Children's Home run by Norfolk County Council in Norfolk

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC463902 1 SC463902

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Registered provider: Norfolk County Council

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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 is an emergency provision and is registered to provide support for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2021.

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Inspection date: 13 December 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 13 December 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: SC463902 2

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Findings 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

At the time of the assurance inspection, two children were living at the home. Since the last inspection, two children have moved out in a planned way.

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Findings from the inspection

One child said they are happy in the home and that they feel well supported by staff. This child will soon be moving on from the home. They said staff had been really helpful in preparing them for the move.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has a good understanding of the children at the home. Staff understand the children exceptionally well. They are supported by accurate plans that help them recognise the children’s needs and exposure to risk. The staff adopt a trauma-informed approach in the language they use about children’s needs and how their needs manifest in their behaviour. This has helped children to feel that the staff understand them.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand that children's behaviours that challenge are related to their previous trauma. This lunderstanding helps staff to manage incidents sensitively. The manager monitors behavioural incidents promptly and effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

When specific risks or behaviours arise, staff arrange for children to get additional support from external professionals.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand how to refer safeguarding concerns and allegations. They understand what steps to take should they need to whistle-blow. Leaders and managers ensure that safeguarding concerns are appropriately referred to external professionals and are managed effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has ensured that staff complete a broad range of training to help meet the evolving and varied needs of the children.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager responds to the findings of external monitoring reports well and takes action to make improvements. The manager’s internal monitoring is effective and helps ensure that practice and records are of a good standard.

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Findings from the inspection

The home has sustained extensive damage from children, most of which has been repaired. However, currently, the environment does not look homely. Despite the manager’s requests to the wider organisation for maintenance and repairs to be carried out, some issues remain outstanding and need to be addressed.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirements from the last inspection have been met. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC463902 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/05/2022 Full Good 20/04/2021 Full Good 17/12/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC463902 4

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a homely and domestic environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC463902 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Norfolk County Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC463902 6 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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

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