Norwich Road (15)

Inspection report for children’s home: SC034480 1 SC034480

p.1

Registered provider: Norfolk County Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a local authority. It provides care and support for up to six children with social and emotional needs.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2021.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC034480 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/12/2022 Full Good 22/02/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC034480 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home. Both children were spoken to during the inspection. Since the last full inspection in April 2023, five children have moved into the home and five have moved on. When children move from the home, they are supported by staff as part of an outreach programme. Children benefit from positive moves from the home. The registered manager was present during the inspection.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide high levels of supervision to manage children’s complex and sometimes risky behaviours. They spend time developing trusting relationships with children. The staff offer regular opportunities for children to express their wishes and feelings. Children actively seek out staff to have conversations with them or to spend time with them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has gained several credits towards a nationally recognised education award. They are looking forward to receiving their certificate. The child works with a tutor at the home and enjoys a creative timetable that includes core subjects and education trips. Another child, who recently moved into the home, has no education provision. Staff have been proactive in supporting the child to continue with their education by providing core subjects that are part of the national curriculum.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to spend time with their families and friends whenever possible. Children enjoy time with the people they care about and who are important to them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have access to qualified therapists and a life coach who work at the home. Staff are trained in therapeutic models of care, which supports them to understand how children’s previous life history and trauma link to their emotional presentation and behaviour. Staff support children with love, affection and empathy. This positive role modelling helps children to explore their own emotional responses when they are angry or upset.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to take part in individualised and meaningful activities. These include scouts, youth club, arts and crafts and days out beachcombing in the local area. One child has learned to play the guitar and keyboard. Staff support the child’s interest in music and help them to improve. A drum kit is being added to the home’s musical collection as a child is interested in learning to play the drums.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Managers produce a detailed analysis of children’s behaviour and emotional responses during incidents. Timelines help to identify triggers when children are anxious or upset. This analysis supports behaviour management strategies. Staff said Inspection report for children’s home: SC034480 4 that they feel confident in supporting children who experience emotional well-being issues.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff follow children’s missing-from-home protocols. The staff work well with local police. They respond to incidents when children are missing from home with sensitivity and care. Staff work hard to avoid children being exposed to exploitation or harm.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There are instances when trained staff use physical intervention. Staff use this when necessary, appropriate and proportionate. When interventions take place, staff are debriefed by a manager. Children are spoken to and helped to explore and reflect on the incident, which includes restorative discussions. The manager’s monitoring shows that the number of physical interventions is reducing.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Incidents of self-harm are managed sensitively. Staff understand why children may harm themselves. They offer emotional support and appropriate aftercare to the child. When incidents of self-harm occur, risk assessment plans are updated and reviewed by the manager.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Individual risk assessments do not always reflect the activities that children are enjoying. The assessments do not provide effective guidance for staff who support children outside the home. This means that children could be at risk in the community.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified to manage the home. There are two deputy managers that play an active role in the home’s day-to-day management. Staff said that they felt supported by the managers and enjoy working at the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a large, stable and experienced staff team. If additional staffing is required, this is provided by experienced relief staff that are employed by the local authority. Children know the staff well. They benefit from consistent relationships with staff. One child said that they liked knowing who was coming to their home to work with them.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy supervision sessions that are reflective and child-focused. Staff’s well- being and safeguarding are discussed. Staff and managers explore the impact of their work. They reflect on how their work is helping the children to progress.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager encourages children to contribute to the running of the home by listening to their views during regular meetings. Understanding how the children feel about living at the home is important to the manager. When children talk about staff, their feedback and opinions support staff appraisal and development. The manager welcomes feedback from parents and stakeholders, which helps to drive improvements. Inspection report for children’s home: SC034480 5 Staff receive a good range of training which is appropriate to the needs of children. This includes self-harm, exploitation and online safety training. This range of training reflects the children’s risks.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have not always been based in the main area of the home. They have not identified some shortfalls in the approach of some staff. This has been reviewed in detail by senior managers. Following this review, a staff development plan is supporting the staff team and guiding its practice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC034480 6

p.5

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.

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.6

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the management oversight of staff relationships is rigorous and supports professional boundaries and positive relationships. 27 June 2024

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff understand how to dynamically assess the risk of children’s activities to reduce the risk of harm. 27 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC034480 7

p.6

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework This 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’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC034480 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Norfolk County Council

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Inspector

Trudy Potter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC034480 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9