Children's home run by Norfolk County Council in Norwich

Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 1 SC450045 Registered provider: Norfolk County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a local authority. The home is a crisis assessment and reunification service. It provides care for up to six children who need emotional support.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023

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: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/04/2022 Full Good 11/01/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection 12 children have moved out of the home. Most children moved on to suitable longer-term placements, and staff supported these moves well. When children have not made good progress, this has been linked to the decisions of senior managers to override the recommendations of the registered manager. At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children often move into the home in an emergency, following a crisis in their lives. Staff welcome children positively and risk is assessed quickly. Care-management plans are developed in consultation with the children and those who know them. Staff provide children with a child-friendly guide to the home, so they understand what to expect on a day-to-day basis. The guide has been developed by the home’s speech and language therapist to ensure that the language used is age-appropriate and understandable.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff work closely with the team around each child. Communication is very good and professionals say that this is a strength of the home. Professionals describe knowing what progress children are making. Positive communication helps promote effective planning for children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team is enthusiastic about learning how to understand and support children. They work with a life coach and speech and language therapist as part of the team. This specialist advice has contributed to positive outcomes for children, particularly with regard to relationships with family members and moving on from the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time children arrive in the home, their education is often disrupted. Staff recognise the importance of education and provide opportunities for the children to enjoy a range of educational activities, including short courses. For example, one child enjoyed hair and beauty and was able to complete an associated course. Staff arranged for her to spend time in a salon to experience what it would be like to work there.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff offer children the chance to participate in activities such as paddle boarding, going for walks, visiting historical places, taking part in a range of sports and going shopping. One child attends the gym. Being offered a range of opportunities helps enhance children’s physical and mental well-being.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have good relationships with staff and describe them positively. Staff consistently show that they are interested in developing meaningful and helpful relationships with the children. This includes when children have moved on from the home. Consistent, ongoing work with children when they move on helps them adjust to their new homes. Children often contact staff after they have moved on, demonstrating the value they place on these relationships. Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 4

p.3

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

Children at the home receive a high level of care. Staff are always available to children to speak about how they feel and explore any support they want. This includes periods after children have gone missing from the home. This helps children to talk about their feelings and the risks they have experienced. Staff are also available to supervise children when they are going out. This helps keep children safe.

p.4

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

Some children at the home have been abused through exploitation. Staff have received up-to-date training and understand their roles in keeping children safe. This includes staying with children in the community and intervening when a child is at risk. External professionals share their safeguarding expertise in team meetings and staff ensure that any information about risks is shared appropriately. Staff also carry out direct work with children to help them understand risks that they experience and help them to think about ways to reduce these.

p.4

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

Children’s plans and risk assessments are up to date and contain relevant information. They include clear guidance for staff on how to keep children safe and goals to work towards. Staff understand and actively follow these plans.

p.4

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

At times, because of the traumas that children have experienced, children’s behaviour is difficult to manage. On occasion, this behaviour has included high levels of aggression towards staff and significant damage to the home. Staff respond to these incidents well, working in line with children’s plans. Staff are child-centred in their responses and this often helps children to calm at times of distress. The staff work closely with the police, with a police liaison officer based in the home. This supports a positive relationship between the staff and the police and helps ensure that the children’s needs are understood.

p.4

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

Safeguarding and child protection is well understood by the manager and team who have taken appropriate action when required.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed effectively and efficiently by a permanent, suitably experienced manager who is currently completing a Level 5 diploma.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff described the manager as highly supportive and encouraging. This is evident in staff meetings and supervision, where there is a focus on individual and team achievements and their contribution to children’s progress. This helps to inspire the staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have clear expectations of the training requirements for staff. All staff have access to a comprehensive induction and developmental training Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 5 programme to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to underpin the work they do with children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers provide regular staff supervision, which gives staff the opportunity to explore their development and well-being. Staff reported that this is a positive experience and one where they can reflect on children’s needs and their own practice. It is described as a ‘safe space’ where they can be open and honest about their needs but also receive feedback on their performance. This helps to develop an open and reflective team.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are frequent and well structured. The content of meetings includes discussion and reflection on the care being provided and the values that underpin staff practice, such as a focus on equality and equity. Good-quality team meetings help staff to provide consistent and well-informed care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

On one occasion, senior management supported a child with significant needs within the home for an extended period by not placing other children in the home. This was based on thorough consideration of the risk of further harm for the child if another child was to also live in the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers complete thorough and detailed risk assessments prior to children moving into the home. They focus on the impact of children moving in and whether their needs can be met, alongside the needs of the existing children. However, on some occasions, senior managers have directed the registered manager to accommodate children whose needs the registered manager did not feel could be safely met in the home. This includes one occasion when an alternative option was available. However, this option was not fully explored by senior managers. These decisions significantly contributed to some children having negative experiences in the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers had not ensured that two actions deemed necessary by the fire risk assessor had been completed in the necessary time frame. Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 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, The 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that when senior managers override the professional opinion of the registered manager, the staff, leaders and managers are able to appropriately meet the needs of the children who come to live at the home. 19 September

p.6

Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b)) 1 October 2023

p.6

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: SC450045 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Norfolk County Council

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspectors

Clare Hannah, Social Care Inspector Joe Matkar-Cox, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 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.

p.7

Inspectors

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.8

Inspectors

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

p.8

Inspectors

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

p.8