Children's Home run by Norfolk County Council in Norfolk

Inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 1 SC463902 Registered provider: Norfolk County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a local authority. It is an emergency provision and is registered to provide support for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties. There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection, and one child was spoken to.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/05/2022 Full Good 20/04/2021 Full Good 17/12/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Seven children have moved out of the home and nine children have moved in since the last inspection. This reflects the role of the home as an emergency provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised care. Professionals say they are happy with the care provided. One social worker said that while their child was at the home their ‘heritage was championed and supported. Staff cooked meals they liked and enjoyed when they were at home with family.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff work hard to ensure that when children see their families this time is meaningful. This means children can maintain links with those people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy the activities that are offered to them and speak positively about them. Special activities are used as incentives, and this supports children with a feeling of accomplishment when they reach their goal and attend the activity. When asked what they liked about the home, one child said, ‘Everything, it is calm.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are very comfortable in the company of the staff and have built good relationships with them. There are positive, warm and nurturing interactions. Staff were attentive to the needs of the children, in particular a child who was not feeling well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education. They encourage children to persevere with their education. One social worker said they were happy with how the staff worked with their child to get them back into school, as they were not in education before living at the home. Staff also support children to engage in developing age-appropriate independence skills.

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

Staff have completed the organisation’s mandatory safeguarding training. They are confident in their responsibilities of reporting and escalating any child protection concerns and they understand the whistle-blowing policy.

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

Staff are open and honest with children, which helps to build positive and trusting relationships. Staff are sensitive in how they approach and support children to identify and understand the risks posed to them.

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

Children say they feel safe living at the home, and they can identify staff they would speak to if they have worries or concerns. Inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 4 When children go missing, staff are quick to respond. Partnership work with external agencies is effective, and staff actively ensure that the children return home as soon as possible. When physical interventions have been used, they have been reasonable and proportionate.

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

The children’s guide is child-friendly and gives children a sense of what it is like living in the home. The guide also contains information to help children understand who to speak to if they are worried or if they need support.

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

The manager ensures that allegations made by children are investigated promptly. She informs relevant professionals, and children are kept safe. However, on one occasion, the manager did not notify Ofsted of an allegation made by a child against a staff member working at the home. Although this did not result in harm to the child, it compromises Ofsted’s ability to carry out its role effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024. She was present during the inspection and was supported by a service manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is enthusiastic, and she speaks with commitment and dedication about the children. She is ambitious for children, child-centred and regularly spends quality time with the children. Staff spoke positively about the care and support that are provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When the manager is dissatisfied with the response from other professionals, they advocate on behalf of children and challenge external agencies. This is reflected in the feedback from professionals. One social worker said the manager is their child’s biggest advocate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff hold the manager in high regard and they feel well supported. Staff benefit from regular one-to-one supervision and annual appraisals and say they feel listened to and supported by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All care staff working at the home hold a relevant qualification. Staff turnover is low, and no staff have left or joined the home since the last inspection, apart from the manager. This provides consistency and stability for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals speak highly of the home. One social worker said, ‘I am very impressed with [name of home]. They are providing holistic care and really good communication with professionals and families. As they have a consistent staff team, communication is not lost between staff.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they notify Ofsted when there is an allegation made by a child against someone working in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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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: SC463902 6

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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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Inspectors

Anver Rose, Social Care Inspector Lexi Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 7 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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