

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC068955 5 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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Inspector

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