Children's home run by Norfolk County Council

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2652383 1 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 home is run by the local authority and offers crisis and emergency placements. The provider’s aim is to care for children with complex needs associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and behaviours that are difficult to manage. The home offers short- to medium-term placements for children between the ages of five and 17 years.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is on maternity leave. A new manager was appointed in February 2023 and is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 11 March 2024

Date of last inspection: 1 November 2023

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Inspection date: 11 March 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 11 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: 2652383 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

There are currently no children living at the home. Since the last inspection, one child has moved from the home. The child had lived at the home since December 2022. A comprehensive move was planned to support the child. Over an eight-week period, staff from the new home spent time shadowing staff and getting to know the child. The information shared with the new provider has meant that the new home has been designed specifically to meet the child’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The home environment was required to be sparse with little furniture or stimulation, due to the behaviours that could result in significant risk to the child. However, some improvements had been made with the introduction of soft furnishings and a sofa. The manager recorded the steps taken to try to improve the environment. Staff were creative with their ideas so that the child could still enjoy visual stimulation such as chalk boards, wall stickers and an outdoor Christmas tree.

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Findings from the inspection

The child experienced a wide range of community-based activities. Trips to the cinema, swimming, gym sessions and tubing at the dry ski slope broadened the child’s experiences of the world around them.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff ensured that the child’s safety plan and risk assessments were detailed and clearly written. The child’s support and intervention plan provided staff with proactive strategies to follow. The plans were reviewed and updated following any significant incident. This helped the staff to feel confident and to respond consistently.

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Findings from the inspection

The child made progress with their communication. Photos, pictures and symbols enabled the child to make choices. Schedules and social stories helped the child to prepare for what was happening next. Consistent use of the child’s alternative communication methods increased the opportunity for the child to make choices, express their views and initiate interactions.

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Findings from the inspection

The use of physical interventions has reduced. The strong relationships between the staff and the child and the effective implementation of the child’s safety plan led to a reduction in unsafe behaviours.

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Findings from the inspection

Several handwritten physical intervention records were not written clearly. This made it difficult to monitor the use of the intervention to ensure that it had been proportionate and necessary.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has established a stable and resilient staff team. The staff enjoy working at the home. The child benefited from consistent and familiar staff at the home each day. This helped the child to feel safe and secure. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2652383 3 The staff are positive about the manager and the support that they receive. The manager makes herself available to staff for guidance and advice. Consequently, staff said that they feel valued and well supported in their role.

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Findings from the inspection

A range of training has been provided including safeguarding and communicating with disabled children. This has helped to increase the staff’s knowledge and skills.

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Findings from the inspection

Health professionals visited the child at home on several occasions. The network of external professionals involved with the child had also expanded. This increased the support available and opportunities to identify new ways to meet the child’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has met the four requirements and one recommendation raised at the last inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2652383 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/11/2022 Full Good 19/01/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2652383 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, ensure that records of restrictive physical intervention are clearly written. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2652383 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

Rachel Watkinson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2652383 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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