Children's Home run by Norfolk County Council in Norfolk

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068076 1 SC068076

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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

This local authority home provides care for up to two children. It provides care for children when family, foster care or other community-based placements are not possible or desirable at the time.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2021.

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Inspection date: 12 March 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 12 March 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: SC068076 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

No children have moved into or out of the home since the last inspection. Staff have continued to provide care for one child. Staff have a good understanding of the child’s needs and vulnerabilities and work well with the team around the child to reduce the identified risks.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff help the child to engage in meetings and to share their views with other professionals. They enable the child to be involved in reviewing their safety plan. This helps the child to feel listened to and to understand the risks that adults are worried about.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has experienced gaps in learning due to withdrawal of school placements. Education plans are up to date, and staff are working with relevant professionals to identify the right alternative education provision. Staff have supported the child to attend taster sessions and to prepare for the courses that have been identified.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff use a structured independence programme to help the child learn new skills, such as cooking and budgeting. However, staff have varied success in engaging the child in educational and enjoyable activities. Staff use rewards and consequences to help the child to enjoy a healthy daily routine. These are not always effective.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff respond quickly if the child goes missing from home. They have a good understanding of the relevant protocols and are vigilant about the associated risks. The team around the child ensures that relevant information is shared to help reduce the risks of missing from care and exploitation.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff provide a warm welcome to the child when they return home, and return home interviews are consistently offered. The consequences imposed following a period of missing from care have not been effective in reducing incidents. Alternative responses have not been explored.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been one physical intervention since the last inspection. This was proportionate and required to direct the child away from a hazard. Staff have requested police support on occasion to deal with serious matters. Incidents are reviewed by the manager, who identifies areas to be addressed with the child. However, conversations about behaviour and managing feelings do not consistently take place.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff know the child well and recognise changes in behaviour and mood. Staff are clear about the action to be taken if the child’s mental health deteriorates. Staff ensure that the child has access to the medical services they need and encourage them to attend appointments. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068076 3 Management oversight of children’s plans and incidents has improved. However, there are some minor inconsistencies across the plans for the child.

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Findings from the inspection

The child benefits from a stable team of staff who feel supported. Most staff have attended the training that the home has identified as mandatory. This includes training that is relevant to meeting the child’s individual needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is comfortable, and the garden has recently been improved with the installation of new fencing. However, the bedroom doors, which are also fire doors, are fitted with metalwork. This gives the doors an institutional feel.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has met five of the six requirements and the one recommendation raised at the last inspection. The requirement in respect of promoting positive relationships has been restated and two new recommendations have been raised. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068076 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/08/2021 Full Good 03/07/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068076 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour. (Regulation 11 (1)(b) (2)(a)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, explore the effectiveness of consequences and ensure that staff support children to understand their behaviour as directed in the manager’s review of incidents.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 1 April 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. This specifically relates to the bedroom doors. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that when there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, includes details of the steps that the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a daily basis. This specifically relates to ensuring that all the child’s plans contain the most up-to-date information to provide clear and consistent guidance to staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068076 6

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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

Paula Edwards, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068076 7 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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