Children's home run by Norfolk County Council in Norwich

Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 1 SC450045 Registered provider: Norfolk County Council Full inspection 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. The home is a crisis assessment and reunification service. It provides care for up to six children with complex needs who require specialist support.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 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 outstanding

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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: 6 September 2023

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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: SC450045 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/09/2023 Full Good 26/04/2022 Full Good 11/01/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home. Two of the children spoke to the inspector, and one child moved out during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The mix of children living at the home frequently changes due to the emergency nature of the service. Leaders and managers diligently consider the children’s needs, consult with external professionals and ensure the staff’s skills will meet the needs of the children. This has ensured that children are suited to live with one another, relevant information is received and staff can meet the complex needs of the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff place a priority on quickly building meaningful relationships with children. Interactions between staff and children are warm and fuelled by mutual respect. Children speak highly of the support that they receive from staff. One child said, ‘They are all amazing. The staff have helped me with anything and everything. I wish I could take them all with me.’ Children who have left echoed having a positive experience of living at the home. As a result, of these strong relationships children make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, 18 children have moved out to appropriate longer-term placements. Children’s moves are well supported by staff, and children are prepared. The length of time children spend at the home varies between days and several months. Staff mark the children’s time with high-quality memory books and leaving celebrations. Many of the children who move on are supported in an outreach capacity by staff who continue to offer support. This gives children a sense of belonging even after they have moved on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their education. They regularly communicate with education providers and virtual headteachers. Children are supported to engage with education arrangements that are tailored to their needs. This has helped children progress with their learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to enjoy life. Staff are creative in offering children opportunities to explore their individual interests and try new experiences. Children have taken part in theatre clubs, volleyball, paddle boarding and geocaching. These activities have provided children with enjoyable experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of children maintaining relationships with people who are important to them. When there are barriers to maintaining these relationships, staff resourcefully support children. This approach has been successful, resulting in children spending quality time with their friends and family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious and welcoming. A thoughtful approach to the interior creates a calm environment. Children are supported to personalise aspects of their bedrooms. Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 4

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

Staff know the children’s vulnerabilities and the risks they face exceptionally well. Staff regularly monitor, discuss and review children’s risk management plans. External professionals and therapists participate in devising helpful strategies to reduce children’s risks. These strategies are extremely thorough, followed by staff and underpinned by research. As a result, the risks for children are understood well and considerably reduced.

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

When there have been incidents of children going missing from home, staff have responded in line with the missing-from-home protocol to help find and return children as soon as possible. Managers work proactively and effectively with external agencies. This multi-agency response helps to reduce these risks.

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

Staff work closely with external agencies and therapists, taking an integrated approach in supporting children with their health and emotional well-being. When children struggle with their emotional well-being, staff take effective action to keep them safe. Reflective conversations and encouragement to develop healthier coping skills are prioritised by staff. Children who were previously struggling with their emotional well-being and health are supported to access the support they require.

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

Children are supported to manage their behaviours. They benefit from a nurturing and structured environment where positive behaviour is actively reinforced. Consequences are rarely used. When these are used, they are proportionate. Consequences are discussed with the child to help them to reflect on their behaviours and consider how they can manage things more appropriately in the future.

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

Incidents of restraint are rare and only used as a last resort. Children and staff are given the opportunity to reflect on incidents and are provided with aftercare. All interventions are reviewed by the manager, and risk management plans are updated.

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

Children are provided with thorough education around the risks and worries professionals have. Input from the home’s speech and language therapist supports staff to communicate with children in a purposeful way that children understand. For example, one child was supported by staff with education around substance misuse with talking mats (a visual communication tool). This approach, alongside detailed engagement sessions, has provided children with education and support regarding their vulnerabilities.

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

Professionals provided unanimously positive feedback about the quality of care, excellent communication and overall positive impact on the children’s lives. Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The previous registered manager left the home in September 2024. The new registered manager has been managing the home since then.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and enthusiastic about his role, the staff team and the children. Two experienced deputy managers support him. Staff feedback describes a positive morale among the team and the support given by leaders and managers. One staff member said, ‘The new management, I feel, have been brilliant. They are approachable, supportive and put a great emphasis on staff well-being.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision sessions and annual appraisals. This gives them the support to reflect and develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment processes are followed. New staff benefit from excellent inductions, which include comprehensive training. For existing staff, additional and ongoing training is specific to the needs of the children who live at the home. External agencies regularly attend team meetings, offering training opportunities on topics such as sexual exploitation, substance misuse and child trafficking. The additional training equips staff to enhance the care they provide to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The majority of staff are qualified for their role or are working towards the relevant qualification. When staff have struggled with achieving this within the required time frame, leaders and managers have taken the initiative and provided additional supervision sessions and implemented practice-development plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a strong understanding of the strengths and areas for development in the support provided to children. He undertakes detailed reviews of children’s experiences and staff practice. Feedback from children is regularly obtained and actioned with regard to any further improvements needed in the service provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although leaders and managers have responded appropriately to allegations against staff, they did not notify Ofsted about this. This limits Ofsted’s ability to monitor incidents of this nature. Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; and

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 13 May 2025

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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: SC450045 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Norfolk County Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Syvanna Matthew, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 8 regulates 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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