Norwich Road (15)

Inspection report for children's home: SC034480 1 SC034480 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

The home is run by a local authority. It provides care and support for up to six children with social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 6 December 2022

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC034480 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/12/2022 Full Good 22/02/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/01/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC034480 3

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improvement to be good

There were three children living at the home at the start of this inspection. One child moved out on the first day of the inspection.

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improvement to be good

Children are making some progress. However, several shortfalls relating to safeguarding mean that improvements are necessary before children receive good- quality care.

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improvement to be good

Social workers and professionals said that children make progress. One social worker said that although a child continues to go missing from the home, their risks have reduced and they are missing for shorter periods. Because of staff support, another child who was not attending school is now doing so.

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improvement to be good

Children develop positive relationships with staff. Children say that they feel listened to and cared for. Children seek out staff for support and advice. Staff respond to children in a sensitive and nurturing manner.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to take part in rewarding and meaningful activities, including arts and crafts and days out at the beach. One child is a member of a local boxing club. Staff have bought another child a keyboard to support their interest in music.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to see their families. When problems in family relationships arise, staff work well with other professionals to enable children to maintain relationships safely.

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improvement to be good

The home is modern and comfortable. Damage is repaired quickly. Children’s rooms are personalised, and children have pictures of their families on their walls. Personal items such as soft toys and posters give bedrooms a homely feel.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not follow children’s missing-from-home protocols. Management oversight of these incidents has not identified this. Staff do not know the current protocols for children. This increases the risk of children being exposed to exploitation and harm.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not have clear enough guidance to manage specific risks relating to the children’s complex needs. Despite multiple calls to the police by the staff, children’s behaviour plans lack clear strategies. This has contributed to an over-reliance by staff on police involvement, and the potential criminalisation of children. Inspection report for children's home: SC034480 4 Staff manage incidents of self-harm sensitively and appropriately. Staff offer children emotional support and seek medical advice when needed. Linked safety plans are regularly reviewed and updated by the manager.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers work well with different agencies to protect children. There is close working with the police and the youth offending team. Staff attend meetings with other professionals and contribute to plans which clearly identify contextual risks for children and the actions required to keep children safe.

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good

Senior managers from the local authority have made decisions about children moving into the home. These decisions have gone against the advice of the manager of the home and have had a negative impact on children. One child said that they did not always feel safe living at the home because of these decisions.

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good

Leaders and managers do not always notify Ofsted of serious incidents requiring the involvement of police. This means that Ofsted has not been provided with information to support effective oversight of the home.

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good

External monitoring visits to the home have identified concerns in relation to the decision-making to place children together and the effectiveness of behaviour management planning. However, the manager’s review of the planning for children has not been robust; behaviour management plans for children remain ineffective.

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good

The manager and deputy work closely together. They know the children and staff well. They have created a cohesive and motivated team. The manager understands the challenges that staff face and the importance of being present and available.

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good

Staff feel supported and valued by the manager and deputy. They have regular, good-quality supervision to support their personal and professional development. Staff say that they can seek support and advice from the manager and deputy when needed, and that managers are responsive to their needs.

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good

Staff receive a good range of training which is appropriate to the needs and risks of children they care for. This includes self-harm, sexual and criminal exploitation and physical intervention training. Inspection report for children's home: SC034480 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

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

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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

that staff 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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff understand and implement each child’s missing-from-care protocol. 18 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)) 18 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all relevant information is obtained about children moving into the home and that the impact of any move on children already living there is considered before placing children together. 18 April 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC034480 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand factors that affect children’s motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. In particular, ensure that behaviour plans guide staff effectively to manage behaviour. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13)

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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: SC034480 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Norfolk County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Norfolk County Council, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 2DH

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Inspector

Tom McGhee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC034480 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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