Children's home run by Juventas Services

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children between the ages of 11 and 17 who may have experienced trauma, a sense of rejection, neglect, abuse and exploitation.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since the home registered in March 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: Not previously inspected

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Not previously inspected

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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.

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Information about this visit

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. Assurance visit report: 2566488 2

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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.

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The care of children

Managers and staff provide a warm and nurturing environment for children by giving them emotional support and a pleasant home to live in. Children like living at the home, which one child described as being like a family home, not a children’s home.

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The care of children

Staff take part in activities with the children. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the more aspirational activities and trips that the manager had hoped to provide have not been able to take place. However, there have been family-like activities, such as playing board games and getting involved in decorating the home for Christmas. Children enjoy taking part in activities with staff.

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The care of children

The children get on well with the staff. The staff care about the children and want them to do well. They encourage and support children to take part in their education. Some children are struggling to engage in their education, but are showing early signs of progress. Other children are making more notable progress.

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The care of children

The staff focus on meeting the children’s health needs and understand how these needs can make children feel. The staff work with specialist health teams. However, in one case, the referral for a child to the child and adolescent mental health services team stalled when there was some doubt over the child’s future at the home. Although the child’s placement is now more stable, work on the referral has not restarted. This may lead to delay in the child receiving the service that she needs.

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The care of children

When this child’s place at the home was under threat, managers worked effectively with the placing social worker and the child to find a way forward. As a result, the child feels listened to and the placement is much more stable.

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The care of children

There have been two incidents when children were not given their medication as prescribed. The managers have acted to address this, including ensuring that some staff undertake refresher training in administering medication.

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The safety of children

Children said that they feel safe at the home. One child has significantly reduced her risk-taking behaviours since being at the home. There have not been any incidents of children going missing since the home opened in March 2020.

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The safety of children

Staff help the children to understand and manage the risks associated with COVID- 19. The staff understand the anxieties that some children have and help them to understand the changing government guidance. Assurance visit report: 2566488 3 Bullying has been an issue at the home. Managers and staff confront this behaviour and explain to children why it is not acceptable. Very recently, this has had an impact, with no new incidents occurring.

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The safety of children

Staff help children to manage their behaviour. They involve children in developing their behaviour plans and thinking about consequences for their behaviour. The staff also help the children to develop strategies for managing difficult feelings that may otherwise result in aggressive behaviour.

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The safety of children

The registered manager has worked well with the designated officer to manage a safeguarding concern appropriately. This helps to ensure that children are protected.

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The safety of children

After incidents of physical intervention, managers do not always have recorded discussions with the staff who were involved. Consequently, managers are not making the most of opportunities to help staff reflect on their practice.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager is due to become the responsible individual in January 2021. A new manager has been identified and has begun working at the home so that there can be a handover period.

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Leaders and managers

Managers place children’s needs at the forefront of what they do, and this is reflected in the wider staff team. Staff are happy to work at the home and feel well supported by their managers.

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Leaders and managers

There is good communication between managers and other agencies, including the police and the placing social workers. This helps to ensure a consistent approach to meeting children’s needs.

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Leaders and managers

Managers are aware of the developing issues relating to COVID-19 and they receive regular updates from within their organisation. They have managed the challenges well, including thinking about which bedrooms children should have and how the building could be used to best effect if children need to self-isolate.

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Leaders and managers

Managers listen to children and obtain feedback from other agencies. However, these views are not incorporated into the regular quality of care reviews, so opportunities to use these views to improve practice are missed.

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Leaders and managers

An independent visitor carries out monthly visits to the home and prepares reports. This forms part of the quality assurance processes for the home. However, the views of others, such as children’s parents and relatives, are gathered infrequently. Consequently, some potentially useful information is not being included. Assurance visit report: 2566488 4

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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 registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person, if they consent, to interview in private such of the children’s parents and relatives as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b)) 31 January 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided for children. The system must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a) (5)) 31 March 2021

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Recommendations

 Homes have a key role in organising and ensuring each child’s attendance at the necessary primary and secondary health services. If these services are not accessible, or are withdrawn, staff should inform and engage with those who also hold a responsibility for the child’s health to ensure their health needs are met. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.11)  Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. In particular, make clear records of discussions with the staff involved after the use of restraint. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Juventas Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 97 Yarmouth Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR7 0HF

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Inspector

Clive Lucas, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2566488 6 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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