Children's Home run by Stanfield Care Children Services Limited in Norfolk

Inspection report for children’s home: 2580887 1 Registered provider: Stanfield Care Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to four children between the ages of 11 and 18 years with social, emotional and behavioural needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Inspection date: 23 November 2021

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 23 November 2021

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2580887 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.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has addressed three of the five requirements that were raised at the last inspection. Overall, there has been a reduction in the number of incidents and the frequency with which children go missing from the home. Although there has been an increase in incidents in recent weeks, this is attributed to the children being informed that they will be moving on from the home imminently, which has caused them some unsettlement. Placing authorities intend to move the children back to their own authorities so they can be nearer to their homes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has a clear understanding of the strengths of the staff and their areas for development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager challenges professionals when she feels that they are denying the children the services and support that they need. The manager challenged a social worker’s view about a child having a mobile phone as the manager was concerned that the phone would compromise the child’s safety. The manager is child centred and tenacious in her leadership. This ensures that children’s needs are fully considered and appropriately advocated for.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager responds to complaints effectively. She ensures that the child concerned receives a detailed letter saying what actions have been, and will be, taken because of the complaint. This empowers children because they are aware that their voices are heard, and that action is being taken to improve their experience of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager carries out regular and rigorous audits of the records and frequently observes staff practice. The manager works on shift to model preferred working practices to staff. This enables the manager to embed a positive culture and ethos that staff can learn from. Consequently, children benefit from an improved standard of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Social workers unanimously said that their children have made good progress since moving to the home. Staff support children educationally, and they have supported a child to find and maintain employment. Both social workers said that their children have reduced the frequency with which they go missing from the home and are now more able to manage difficult feelings. This reduces children’s exposure to risky situations. Inspection report for children’s home: 2580887 3 Children have positive relationships with the staff, who they have begun to trust. One social worker said that this is significant progress for her child as, historically, the child has not formed attachments with anyone other than her family members.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments reflect the information in children’s local authority plans. Risk assessments evidence that the frequency of incidents that children are involved in has reduced over time. The manager regularly reviews risk assessments to ensure that they remain reflective of risk. Staff have greater awareness of risk-reduction strategies. Although staff have not been able to consistently follow the strategies to mitigate risk, there has been a clear improvement in this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff provide children with regular and informative key work. Discussions held are relevant to the children’s lives and target areas of concern. Additionally, key-work sessions are used as opportunities to praise the children and recognise their achievements. Staff recognise the progress that the children have made. This progress may not seem substantial. However, given the children’s starting points, the progress has been impressive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager responds to safeguarding concerns effectively and quickly. There is good liaison with a wide network of professionals, and the manager follows the advice given by the designated officer. Suggested action plans to improve staff practice are implemented. The manager monitors staff practice with rigour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have managed incidents more effectively. However, on occasion, there has been an over-reliance on the police to support incidents. This places children at risk of being criminalised for matters that staff should be able to manage.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have made improvements to the garden and the home. The home is maintained to a good standard. However, one child’s clothing storage is broken and there is no current plan for its replacement. Inspection report for children’s home: 2580887 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2580887 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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to replacing the broken clothing storage.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the full inspection and is restated. 17 December 2021

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

that staff— 17 December 2021 Inspection report for children’s home: 2580887 6 meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(i)b)(c) (2)(a)(xi))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the full inspection and is restated.

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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 for children’s home: 2580887 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stanfield Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 6, Cuckoo Wharf, 435 Lichfield Road, Birmingham, Warwickshire B6 7SS

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Inspector

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2580887 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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