Children's home run by Juventas Services

Inspection report for children’s home: 2644456 1 Registered provider: Juventas Services

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties and learning disabilities. There were four children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2021.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2644456 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2024 Full Good 13/09/2022 Full Good 05/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2644456 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were four children living at the home at the time of the inspection. The inspectors met all four children and spoke with three of them. Two children have moved on from the home since the last inspection. One child had a successful return to their family. The other child moved on to a smaller provision more suited to their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is a good home with examples of excellent practice. Children are happy living at the home. They are settled and feel cared for. One child said it is the ‘best placement’ that they have had. They say that staff get to know them as a person and that they are not treated like a child in care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are making good progress in line with their individual plans. Staff provide excellent support to meet one child’s complex health needs. Staff have detailed knowledge of the child’s health condition and have obtained age-appropriate resources to help the child understand their own needs and what they will experience at planned medical appointments and surgeries.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between staff and children are well established and built on mutual respect. There is laughter and warmth in the home. Staff are aspirational for children and committed to their roles as ‘professional parents’. Children feel listened to and know how to share their views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and champion children’s interests. One child is playing roller hockey at county level and has been scouted and selected with the potential to play at national level. Children enjoy other activities including bike rides, football and cubs. This helps children to enjoy a sense of achievement and enhances their self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children have an education offer. Two children benefit from attending mainstream education and are thriving. For the children that need an improved educational offer, the manager actively challenges professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand and support children’s identity and cultural needs. This includes requesting recipes from family members to replicate cultural meals. Staff supported one child to attend PRIDE. Another child is supported to follow daily routines to keep their skin and hair healthy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff value the relationships that children have with their families. Staff support children to spend time with families and re-establish positive relationships with parents and brothers and sisters. One child enjoys seeing their brother in natural ways, such as at a weekly skating activity. Staff supported another child with their first family visit after several months. Inspection report for children’s home: 2644456 4

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

Safeguarding concerns for all children have reduced due to consistent and well- planned responses by staff. This is recognised by social workers and independent reviewing officers. Meaningful, relevant conversations happen between children and staff where they talk about sex, safety, relationships and substance misuse.

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

Assessments of risk and behaviour are individualised. These provide clear steps for staff to take if a child is missing from care. However, guidance for staff on reducing the risks of alcohol and substance misuse lack clarity. This has the potential to lead to inconsistent responses from staff.

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

The area suitability assessment of the location is detailed. The assessment is informed by consultation with the police and children’s views about their sense of safety in the area that they live.

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

Staff have access to a range of training. Staff are complimentary about the quality of the training and additional opportunities to expand their knowledge. Staff use team meetings effectively to share knowledge on safety issues affecting children and strategies for reducing risks. However, not all staff have refreshed their knowledge on exploitation and substance misuse.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by an experienced, qualified registered manager. The manager was present throughout the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager carefully considers all new referrals resulting in a happy, settled home where children experience stability and feel well supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager understands each child, their individual needs and ways of working with them exceptionally well. She models an empathetic and child-centred approach to responding to children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a tenacious advocate for children. She provides professional challenge to ensure that children get the support that they need. Professional feedback from social workers and independent reviewing officers is wholly positive. An independent reviewing officer said:

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

‘The home has strong leadership, is very responsive and [staff are] keen advocates for the child. They have good working relationships with the local authority and the wider professional network around the child.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children speak highly of the manager and readily go to her if they feel worried or unhappy about something. Staff morale is high. This provides children with a positive, family-like environment. Inspection report for children’s home: 2644456 5 The manager is aspirational for children with a strong focus on education and opportunities to progress. Children benefit from meaningful and structured activities locally and they respond well to daily routines and boundaries. Childrens experiences are captured in daily diaries that are written directly to children and capture positive memories. Children often read these now and will have access to them when they leave the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager completes detailed quality of care reviews to identify areas of continual improvement. She is efficient and rectifies areas of development quickly. Inspection report for children’s home: 2644456 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. In particular, ensure that there is individualised guidance for staff to follow when children are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. In particular, ensure up-to-date learning on exploitation and substance misuse (‘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 for children’s home: 2644456 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Yare House, 62-64 Thorpe Road, Norwich NR1 1RY

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Inspectors

Paula Edwards, Social Care Inspector Carrie Twinn, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2644456 8 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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