Children's home run by Suffolk County Council in Ipswich

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC038761 1 SC038761

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Registered provider: Suffolk County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for up to six children who have difficulty managing their emotions and behaviour and may have experienced trauma which has left them vulnerable.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2020.

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Inspection date: 15 November 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 15 November 2023

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC038761 2

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Outcome from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Two children were living at this home at the time of the inspection. Two children have moved on since the last inspection. These moves were planned, with children moving on to services that were better placed to meet their needs safely. In each instance, managers liaised with social workers and staff supported children with their moves.

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Findings from the inspection

More recently, there has been increased stability in the home. There are improved dynamics between children and there is less reliance on police to assist with managing incidents. Staff are regrouping and are providing children with positive experiences.

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Findings from the inspection

Both children are engaging well in their education and have high attendance. There is strong communication between the home’s staff and school staff which supports children to make progress and to catch up with any gaps in their learning.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have established positive relationships with children and provide planned one- to-one discussions. These discussions are responsive and help children to reflect on their behaviours as well as expressing their feelings and views.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have enjoyed a good range of activities that meet their interests and support their hobbies. These include a trip to London to see a Navy warship, a short holiday at a local barn and a visit to an air show in Clacton.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers ensure that children’s risk-reduction strategies for missing-from-home incidents are comprehensive and up to date. Staff have sufficient awareness of these procedures. While recent incidents of one child going missing from home have increased, staff have responded swiftly and in line with agreed plans. Staff actively look for the child and liaise with police and other professionals to ensure the child’s safe return. Following these incidents, staff use one-to-one work well to help the child understand how to avoid risky situations.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers understand the importance of partnership working and sharing important information around emerging risks for children. When a child was at increased risk of exploitation, managers worked with police and social workers to review strategies to enable the child to be safer.

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Findings from the inspection

An allegation made against a staff member was responded to appropriately by managers. Immediate protective measures were taken and there was a prompt referral to the local authority designated officer. However, full information was not Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC038761 3 obtained, including the outcome of the subsequent investigation completed by an external agency. Although the staff member has not worked in the home during this time, the lack of information means that the home is unable to take any learning from this concern.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff and the children are familiar with fire safety procedures and regularly practise drills. However, at the time of the inspection, one fire door’s intumescent strips were missing and door wedges were being used on another fire door. Staff’s checking systems were not strong enough to identify these shortfalls.

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Findings from the inspection

A qualified and experienced manager is in post. The manager has taken a number of effective actions to address most of the previously identified shortfalls. She is aware of the strengths of the home and areas for development in the care provided by staff.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been improvements in staff’s recording of incidents involving children. Managers have thoroughly monitored records to ensure that full information is captured. When records are not complete, managers swiftly address this with the staff member concerned. Staff rosters are now also accurate and recorded in full.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff, including deputy managers, now receive regular supervision from the manager. When necessary, the manager has reviewed previous staff practice concerns in these sessions. This has ensured that staff receive the guidance they need to provide safer care and support.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have ensured that any damage in the home is repaired when necessary. However, there are several issues remaining that detract from a homely environment. There are plans in place to carry out a full refurbishment of the home and improve the decor to ensure this is modernised and meets children’s preferences and needs. However, these remain as plans, with no date yet confirmed for work to start.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have recently received training in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder which has provided them with more insight into understanding children’s individual needs. However, one staff member has still not completed their level 3 diploma as required.

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Findings from the inspection

Generally, there are suitable processes to ensure notifications are made to Ofsted when required. However, one safeguarding concern that involved the exploitation of a child was not notified without delay. This means that Ofsted’s capacity to monitor safeguards at the time was reduced.

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Findings from the inspection

External monitoring by an independent person provides an appropriate level of scrutiny to support improvements in the quality of care provided. However, all visits since the last inspection have been announced beforehand. There is potential for the intended safeguards of this form of monitoring to be reduced if managers do not address this. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC038761 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/12/2022 Full Good 13/07/2021 Full Good 03/12/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC038761 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, 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 5 January 2024

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff achieve a relevant level 3 diploma within the required timescales. 5 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC038761 6 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that checking systems to monitor fire doors are effective. They should also ensure that a record is obtained of the outcome of any external investigation involving an agency staff member who has worked in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should make best use of information from independent monitoring and ensure that, in the main, these visits are unannounced. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should have a system in place to ensure that all serious events are notified to Ofsted within 24 hours. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC038761 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Suffolk County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Floor 4 Gold, Endeavour House, Russell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX

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Inspector

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC038761 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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