Children's home run by BREAK

Inspection report for children’s home: 2780415 1 Registered provider: Break

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This charity-run home provides therapeutic care for one child with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, sensory impairment and/or social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024. This is the home’s first inspection., The home was registered in March 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living at the home at the time of the inspection. The child was spoken to at length during the inspection.

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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 outstanding

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2780415 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is happy at this home and thriving on the love, support and highly individualised care that they receive. The child benefits from staff who know them extremely well. They have developed a sense of belonging and stability because of the care they receive. The child’s father said, ‘I will be forever thankful to the manager and his team for the amazing work they do with[name of child].’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The therapeutic care in this home is excellent. Staff are trained in therapeutic models of care by a qualified team, including a psychologist. There is kindness, nurture and understanding in the home. Staff offer targeted therapeutic sessions that help the child understand their emotions and feelings. All staff have had additional training that helps them understand how children’s previous trauma is linked to current emotional presentation. Being understood has helped the child to develop caring relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child had not been in full-time education for some time before moving to the home. To support education, staff have organised mixed-method teaching that accommodates the child’s needs. On the day of the inspection, the child visited a woodland school they are due to begin attending regularly. This is intended to support their growing independence and provide a pathway to attending college.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team is culturally diverse. They explore cultural experiences through celebrations and festivals. Staff invite the child’s family and friends to celebrate important occasions. This helps support the child to understand how meaningful their heritage is and to feel connected to the people who are most important in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s views, wishes and feelings are captured in regular meetings, planned conversations and day-to-day conversations. Staff know the child exceptionally well and encourage their interest in current affairs. Discussions cover a wide variety of topics and are often led by the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Despite the short time the child has spent at the home, their progress is clear. The child’s father said he could see that the child has become more independent and is trying new activities and social opportunities. An independent reviewing officer praised the work that the home did before the child moved in. This helped with their positive transition to the home.

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

The child does not go missing from this home. In the short time they have been living there, they have developed strong and protective relationships with staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2780415 3 Staff set clear boundaries that are discussed with the child, so the child understands the high aspirations staff have. If the child struggles with the boundaries, staff maintain consistent support and encourage the child to make better choices.

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

The manager and staff understand how trauma influences children’s reaction to adults. Therapeutic support helps staff to apply strategies that address concerning behaviours.

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

Staff are able to quickly identify and respond to the child’s low mood, which helps the child to develop their emotional resilience. When the child is upset or frustrated, staff are able to provide nurturing support that helps the child to calm.

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

The staff ensure that the child is equipped with knowledge and understanding of risks in the wider world. Staff discuss subjects such as criminal exploitation, consent, online safety and cyber-bullying with the child.

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

Relationships are important to the child. Staff talk to them about the value of peer friendships and positive adult relationships. Staff help the child to understand how to forge strong and lasting friendships. Restorative meetings help the child to repair relationships in a way that is non-blaming and emotionally nurturing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced in working with children with complex behaviours. He is inspirational and models a high standard of leadership and management. He is committed to the development of this therapeutically-informed service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager spends a lot of time with the child. This is clear from their interactions and the way that he is able to respond to the child’s questions and queries. There is a genuinely friendly and nurturing relationship between them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are highly ambitious for the child. They support the staff team to provide activities and experiences that are new and exciting. A recent holiday to a theme park was a reward for the child’s hard work since moving to the home. To support planning, staff included the child in developing a dynamic risk assessment and evaluation of the activities on offer. The child embarked on a healthy eating regime so that they were fitter and more able to enjoy all the opportunities at the park.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s approach has ensured that staff embrace the ethos of the home. Staff value the opportunities to attend training that supports their understanding of the therapeutic model. Staff reflect the positive culture in the home and said that they love using the therapeutic approach as this helps the child to make big changes in their life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are extremely positive about the manager. They said that supervision sessions are reflective and offer the chance to explore their role and the impact of their work on them personally. They said that they value the opportunity to discuss theories that support practice with a manager who is invested in providing excellent care. Staff said that there Inspection report for children’s home: 2780415 4 is a clear career pathway in the organisation and the manager supports them to achieve their aspirations in their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has developed rigorous monitoring routines. The child’s records are highly detailed and current and provide an excellent oversight of the child. All the staff understand the child’s targets and goals, and this is improved by the manager’s support of staff. Themes and patterns of behaviour are identified and shared with senior managers and the wider professional network.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has ensured the staff worked extremely hard before the child moved into the home to get access to the child’s full educational, medical and social care history. This has meant staff have been able to use a trauma-informed timeline that has been invaluable in providing a strong holistic approach to the child’s emotional care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have involved the child in exploring how they feel about moving towards independence. Discussions between the child and staff help the child to explore topics that they may have missed due to being out of school. This is helping the child to understand difficult emotions and how they make them feel.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is maintained to an extremely high standard. It is child-friendly, with stimulating activities, including games, that encourage the child to be more social. Managers encourage the child to try a variety of new experiences each day. This helps the child to explore the local community and interact with other children in social contexts. Managers also include both the child’s parents in positive activities, which is helping the child to maintain close relationships with the people who matter most to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made at this inspection.

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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 for children’s home: 2780415 5

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Trudy Potter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2780415 6 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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