Children's home run by BREAK

Inspection report for children’s home: SC424271 1 SC424271 Registered provider: Break Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a charitable organisation and provides care for up to four disabled children.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2022.

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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC424271 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/08/2021 Full Outstanding 06/01/2020 Full Outstanding 18/12/2018 Full Outstanding 08/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC424271 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home. Children have lived together for a significant time, and they know each other well. The manager and staff monitor friendships within the group. This helps children to continue to live in an environment which is friendly, calm and predictable. A parent said, ‘I wouldn’t want my child to live anywhere else, it’s their home.’ Staff and children have good relationships and enjoy spending time together. Children are offered activities that they enjoy doing with staff. These include sensory play, visits to safari parks, trips to the beach and meals out. Staff use praise and encouragement, which children respond to positively. This has a positive impact on children’s emotional health and well-being. Three children are in formal education and their attendance is good. One child receives tailored learning at the home. One child had not been in school for a year.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When a suitable placement was found for them, staff used social stories to help the child to understand new routines. Staff went to school with the child and stayed during the day to help them feel secure. As a result, the child is now attending school independently and making good progress. Staff encourage a culture of learning and place importance on children’s education. Children are helped to stay in touch with people who are important to them. One child uses social media to talk to their family. Staff let the parent know what activities the child has been doing before the call. This helps the parent to have a conversation with their child. Staff take children to see their families no matter how far away they live from the home. When required, staff stay to support a positive experience and quality time spent together for family members and the child. Staff ensure that children living away from their families maintain a sense of belonging.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to prepare for their future. Staff encourage independence. Targets are individualised and tailored to children’s needs. One child has made significant progress in washing and dressing. One child cooks their own meals independently. Children develop self-awareness and confidence. Children live in a modern, purpose-built bungalow. However, the children’s trampoline has stinging nettles growing around it. A large, heavy wooden frame, used to create a swimming pool, was laid against a window frame in an area that children can access. Damage to internal walls has been fixed but not painted over. The vinyl flooring in the main bathroom and two of the children’s ensuites is heavily stained through water damage.

p.3

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

Staff are skilled and experienced in supporting children when they feel anxious. Since the last inspection, there has been one physical intervention. All attempts were made to defuse the situation prior to the hold. The manager met with staff and Inspection report for children’s home: SC424271 4 the child to encourage reflection on the incident. This helped the child to process what had happened and for staff to consider alternative approaches in the future. Staff use de-escalation strategies effectively in difficult situations. They provide effective boundaries to help prevent incidents from occurring. The use of consequences is low and only in conjunction with agreed approaches. Behaviour support plans are regularly reviewed and evidence clear strategies for staff to follow. One parent said, ‘The staff have helped my child so much.’ Plans help staff understand children’s emotional needs and the reasons behind the behaviour.

p.3

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

This helps them to work confidently and consistently with the children, who benefit from this approach. There has been one incident when a child went missing while in the community. Staff responded quickly. They looked for the child and worked in partnership with the police. However, the child’s care plan was not reviewed to evidence the incident and the actions that staff should take to reduce future risks. Staff record any incidents involving children. However, the language used in the records can be perceived as child-blaming and based on opinion. This means that children reading their files may feel a sense of shame and guilt. Staff receive training to maintain their knowledge and awareness of how to safeguard children. Whistle-blowing procedures are displayed at the home. However, a member of staff spoken with by the inspector was unclear about who they would report concerns to, if they had any, about the registered manager.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced and working towards a relevant level 5 qualification. She is motivated to give children positive experiences. Through her leadership, she has created a staff culture that helps children to reach their full potential. A deputy manager and four senior members of staff support her. The manager follows safer recruitment processes. She has made improvements to agency recruitment checks. All staff receive an induction and are signed off by a manager as competent to fulfil their role and responsibilities. There have been several safeguarding concerns since the last inspection. These have been managed well. The manager worked closely with the local authority and notified Ofsted. Comprehensive investigations focused on the child’s experiences and learning outcomes for the manager. As a result, children have been kept safe and practice improved. Since the last inspection, there have been changes to the management team, and

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

several staff have left. The manager has prioritised her time to focus on recruitment and children’s care by working on shifts. However, this has meant less focus on managerial tasks due to the time constraints. Most staff have received supervision and appraisals, but this has not been regular or consistent. The manager is aware of these shortfalls. When staff have been Inspection report for children’s home: SC424271 5 supervised, the supervision has been child-focused, reflective and supportive. Appraisals that have been held have encouraged review of practice and development. Nevertheless, lack of consistent supervision and appraisal means staff have not had the opportunity to discuss the impact that the work has on them and, for some staff, their resilience has been affected. The manager has monitoring systems in place but has been unable to use these systems effectively. This has limited her ability to have proper oversight of the home

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

and make continuous improvements efficiently. Staff have received training in safeguarding disabled children, attachment and communication. However, most staff have not received refresher training in the home’s preferred behaviour support approach. Without such training, staff are not as well equipped to support children’s behavioural needs. The manager has met the one recommendation raised at the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC424271 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, remove stinging nettles from around the children’s trampoline, remove the wooden planter leaning on the wall in the garden, repair damage to internal walls and replace water-damaged vinyl in the bathroom and children’s ensuites. 23 December

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that care plans are reviewed after significant incidents and clearly detail how risks should be reduced. 23 December

p.6

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— 13 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC424271 7 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff are trained in the preferred method of positive behaviour support and receive supervision in line with the statement of purpose.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.7

Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c)) 20 January 2023

p.7

Recommendations

 The registered person should provide information about whistle-blowing, with clear procedures on how a staff member should report to an appropriate authority any concern that they have about a child. In particular, ensure that staff know who to report concerns to if they involve the registered manager. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.15)  The registered person should actively seek scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective

p.7

Recommendations

and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children’s home: SC424271 8

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 for children’s home: SC424271 9

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.9

Inspector

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC424271 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.

p.9

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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10