Children's home run by Norfolk County Council in Norwich

Inspection report for children’s home: SC034797 1 SC034797 Registered provider: Norfolk County Council 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 medium- to long-term residential care for up to four children who have experienced trauma and may have experienced neglect and/or emotional abuse.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 7 September 2021

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC034797 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/09/2021 Full Inadequate 08/01/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 04/04/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/08/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC034797 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, children have had a more positive experience of living at the home. However, the progress that children make requires improvement to be good.

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improvement to be good

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living at the home. Staff establish positive and trusting relationships with children. A child’s recent move to the home was well planned. The child spent time at the home before their move. Detailed information from the local authority and previous home helped staff to understand the child’s needs. As a result, the child, who had previous episodes of being missing, has settled quickly.

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improvement to be good

The home has an institutionalised feel. However, there is extensive refurbishment under way that will provide children with a more homely and welcoming environment.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the children’s emotional and mental health needs. Staff have a good knowledge of the relationships that are important to the children. They get to know the children’s families well and have a good understanding of the family dynamics. This increases staff’s understanding and enables them to tailor their care to the needs of the children.

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improvement to be good

Staff have failed to sufficiently engage one child at the home. Although the child’s plan is agreed with the social worker, there has been little encouragement from staff for her to spend time at the home. There are no clear and immediate consequences or responses when the child does not attend education. Therefore, staff have not helped her to understand the importance or value of education. Consequently, the child has not made progress in education or her social development. The other child’s attendance at school has improved.

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improvement to be good

One child said that she has enjoyed trips out with staff, visiting local beaches and going shopping. The child has only recently moved to the home but already feels comfortable in the company of staff. Activities and trips out help children to broaden their social networks and range of experiences.

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improvement to be good

The staff seek and respond to children’s views. Children’s meetings are held regularly, although only one of the two children living at the home attends. These meetings have a clear focus on the child’s wishes and feelings. Changes made at the home reflect the child’s wishes, which helps the child to feel a sense of belonging. Inspection report for children’s home: SC034797 4

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

There have been no missing-from-home episodes, no restraints and no sanctions or incidents since the last visit. The children are very settled and have been supported well by staff.

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

The children said that they have staff whom they can speak to if they have a concern or worry.

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

Staff support children’s health needs well. Staff have regular and meaningful conversations with the children about their health. Children seek out staff to support them with their health needs. This demonstrates the positive relationships that some children have with staff. Children are encouraged to attend health appointments and independence is promoted when a child wants to attend appointments without adult support.

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

Parents provided complimentary feedback about the home. One parent said that there have been several improvements in behaviour since her daughter moved to the home. The child no longer goes missing from home, is more settled emotionally and attends school more regularly.

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

One social worker said that she views the home as a place of safety and security for her child.

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

The managers make appropriate challenge to the placing local authority when they feel that children’s rights are not being upheld. This ensures that children receive the services, support and care that they require.

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

The manager has not updated the location risk assessment to include the presence of builders at the home who are carrying out a refurbishment. There is a skip and a cordoned-off area in the garden where the builders store their materials. Builders are on site in school hours to minimise disruption. However, it is unclear how the additional risks have been mitigated and understood by staff.

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good

The manager has met three out of the four requirements made at the last inspection.

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good

Children’s needs are better assessed before they move in to the home. Therefore, only children whose needs can be met move in. A child who recently moved in was a good match to the other child already living at the home. Consequently, the children’s experiences have improved. The home has a more positive atmosphere and there is no bullying or conflict between the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC034797 5 Parents and social workers said that communication with the manager is excellent. Parents and social workers receive weekly updates about their children’s progress.

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good

Some records are not reflective of the children’s needs. Individual care plans have not been updated since one child’s arrival. One care plan refers to previous placements and has not been revised to reflect current care arrangements. Some records have not been updated to reflect children’s reduction in risk and their subsequent progress. One child’s health plan had not been updated to reflect a recent health concern. The manager has failed to monitor records sufficiently. This shortfall was identified at the last inspection.

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good

Staff training overall is good. However, some staff have not been retrained in managing medication despite their certification expiring. The provider has failed to deliver training to staff despite the manager requesting this training seven months ago. Lack of sufficient training means that staff may not have current information to help them meet children’s needs.

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good

The record of the staff duty roster does not include the manager or a senior staff member. This can cause confusion when trying to monitor events.

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good

It was identified at the last inspection that some staff have their mobile phones on their person while working at the home. There is still no clear guidance about the acceptable use of mobile phones when working with children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC034797 6

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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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iv)(viii)) 14 January 2022

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the full inspection and the subsequent monitoring visit and is restated. 14 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC034797 7 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that staff are trained in medication dispensation. 14 January 2022

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This refers specifically to ensuring that the staff duty roster includes all staff, the manager and any senior managers. 14 January 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12 (2)(c) (the protection of children standard). (Regulation 46 (1)) 14 January 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff consistently follow the home’s policies and procedures for the benefit of the children in the home’s care. In particular, ensure that all staff are aware of and follow the home’s policy on the use of mobile phones when they are working with children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20) Inspection report for children’s home: SC034797 8

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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: SC034797 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Norfolk County Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Rachel Watkinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC034797 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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