Children's Home run by Acorn Norfolk Limited in Norfolk

Inspection report children's home: 2688749 1 Registered provider: Acorn Norfolk Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care for up to four children with autism and/or learning disabilities. It is operated by a national provider. There are three children living at the home.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2022.

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Information about this children's home

The home is in the grounds of an independent school. The inspector only inspected the social care provision at this school.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2688749 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/04/2023 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2688749 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This inspection was brought forward in order to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home and present at the inspection. Two of the children were spoken to, and provided positive feedback about their experiences. Since the last inspection, one child has moved in, and one child has moved on from the home. Children make progress from their starting points and are provided with good-quality care to meet their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents and social workers highlight the positive difference that staff support has made to children’s well-being and independence. This children make progress in managing their health needs, increasing their self-care skills and managing their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All of the children have tailored education plans. The staff actively encourage children with their learning. Staff help children to achieve high attendance at school by maintaining consistent and familiar routines. Residential staff work closely with the school staff to ensure any gaps in learning for children are reduced.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s daily health needs. They follow detailed and up-to-date plans for children. This includes working closely with dieticians and specialist health teams to meet children’s complex health needs. Collaborative working has meant that one child has made progress to the extent that their medication is now significantly reduced. For another child, well-planned support has led to the child making substantial steps forward in meeting the goals set out in their individual diet plan.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in activities that reflect their interests. Children regularly enjoy going to the cinema, an animal park and swimming at the local leisure centre. Two children recently visited theme parks. This range of varied of activities ensures children participate in new experiences and helps them to develop their friendships with each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children have access to an independent advocate who visits the home regularly. Children take part in frequent and well-planned house meetings and one-to-one discussions with staff. Children’s views are explored and understood by staff.

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

Children say that they feel safe living at the home and have good relationships with staff. Children understand that they can speak to staff if they are worried or upset.

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

Staff actively follow detailed and responsive risk management plans for children. They are skilled in using de-escalation techniques and understand how to address children’s Inspection report children's home: 2688749 4 emotional needs. Staff use incentives to reinforce positive behaviour. As a result, difficult incidents involving children are reduced.

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

Children learn about their personal safety through well organised meetings with staff. These include discussing topics such as, healthy relationships, online safety and exploring their individuality and sexuality. This improves children’s knowledge of their personal safety.

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

Staff use physical interventions and negative consequences infrequently and as a last resort. Leaders and managers review the use of these interventions to identify trends and learning points to support informed and safe practice.

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

Generally, staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and have a good knowledge of children’s additional vulnerabilities. Most staff are familiar with the whistle- blowing procedures. However, on one occasion, a staff member did not report a concern about poor staff practice without delay. This meant that leaders and managers could not promptly provide the necessary safeguards to protect children.

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

Leaders and managers conduct thorough investigations into staff practice when required. However, on two occasions there has been a delay in referring staff practice concerns to the local authority designated officer. This has meant that on these occasions, external oversight was not sought when it should have been. This deviates from the safeguarding procedures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and working towards a relevant level 5 qualification. She leads staff confidently alongside a newly appointed responsible individual. Leaders, managers and the staff team have a strong understanding of children’s needs. They demonstrate a commitment to provide good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about the support that they receive and enjoy working at the home. Staff, including agency staff, value their personal development discussions and supervision sessions. Probation reviews and annual appraisals provide staff with opportunities to reflect on their goals and practice. Regular staff meetings ensure that effective communication and good support are embedded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed comprehensive monitoring and review systems to reflect on children’s lived experiences at the home and identify areas for future learning. This includes detailed case studies for each child. This helps the manager to improve their understanding of the strengths and developmental areas in the support provided at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers carefully consider which children stay at the home together. Meticulous planning has ensured that one child received a warm welcome and quickly settled into established routines when they recently moved into the home. Inspection report children's home: 2688749 5 Leaders and managers ensure that there are suitable staff induction processes for new staff. Some staff have requested additional training around the specialist model of support provided at the home. The manager has planned additional sessions for staff, but these have not yet taken place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although leaders and managers have responded adequately to safeguarding concerns, they have not always notified Ofsted as required and within a reasonable time frame. This means that Ofsted’s ability to monitor safeguards during these times has been reduced. Inspection report children's home: 2688749 6

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

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities and report any concerns immediately and in accordance with the safeguarding policy.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that referrals to the local authority designated officer are made without delay. 30 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there.

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 30 August 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2688749 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff can access suitable resources to support their training needs. In particular, that staff attend training in specialist therapeutic approaches outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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 children's home: 2688749 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Acorn Norfolk Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Atria, Spa Road, Bolton BL1 4AG

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Inspectors

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2688749 9 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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