Children's Home, Residential special school run by SES Turnstone Limited in Norfolk

Inspection report children’s home: SC452461 1 SC452461 Registered provider: SES Turnstone Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The privately owned home offers a therapeutic model of care. The home provides long-term placements for up to eight children who have traumatic backgrounds and may have experienced neglect and/or emotional abuse.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is a school on site that is also run by the organisation. The inspectors only inspected the social care provision.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2015.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 7 December 2021

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC452461 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/12/2021 Full Good 10/03/2020 Full Good 30/01/2019 Full Good 14/11/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: SC452461 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This inspection was brought forward to address specific concerns received by Ofsted. Two children have moved into the home and two children have moved on. The children have stable, fulfilling experiences. These provide them with a secure base from which they make measured progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children attend school. The staff work very well with the school staff and an educational psychologist to provide tailored academic and vocational learning plans. Individualised timetables have helped children to make significant improvements in their attendance and academic engagement.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have a positive culture of high regard for every child. This helps children to feel valued and proud of their successes. Mutually respectful and warm relationships with staff help the children to feel safe and unconditionally accepted. As a result, children can reflect on the past and begin to develop an understanding of managing their own emotions.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff encourage children to be ambitious for their futures by seeking new opportunities. Children learn independence skills through bespoke incentives which are tailored to children’s milestones. Staff make links with the community to enable children to gain work experience. Some children have experienced gardening and volunteer work in an elderly care home. The range of opportunities improves children’s self-determination, which helps them to prepare for adult living. Children continue to support the local community. They are involved in arranging fundraising events for local causes, including a recent charity football match. Two children have won awards at a national ceremony for their recent achievements. These accomplishments have increased children’s pride and sense of responsibility.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves to the home are child centred. They receive a warm welcome. Comprehensive matching assessments are well informed by an educational psychologist. This is beneficial to children moving in and those who already live at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious, and the garden provides children with an additional area to explore their musical talents and interests. The children have personalised bedrooms that are decorated in line with their preferences. However, there are some wider decorative issues, including worn paintwork in the kitchen and a loose staircase banister.

p.3

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

The staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and have a good knowledge of the procedures. Detailed investigations into allegations of harm are Inspection report children’s home: SC452461 4 shared with the appropriate agencies and are handled fairly. This provides suitable systems to safeguard the children.

p.3

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

Staff manage complex incidents between the children well. After one incident between children, risk management plans were updated, and staff supervision levels increased. The staff liaised with police and social workers effectively. Consequently, one child moved on from the home. However, during this period, staff remained committed to the child and ensured that the move was planned in their best interests.

p.4

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

The staff understand the therapeutic models that underpin the children’s care. These are embedded in the day-to-day support. A consultant psychiatrist and educational psychologist work closely with the children and the staff. Individual therapy from specialists is provided alongside the support of the staff. Consequently, children are supported to improve their decision-making and emotional resilience. This enables children to have a better understanding of risks and equips them to make safer choices.

p.4

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

Children are confident about engaging in open and honest conversations. The staff skilfully implement responsive one-to-one discussions. Children take part in meetings to agree sanctions following any difficult behaviours. This restorative approach helps children to take responsibility for their actions.

p.4

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

Risk management plans are generally detailed and updated with enough information to guide staff. However, strategies in relation to approaches for one child at risk of exploitation are unclear. This does not consider the child’s vulnerabilities and could lead to inconsistencies in staff’s responses.

p.4

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

There have been several physical interventions. These have been used as a last resort. The quality of the staff debriefs has improved. However, the records of managerial oversight could be better. These records do not reflect the evaluation undertaken and could hinder the effectiveness of wider monitoring.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is child focused, experienced and qualified. He is supported well by the wider leadership team. An effective model of care is centred on children’s aspirations and strengths, which leads to positive outcomes for children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are strong advocates for children. They ensure that any decisions made in respect of a child are planned, well thought out and in the child’s best interests. These include challenging a local authority in relation to a child’s move into the home. Managers advocated for a child when local health services fell short in responding to the child’s mental health needs. This led to an independent assessment which resulted in the right support being provided for the child.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Well-planned and successful recruitment drives have resulted in low staff turnover and good continuity of care to children. The staff benefit from a wide range of Inspection report children’s home: SC452461 5 bespoke training courses to equip them with the skills to meet the individual and complex needs of the children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Parents and social workers provided positive feedback about the excellent progress children make. However, some parents and social workers report that the communication from staff is poor. Consequently, there have been delays in important information being shared.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff access development opportunities, including consultations with trained health professionals. However, some staff have not received supervision in line with the home’s policy. The quality of supervision records is variable and does not monitor staff practice or reflect staff promotion. Some staff have not had an annual appraisal. This does not ensure that staff receive all the support that they need.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s internal quality of care is good. Staff have adapted well to a new electronic recording system which aids managerial monitoring. However, the independent person’s visits require improvement. Parents and families have not been contacted and it is unclear if the independent person announces the visits. This reduces the safeguards intended by this external monitoring. Inspection report children’s home: SC452461 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, provide staff with supervision and appraisals in line with the home’s policy. 30 September

p.6

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.6

Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

p.6

Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced. (Regulation 44 (2)(a) (3)) 30 September

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is decorated and maintained to a consistently high standard. When necessary, repairs should be addressed promptly. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that risk management strategies are understood by staff, kept under review and revised to reflect current risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34)  The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair. They should specifically ensure that the managerial evaluations are completed to suitable standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36) Inspection report children’s home: SC452461 7

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should develop effective working relationships with each child’s placing authority and with other relevant persons. In particular, they should ensure that levels of communication are established, agreed and adhered to with parents and professionals. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.3)

p.7

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: SC452461 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: SES Turnstone Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Vicarage, School Lane, Heckingham, Norwich NR14 6QP

p.8

Inspector

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Russel Breyer, Her Majesty’s Inspector, Social Care Inspection report children’s home: SC452461 9 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9