Children's home run by Juventas Services

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2566488 1 Registered provider: Juventas Services

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children aged between 11 and 17 years who may have experienced trauma, a sense of rejection, neglect or abuse.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2023.

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Inspection date: 3 January 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 3 January 2024

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. The inspector has 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: 2566488 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified no 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

At the time of the last inspection in July 2023, a new manager had recently taken up post after two previous managers of the home had left the home before registering with Ofsted. Since the last inspection, the new manager has registered with Ofsted. He holds a relevant qualification at level 5. He manages the home effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection in July 2023, two children have moved out of the home and one child has moved in. Three children were living at the home at the time of this inspection in January 2024.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have good relationships with staff, who know them well. Staff spend time with children and support them to do things that are important to them, such as seeing their families more regularly for special occasions and holidays.

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Findings from the inspection

One child left the home in a planned way and moved to post-16 accommodation in the local area. This was in line with the child’s wishes. Staff helped this child to prepare for moving out through developing their independence skills. Staff have kept in touch with the child since their move and they report that the child is doing well and is now in employment. This child made good progress because of the support that they received from staff during their time living at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, staff better understand and support children’s healthcare needs. Staff have supported children to reflect on topics such as smoking, sexual health and substance misuse. The manager has advocated for one child’s well-being needs to be supported through a local youth charity group. This is helping the child to make more informed choices about their health and well-being. One child, however, has some additional healthcare needs that are not yet fully supported. The manager is aware of this. These healthcare needs are now well documented in the child’s health and care plans, and communication is ongoing with the child’s social worker to plan support for these.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are better at encouraging children’s attendance and engagement at school. One child, who was previously out of education for over a year, is now attending school two days a week as part of their carefully planned return to school. The child’s headteacher said, ‘This child’s progress is better than expected.’ The headteacher notes the marked improvement in communication between the manager and the school. The manager has ensured that staff are now provided with up-to-date and relevant local authority education plans. This helps staff to work with schools and the local authority to meet children’s education needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff’s response to children when they are missing from care has improved since the last inspection. Some children have continued to go missing from care or to be Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2566488 3 absent from the home without permission. However, children now have clear plans, and staff understand these plans and report children who are missing from care appropriately. Staff record the actions that they take to notify relevant professionals or when they search for children. This is helping to keep children safer.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are helping children to understand their life choices and risks in the community through regular conversations. Staff openly discuss children’s behaviour with them and discourage children from doing things that may cause them harm. When risks in the community change, these changes are now well documented by staff in children’s care plans. In addition, consequences are more consistently used by staff to help children to learn about their behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, the manager has improved his oversight and monitoring of the home. This is evident through his oversight of staff records, up-to-date care plans and data management tools that help him to track children’s progress and achievements. The manager has a clear workforce development plan to drive improvements at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff, children and external professionals all commented on the positive impact that the new manager has had on children’s and staff’s experiences at the home, including improved communication between staff and external professionals. A child said that the manager is ‘hardworking and funny’.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive a good induction, with a variety of training that complements the needs of the children. Staff commented on the amount of training required and the quality of this training. However, some staff would prefer more interactive training elements.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is not yet fully staffed. The manager has plans in place for recruitment. He is considers retention issues for staff and uses agency staff who are well known to the home. Since the last inspection, the home’s policy on agency staff supervision has been changed to make the timescales and expectations clearer. Agency staff now have regular supervision in line with this policy.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has met the seven requirements raised at the last inspection. The recommendation about improving the outdoor space remains because this has not been completed. However, there is evidence of some adaptations to begin making improvements in the quality of the outdoor space that children use. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2566488 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/04/2022 Full Good 08/12/2021 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2566488 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of children. In particular, ensure that the garden is well maintained and provides a welcoming environment for children. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2566488 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Yare House, 62–64 Thorpe Road, Norwich NR1 1RY

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Inspector

Rebecca Hannell, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2566488 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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