Children's Home run by Break Charity in Norfolk

Inspection report for children’s home: SC025718 1 SC025718 Registered provider: Break Charity

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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 charity-run home provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager left the home in December 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

There are four children living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 22 October 2024

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC025718 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/04/2023 Full Good 23/08/2022 Full Good 05/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC025718 3

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improvement to be good

There are several shortfalls in the help and protection of children and the leadership and management of the home. At times, risks have not been managed well, and this has reduced the quality of the care provided. The risks include substance misuse and associated risks. These are not managed in a way that reduces risks for the children. There are strong indicators of substance misuse at the home. Two children are not in education and do not have healthy routines.

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improvement to be good

During the inspection, two children spoke with the inspector. One child has recently moved to the home. The move was unexpected because the child’s home was closing. Despite this, staff listened to the child and took their wishes into account when organising the move. The child knew some of the staff members, which has helped them to settle in. The child’s social worker said that the child has ‘adjusted really well’ and communication between the social worker and staff has always been positive.

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improvement to be good

Two of the children’s bedrooms are untidy and unclean. Staff try to encourage good habits but are unsuccessful. This is not good for children’s overall hygiene and well- being. The rest of the home is spacious and decorated to a high standard. The entrance hall and garden space are pleasant and well-kept. These areas encourage children to spend time outside. Children have personalised bedrooms, and staff respect children’s private personal space.

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improvement to be good

Some children are making progress. One child has been helped to improve their emotional well-being and skills in reaching out for support. They can communicate their needs and feelings in healthier ways. For another child, they can talk much more openly and honestly with staff about their feelings and experiences.

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improvement to be good

Children benefit from strong relationships with the staff. Staff show children that they are listened to and cared for. These relationships form a basis for meaningful conversations with children about their lived experiences. Staff take opportunities to talk to children about the things that matter to them and offer guidance and support. Children talk openly and go to staff for help. Staff talk about children with respect and kindness. They write records to the children in a detailed and sensitive way.

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improvement to be good

Two children attend education regularly and children are sitting exams. Two children are not attending education. Staff work with professionals to offer encouragement and support. Staff are aspirational for children and help them to try new ideas and develop their skills and experience. One child has benefited from work experience and staff have supported another child to apply for employment.

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improvement to be good

Children enjoy a range of activities that provide positive childhood experiences and memories. These include fishing, martial arts, attending the gym and personal training. Inspection report for children’s home: SC025718 4 The staff are planning a trip abroad. These experiences help children to build self- esteem, skills and confidence.

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improvement to be good

Staff follow a therapeutic model of care. They receive regular support from trained professionals to explore and understand children’s past experiences. This informs their care planning and ways of working. Staff talk highly of this approach and enjoy their work.

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improvement to be good

There are significant concerns relating to children’s substance misuse, which have increased. Substances are regularly used and brought into the home. The current strategies to disrupt and stop substance misuse are ineffective. The staff do not always follow the child’s plan or the procedures. Staff do not always seek management advice or consider consulting with other professionals for guidance. Because of this, there is a risk of children being dependent on harmful substances.

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improvement to be good

Children’s risk assessments are not always updated, and the actions for staff to take are not always explicit. Staff identify risks and try to understand the underlying cause. There has not been a quick response to an increase in incidents. However, just before the inspection, managers met with social workers and created a plan to address substance misuse concerns.

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improvement to be good

Staff use their relationships with children to talk to them about the reasons behind their actions and try to educate them about dangers of substance misuse.

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improvement to be good

Children’s records do not consistently or effectively evaluate staff responses. This means that there is limited opportunity to learn from incidents and quickly adapt approaches that may reduce incidents. When there has been clear direction, it has not always led to action. For example, staff have rarely searched children’s bedrooms despite considerable concerns regarding substance misuse at the home.

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improvement to be good

One child has recently started to go missing from home, sometimes overnight. Staff respond appropriately by following the child and trying to persuade them to return home safely. They make efforts to speak to people known to the child and to encourage them home. Staff welcome the child back and try to understand what has happened. This shows children that the staff care about them. However, the staff do not challenge the local authority regarding their duty to offer a return-home interview after children have been missing. This limits children’s opportunity to share their experience and potentially reduce missing episodes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home has not had a registered manager since December 2024. Management oversight has been provided from experienced covering managers, the responsible individual and a deputy manager. This has somewhat reduced the disruption for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC025718 5 A permanent manager was appointed and was due to begin their post in May 2025. This has since changed, and another manager has been appointed. She intends to apply to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Most staff have not had training on substance misuse. Contact has been made with a supporting service but not followed up to ensure that it is a priority. This has meant that children are not offered timely support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Oversight of staff practice is limited and not fully evaluated. At times, actions after incidents have been not been followed through to minimise risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers, staff and children continue to experience change. At the time of inspection, consideration was being given to the future management of the home. Recently, new staff joined from another home within the organisation. Staff spoke positively about welcoming new staff members to the team. The staff get good support from management and demonstrate a high commitment to the care of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The current acting manager carefully considers the impact of change on the children and staff. She has ideas to implement and is aware of the strengths and areas of development for the home. The team are willing to learn and develop. Overall, there is a positive team culture. Inspection report for children’s home: SC025718 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vii)) 16 June 2025

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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

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff have up-to-date knowledge regarding exploitation and substance misuse. 16 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC025718 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview once they return from being missing from home. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that children are helped to have cleaner bedrooms. Immediate searching may be necessary where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child’s or another person’s safety or well-being. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)

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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: SC025718 8

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Carrie Twinn, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC025718 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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