Children's Home run by Acorn Norfolk Limited in Norfolk

Inspection report for children’s home: 2641888 1 Registered provider: Acorn Norfolk Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to five children with learning disabilities. It is operated by a national provider.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is in the grounds of an independent school and seven other children’s homes all operated by the same provider.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector only inspected the social care provision at this school.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2641888 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/04/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2641888 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This inspection was brought forward because of a concerning notification received by Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are five children living at the home. The children have lived together for a considerable amount of time. The manager and staff know the children well. Consequently, the children are settled and familiar with their surroundings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the children’s communication needs. They use pictures, symbols and short illustrated stories to help children to express themselves. One parent is exceptionally pleased with the progress their child has made with verbal communication. Communication aids are available to the children throughout the home. This increases the opportunity for all the children to make choices, express their views and initiate interactions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy art, crafts and sensory activities with staff. This enriches the children’s stimulation and encourages learning. One child’s fine motor skills have improved through the regular use of therapy clay. This has helped the child with their independent use of a toothbrush and hair-washing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children enjoy activities in the community, such as swimming, going to the zoo and trips to local activity centres and restaurants. This widens the children’s experiences and helps to develop their confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend quality time and enjoy positive experiences with their families. This helps the children to retain their identity and supports their emotional well- being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children attend full-time education. They spend time with their peers and achieve their learning potential. Daily communication between school and staff helps professionals to work together to provide children with a consistent approach.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

An advocate visits the home regularly. This provides the children with an independent person who understands their needs and can represent their wishes if needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have written a summary profile for each child. This provides new staff with an introduction to the child, including the child’s needs and how they like to be supported. However, some of the information relating to children’s health on the profile is neither factually accurate nor a confirmed diagnosis. Therefore, staff are not properly informed of children’s conditions. Inspection report for children’s home: 2641888 4

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

The staff are well trained and understand effective safeguarding practice. They are clear about their roles and responsibilities to safeguard the children. Whistle-blowing procedures are understood and followed by staff when necessary. The implementation of safeguarding policies is an important protective factor in keeping children safe.

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

Risk assessments for children are detailed and contain risk reduction strategies. These are regularly reviewed and updated. When incidents occur, staff use pictures and stories to communicate with children. This helps the children with their understanding of how to be safe and kind to others.

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

Safe recruitment processes are comprehensively carried out to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. The number of staff vacancies has reduced. Regular bank staff and staff from other homes on the site confidently provide staff cover. When necessary, consistent agency workers are used. The use of familiar faces helps to reduce anxieties for the children who require routine-based care from staff they know.

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

Restraints, when used, are proportionate and necessary to keep children and others safe. Incident and restraint records are detailed, although on some records, there are discrepancies in the times and lengths of incidents and the dates when staff debriefs took place. Poor recording and managerial oversight of records limit the effectiveness of scrutiny and evaluation of practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A dedicated and experienced manager leads the home. The staff spoke highly of the manager and said that they feel supported both personally and professionally.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Parents and professionals provided positive feedback about the children’s care and progress. The manager has good working relationships with parents and professionals, which provides consistency for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are experienced and knowledgeable, and their understanding of the children’s needs is enhanced by the manager’s knowledge. Regular team meetings are well attended. These guide the staff to implement support in line with the children’s plans and provide good outcomes for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A wide range of training is provided. Targeted training helps to increase the staff’s knowledge and skills further. However, one member of staff has not achieved a level 3 diploma within two years of commencing a care role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. A detailed workforce development plan is in place to guide improvements to the quality of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2641888 5 New staff members are provided with a thorough induction. All staff receive regular, reflective supervision sessions. However, not all staff have had an appraisal of their performance and fitness to perform their roles. Therefore, opportunities to drive staff development are missed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2641888 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, 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.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that incident and restraint records are evaluated and reviewed to ensure that the details are correct. 4 December 2023

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or 4 December 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2641888 7 in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the previous inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that information recorded about the child must distinguish between fact, opinion and third-party information. In particular, ensure that information recorded on the child’s profile is factually accurate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2641888 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorn Norfolk Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Atria, Spa Road, Bolton BL1 4AG

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Kirsty Orton-Kabanzi

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Inspector

Rachel Watkinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2641888 9 regulates and inspects 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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