Children's home run by Norfolk County Council in Norwich

Inspection report for children's home: SC065883 1 SC065883 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-run home is a short-break service for disabled children aged between five and 17 years. The home can accommodate up to nine children at any time.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2009.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 27 October 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC065883 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/10/2021 Full Good 20/11/2019 Full Good 12/11/2018 Full Good 31/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC065883 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, two children were staying overnight for their short breaks. Overall, the home provides short breaks to 20 families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who are new to the service receive well-planned and meaningful introductions. Children visit the home before overnight stays begin. This helps them to become familiar with the home. Staff read social stories to children to help them understand routines. The manager understands that some children may need more visits than others before they feel ready to stay overnight. A parent said, ‘I am so relieved; the transition has been so smooth.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager takes a considered approach when planning groups of children who visit together. The manager considers children’s interests, friendships and sensory needs. This helps children enjoy their short breaks with other children who have similar interests and whose company they will enjoy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise spending time with children. They plan activities that they know children will enjoy. Staff use their expertise to organise sensory activities which have calming effects on children. Children have experienced trampolining, swimming and trips in the local community. This provides children with opportunities to socialise and broaden their experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are skilled in using different methods of communication. They understand that children may communicate through their behaviour and body language. Staff make all attempts to understand the child’s needs and reduce their anxiety. A variety of communication aids are available for children to use. This helps children to make choices and tell the staff what they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend schools that meet their needs. Staff make sure that children are school ready through consistent morning routines. Children’s school attendance is good. Staff make sure that children can get to and from school when their travel arrangements fall short. Communication between staff and school staff is good. School staff gave positive feedback about the impact of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to make progress, no matter how small. Individual plans evidence targets that children are working towards. Handovers between staff include how to help children to learn new skills. One child has become more independent with his personal care. One child is learning to tidy toys away after playing with them. Staff help children to develop new skills and build self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s guide has been designed using pictures and symbols that children can understand. However, this has not been updated to include information about the Inspection report for children's home: SC065883 4 new manager. This means that families and children do not have the most recent information about the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has recently been refurbished to a high standard. Spaces have been designed for children to develop their independence skills. The sensory room is well equipped. Staff understand that some children may choose to spend time alone in this area. For children’s safety, an observation glass has been added to the door. However, the use of this monitoring has not been risk assessed or included in the organisation’s policy for safe monitoring.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care plans are detailed and include information about children’s health. Staff review this information regularly. This means that staff can deliver care to children with complex health needs. However, one child’s seizure protocol was found at inspection to be out of date by two months. This means that staff did not have the most recent medical information about the child.

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

Children are cared for by staff who know them well and understand their complex needs. Behaviour plans include information about children’s facial expressions and vocalisations and what these mean. These strategies help staff to respond accordingly to meet children’s needs. This helps staff feel confident to respond when children feel upset.

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

Risk assessments include the vulnerabilities that children face. Information is detailed. Measures that staff take to reduce risk are clear. Consideration is given to how communication, routine and environment are important factors. A social worker said, ‘The staff manage risk really well.’

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

All staff are trained in safeguarding disabled children. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities to report any concerns. They work with other agencies to make certain that information is shared. Social workers said that communication from the staff is good.

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

Physical restraint is only used when necessary to protect children and staff from harm. All staff are trained in the home’s agreed positive behaviour approach. Records evidence the strategies used before a hold. Following a restraint, the manager meets with staff to reflect on the incident. This helps the staff and the manager to consider the effectiveness of the restraint and alternative approaches. However, the manager does not consistently meet with or observe children after a restraint. This means that children are unable to tell the manager how they feel.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been promoted within the organisation. An experienced and qualified manager has been appointed in her place and plans to register with Ofsted. A detailed induction plan includes the new manager shadowing the Inspection report for children's home: SC065883 5 registered manager. An experienced deputy manager provides an additional level of support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular and reflective supervision. Supervision records are detailed and evaluate children’s progress. Managers offer support and guidance to staff. This helps to improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers follow safer recruitment processes. Children are involved in the selection of new staff in a meaningful way. New staff move through a detailed induction and probation period. Managers sign staff off as competent to undertake their role. This makes certain that staff are confident to work with vulnerable children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from a consistent staff team. Agency staff have not been used since the last inspection. Employed relief and permanent staff work additional hours as required. This means that children can build relationships with staff they trust and who know them well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the importance of staff development and training. In addition to the organisation’s mandatory training, staff undertake specific training to meet the health needs of children. Staff are trained to provide gastrostomy feeding, epilepsy management and oxygen administration.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Established monitoring systems help the manager to have oversight of the quality of care provided. The manager uses information gathered to identify areas for development. A detailed development plan is reviewed regularly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has met the requirements and recommendations set at the last inspection. Inspection report for children's home: SC065883 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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 10 (1)(a) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that seizure protocols are in date before children have their overnight short breaks. 13 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected. (Regulation 21 (a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, assess the use of the observation glass in the sensory room door. 20 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, meet with and observe children following an incident of restraint and make a record of any discussions or observations. 13 January 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC065883 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should review and update the children’s guide as necessary and make sure that any changes are explained to the children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.23)

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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: SC065883 8

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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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Inspector

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC065883 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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