Children's Home run by Suffolk County Council in Suffolk

Inspection report for children’s home: SC430022 1 SC430022 Registered provider: Suffolk County Council 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 six children aged between 11 and 17 years with social, emotional and/or mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2018.

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Inspection date: 25 January 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 January 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC430022 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 this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were five children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s relationships with each other are difficult at times. This has led to serious incidents. Although risk assessments are clear and contain risk-reduction strategies, staff are not always able to manage the children’s interactions effectively. Consequently, children have experienced unsafe situations. In some cases, children have learned new, unwanted behaviours. Staff record incidents well and attend regular professionals’ meetings for each child. As a result, professionals are well informed and there is a coordinated response for the children. However, despite staff’s concerted efforts, strategies are not always effective.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has moved on. Staff supported the child to return to live with their family. The home kept the child’s placement open for six weeks after the move as a precautionary measure. However, the child settled well and has not needed to return.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child has moved into the home since the last inspection. The child previously lived with foster carers. Thorough matching assessments were completed by the deputy manager. The child came for tea visits and overnight stays before they moved in. However, the emotional impact of the move has made it difficult for the child to adjust to the change in settings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager challenges other professionals when she feels that a decision has been made without involving the child. The manager challenged a social worker about a proposed placement move for an older child. The child had expressed wishes to remain at the home until they finished their first year at college. As a result of this challenge, the child’s wishes have been considered and the child has remained at the home. The child continues to benefit from nurturing support from staff and is making good progress at college.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Serious incidents have occurred at the home. On occasions, children and staff have been injured during highly volatile situations. Staff respond and take action to de- escalate and reduce the risk of further harm. The staff have called the police for support during several incidents. Police involvement has been proportionate and necessary to keep others safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records show that staff take immediate action to de-escalate incidents of bullying with varying degrees of success. Staff have reflective discussions with children and Inspection report for children’s home: SC430022 3 encourage reparation. Social workers said that reports reflect appropriate action taken by staff to manage the incidents and encourage positive behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Several staff and one child have tested positive for COVID-19. The staff were proud of how the child managed the isolation period. There have been staffing shortages due to sickness; however, these have not been directly COVID related.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager ensures that there are sufficient staff to provide care for each child. The manager changes shift patterns and uses regular agency staff so that the children are familiar with them. However, the manager did not have the full information of the checks that the agency had taken up. Therefore, she could not be assured that all staff are suitable to work with children. The manager obtained the information during the inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The large kitchen and lounge are homely and well maintained. The home has regular maintenance visits due to high levels of damage. Regular bedroom searches are carried out in accordance with children’s safety plans. During the inspection, it was observed that a child’s gaming chair was destroyed but had not been removed from the child’s bedroom. Three children’s bedrooms had considerable piles of personal belongings, clothes and towels on the floor. This makes it difficult for staff to check the children’s bedrooms in accordance with their risk assessments and fails to keep children safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met four of the six requirements raised at the full inspection. The remaining two are restated. Staff are still not receiving regular supervision. Supervision meetings have been postponed due to prioritising children’s needs. This means that staff are not receiving support and guidance during challenging times. Two staff have not achieved a level 3 diploma in the required timescale. Inspection report for children’s home: SC430022 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/07/2019 Full Good 05/04/2018 Full Good 21/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC430022 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

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 1st 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 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the full inspection and is restated. 25 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the full inspection and is restated. 11 February 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC430022 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming, supportive and homely. In particular, to encourage children to tidy their bedrooms, and ensure that staff monitor children’s rooms and help children to keep them tidy. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)  The registered person should ensure that full and satisfactory information in relation to agency staff is obtained before the individual works at the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: SC430022 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Suffolk County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Endeavour House, Russell Road, Ipswich IP1 2BX

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Inspector

Rachel Watkinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC430022 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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