Children's Home run by Break Charity in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC439153 1 SC439153 Registered provider: Break Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This charity-run home provides care for up to four children who may have social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in October 2020. There is a manager in post who has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 20 January 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 20 January 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC439153 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 improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider has addressed the two requirements that were raised at the full inspection. No requirements or recommendations have been raised at this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the acting manager has submitted her application to Ofsted to register as the permanent manager. The responsible individual is providing the manager with support. This has given stability for staff and children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are three children living at the home. No children have moved into the home since the last inspection. Children have good relationships with the staff and each other. Children are developing attachments which they previously have not had.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children benefit from living at a home which is decorated and furnished to a good standard. Each child has their own personalised bedroom. Communal areas are comfortable. The large garden has chairs and tables to encourage children to relax, and there is equipment such as a football and bicycles for outside activities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has effective systems to monitor the standards of care provided for children. Since the last inspection, the manager and the responsible individual have identified recruitment as an area for improvement. As a result, the home is now staffed to a suitable level with permanent staff. Children benefit from stability in the staff team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s attendance at school and college and their engagement with home tutoring are good. Staff give children educational opportunities. One child is training to be a mechanic. Another child has successfully completed a catering course. Children who do not attend full-time education are helped by staff to follow individualised learning plans.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff benefit from regular supervision with an experienced manager. Supervision sessions give staff the opportunity to discuss children’s safety and progress and their own professional development. Staff feel supported by the manager.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff receive training to enable them to meet children’s needs. The manager and the home’s therapist provide supplementary training for staff to help them to understand the impact of trauma on children. Consequently, incidents where restraints and sanctions are used remain few in number. Inspection report children’s home: SC439153 3 The manager and staff work with other professionals effectively. Feedback from a social worker is positive in respect of staff’s attendance at meetings and regular communication. The manager’s links with the local schools are good. Staff work in partnership with tutors to help children learn. When children need additional emotional support, the staff work alongside the home’s therapist to ensure that they understand how to help. A social worker said that their child is making progress in engaging in life-story work for the first time.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are making good progress in developing independent living skills. Children are encouraged to keep their bedrooms tidy, do their laundry and keep communal areas clean. A suitable system is in place to reward their achievements. Staff talk to the children about adult responsibilities. One child is learning the importance of paying bills and how to look for employment. Individualised targets are monitored and tracked so that staff can provide support and encouragement to children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children enjoy a wide range of activities. They have been to theme parks, activity centres and on individual holidays. Staff encourage children to develop their hobbies and interests. One child goes fishing. Staff have organised for another child to go snowboarding. One child is helping to make a health and safety video for new staff. Children develop a sense of achievement and pride because of these opportunities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has continued to provide stability for children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff have maintained routines for children and helped them with agreed targets. The impact of the pandemic on this home and children’s progress has been minimal. Inspection report children’s home: SC439153 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/10/2019 Full Good 26/06/2019 Full Inadequate 20/02/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC439153 5

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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 children’s home: SC439153 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Schofield House, 1 Spar Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR6 6BX

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Inspector

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC439153 7 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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