Children's Home run by Break Charity in Suffolk

Inspection report for children’s home: 2780150 1 Registered provider: Break

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 registered charity. It provides care for one child aged between eight and 17 years old. One child was living at the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted when the home opened in March 2024. This is the first inspection after registration.

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 requires improvement to be 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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2780150 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has moved into the home since registration. The child has formed positive relationships with the staff. The home is full of laughter and the child was seen to spend a significant amount of time engaging with staff. The child spoke to the inspector during the inspection.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has been supported to sustain relationships with people important to them. They have recently spent time with a sibling whom they have not seen for a significant period. The home advocates for family time in line with the child’s wishes and feelings.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child was able to visit the home prior to moving in and was supported to move in at a pace right for them. Staff took the child on day trips prior to their moving in. This supported a smooth move into the home with staff whom the child had already met.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has been able to take part in a wide range of activities and has been on holiday. Staff listen to the child’s wishes and activities are planned around their likes and interests.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff recognise the importance of peer relationships and they support the child to interact with other children outside of the home. As a result, with the support and guidance of staff the child is developing appropriate relationships with peers in the community.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is making progress with academic engagement. Prior to moving into the home, the child had a limited education timetable and poor attendance. The home worked with the child to source education that is in line with the child’s interests, and the child now has an education provision for every day.

p.2

improvement to be good

Although there are strengths in respect of the help and protection offered by leaders, managers and staff, on one occasion leaders and managers have not taken appropriate steps to assess predictable risks during an overnight group activity. In addition, staff did not follow the risk mitigation strategies that were outlined in the risk assessment. A serious incident was then alleged to have occurred. At the time of the inspection, managers had not taken sufficient action to formally explore the concerns about staff practice.

p.2

improvement to be good

The staff have not had training in or feel fully equipped to manage one important area of risk for the child. There have been two occasions when staff have not responded appropriately to this particular risk. Inspection report for children’s home: 2780150 3 Since moving into the home, the child has experienced a reduction in risk. Incidents of the child going missing have reduced. When these have happened, they have been short-lived and managed well by the staff. The child has been supported to return home by the staff on all occasions.

p.2

improvement to be good

The relationships the child has with staff help them to feel safe. The child has been able to talk to staff when worried and has proactively asked staff to carry out actions to help keep them safe.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child is supported to take age-appropriate risks. The child had a number of accidents requiring medical attention which have occurred when the child has been taking part in a hobby. The home has considered the risks in relation to this activity and recognised the importance of this activity for the child’s identity. They have educated the child about the importance of wearing safety equipment and supported the child to continue with their hobby in the safest way possible.

p.3

improvement to be good

There is a low level of incidents occurring in the home. When incidents do occur, these are well managed in line with the home’s therapeutic model.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She is ambitious for the home and for the child who lives there.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This is a new home, and a new staff team. The staff said that at times, there have been challenges in learning how to work together. The members of the management team identified this and have supported the team to come together. They use team meetings and joint learning opportunities as a way to guide staff to have a consistent approach to their work.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers continue to develop the home’s recording systems as they learn what works for them. Records in the home are clear and written in child-friendly language.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When the child behaves in ways the staff find difficult to manage, the manager reviews the incidents and shows curiosity in considering why these may have occurred. She identifies learning and considers the child’s needs when taking steps to prevent reoccurrence of incidents.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers support an open culture where staff can discuss their concerns. Staff say that that know how to report safeguarding concerns, and they feel that these concerns would be taken seriously by managers.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision where they reflect on their practice with the child. The manager holds regular team meetings where practice is discussed. Care plans and Inspection report for children’s home: 2780150 4 changes to risk assessments are shared in team meetings to ensure consistency in the way that the child is supported by staff.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager supports the child to be involved in the running of the home. The manager writes letters to the child using an internal postbox system. These letters show the child that the manager is aware of requests that the child has made to staff. The letters clearly tell the child when these requests have been actioned or the reasons why this cannot happen. The child engages in this system and regularly writes letters to the staff and managers.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The suitability of the location of the home is reviewed and updated by the manager. The manager attends the local parish council meetings and liaises with local businesses to identify any potential risks to the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2780150 5

p.4

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.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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)(a)(iii)(v)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

 risks in relation to group dynamics are adequately assessed prior to an activity taking place  staff are aware of and follow the expectations of them in relation to the supervision of children and staff are supported to sufficiently understand important areas of risk for the child. 20 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2780150 6

p.5

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: 2780150 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Break, Schofield House, Spar Road, Norwich NR6 6BX

p.7

Inspector

Andrea Bounden, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2780150 8 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.7

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.

p.8

Inspector

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8