Children's home run by Norfolk County Council in Norwich

Inspection report children's home: SC065883 1 SC065883 Registered provider: Norfolk County Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home provides short-term breaks for children with severe learning and/or physical disabilities, including complex health needs. It can also provide long-term care for two children. The home can accommodate up to nine children at any one time. During the inspection, there were two children staying at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 20 November 2023.

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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

Date of last inspection: 7 February 2024

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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: SC065883 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2024 Full Good 13/12/2022 Full Good 27/10/2021 Full Good 20/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC065883 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, 16 children were accessing short breaks on a rotational basis. Since the last inspection, six children have started to access short breaks and four children have moved on. Five children moved into the home in an emergency, to be provided with full-time care for a short time. The five children have since moved on from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home could not offer short breaks for several months due to emergency placements for children who needed full-time care. Children’s services ensured that families had the appropriate help during this period. The manager recognises that cancelling short breaks causes disruption to families. She has applied for a variation in conditions that will enable children needing full-time care and children needing short breaks to access care. There are ongoing renovations to adapt the building appropriately. During the renovations, children can access short breaks in a separate part of the building.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff were observed to be nurturing and kind and were actively encouraging children to take part in meaningful activities. Staff understand how to communicate with children who have complex communication needs. Children were happy and relaxed and enjoying spending time with staff. Staff have built warm and positive relationships with the children, who are at ease in staff’s company.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have built positive relationships with the children’s parents, providing practical and emotional support. Parents feel supported and said that communication from the staff is good. One parent said that their child is safe and has built trusting relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children all attend education placements that meet their individual needs. The manager works closely with schools, and staff attend education meetings. One staff member was observed playing an imagination game to help prepare a child to move class and relieve her anxieties. Children have good education outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been three medication errors since the last inspection. The manager improved processes to ensure that agency nurses administer medication with staff at the home. The manager has ensured that staff competency is assessed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a range of activities including day trips, visits to the zoo, go-karting and theatre productions. The manager has a Christmas party planned for children, their families and staff. The children thoroughly enjoy these fun and enriching experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to work towards simple, achievable independence targets. The targets are agreed with school staff and children’s parents. Staff encourage children to make choices about their care. Children achieve important targets to increase their independence and well-being. Inspection report children's home: SC065883 4

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

The children are safeguarded. The manager has ensured that staff have the appropriate safeguarding training and that they understand safeguarding procedures. The staff are well equipped to manage safeguarding incidents.

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

There has been one safeguarding concern, which was raised through an external agency. Managers took prompt and appropriate action to protect the child.

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

The manager has regular multi-agency meetings to ensure that children receive the best possible care. These meetings include discussions on health and safeguarding. This joined-up approach helps to keep children safe.

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

Physical interventions are managed appropriately and are necessary and proportionate. The manager reviews incidents. A psychologist has input into strategies to help reduce the need for physical intervention. A physical intervention trainer observed a child and gave bespoke guidance on how to best support the child during the intervention. There has been a reduction in the use of physical intervention. However, staff debriefs with the manager are not recorded and some physical intervention records lack all relevant information, and handwritten records can be difficult to read.

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

Staff ensure that any marks and bruising are recorded and regularly reviewed. There is good monitoring of children, and records are made of any bruises or injuries. Staff inform parents of any bruising and explore where they may have come from. However, social workers are not consistently sent bruising records. This could reduce the social worker’s oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and suitably qualified. She has high aspirations for children and is very nurturing. She models this positive practice and staff have the same nurturing approach. Staff benefit from the manager’s experience and they meet the needs of the children well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is well respected by the staff team. Staff describe feeling well supported and valued and are committed to their roles in the home. They say that the manager is understanding and approachable and always available if needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are provided with good training that meets the children’s individual needs. Staff have specific training from health specialists. The staff are confident and capable in supporting children with complex needs. Most of the staff have a relevant level 3 diploma or are working towards the qualification within agreed timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has built professional relationships with social workers, who speak highly of the home. Three social workers said that the manager and staff go above and beyond Inspection report children's home: SC065883 5 expectations to ensure that children are happy and safe. These good relationships with social workers ensures effective partnership working.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring tools and understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home. These tools are used to review the home’s progress regularly. Good oversight of the home ensures that continual improvements are made. Inspection report children's home: SC065883 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, 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.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(h))

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Requirement Due date

physical interventions records are clearly and include all relevant information;

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Requirement Due date

staff debriefs are recorded and opportunities for learning are not missed. 4 December 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that any marks or bruising found on a child are reported promptly to the child's social worker in all circumstances. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 43, paragraph 9.10) Inspection report children's home: SC065883 7

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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: SC065883 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Norfolk County Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC065883 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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