Children's Home run by PCT Children’s Services Ltd in Norfolk

Inspection report for children’s home: 2786766 1 Registered provider: PCT Children’s Services Limited

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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 home is operated by a private company and provides care for up to five children with social and emotional difficulties. Three children were 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 at the same time as the home was registered on 17 January 2025.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2786766 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children have moved into the home since the home re-registered. One child had already been living at the home for over two years under the previous registration. All children shared their views with the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child had moved out since re-registration. The provider was not able to meet this child’s needs and worked with the local authority to find an appropriate placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress from their starting points. Two children used to regularly go missing from home, and this has significantly reduced since moving to the home. There are examples of children’s overall physical health having improved, as well as other concerns reducing for children, such as substance misuse and self-harm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to engage in education. Children make mixed progress. Some children who have moved in have not been in education for a long time. One child has been helped to start mainstream education. This is a significant positive step forward. Two children are not in education. When children face barriers to education, staff work with other professionals to encourage and offer educational opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living far away from home are supported to maintain family connections. Staff understand the importance of these relationships for children. Staff regularly take one child to visit family members. The provision includes a holiday property that relatives can use to spend time with children. This provides an opportunity for children and families to spend quality time together and make positive memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work well with children’s families. Two parents were spoken to. Both said they felt involved in their child’s care and that communication is good. One parent said: ‘The manager 100% puts the kids first. She has a great way with kids, and so do the other staff.’ They said that the time the manager took to explain the home’s approach to parenting and who was looking after their child gave them confidence in the care provided.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s background and the experiences that have led them to live away from their families. They listen to children and empathise with their circumstances. This helps children to build positive relationships and to make progress.

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

Managers work closely with children’s social workers to help keep children safe. Social workers were complimentary about the partnership together and said information- sharing about risks and safety was very good. This includes staff reviewing and updating Inspection report for children’s home: 2786766 3 plans with clear instructions for staff to follow. This helps children receive the help they need when they need it.

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

There have been instances of some children going missing from home. Staff work together to respond quickly by following children, trying to locate them and helping them to return home. Professionals are kept well informed. Staff are proportionate and know when to report children missing to police and when some children just need some support from them to return safely from close by.

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

There have been some significant incidents that the staff have managed without the need to use restrictive interventions. They have occasionally used police when this has been necessary for safety. Managers are clear that this is not to criminalise children and used only when necessary.

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

Sometimes, some children show signs of distress. Staff have clear plans and strategies to respond at these times. Children are supported emotionally, and professionals are kept updated. Recording includes children’s voices and is written sensitively. Some recording is variable and there are occasions when children’s records do not include all the detail about the action staff have taken in response to incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an experienced, registered manager. She is working towards her leadership and management qualification. The manager was present throughout the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals spoke highly of the manager. She is child centred and shows curiosity about the root causes of children’s actions. Professionals said that she communicates effectively, that all meetings are attended and information is shared at the right time. Parents also spoke positively about their communication and relationship with the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff form positive relationships with children’s families. The manager models involving families in the care of children. These relationships help children with their stability and to maintain important relationships. One parent said that when there was a significant incident with their child, staff asked them how they wanted to be communicated with and this offered ‘massive reassurance’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said the manager is available and approachable. There are opportunities to progress and two staff are following pathways to more senior positions. If practice falls below the expected standards, the manager challenges this. Staff described a working environment with reflection and challenge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff complete a variety of relevant training. Some staff do not have recent training in relevant areas of need. The managers are looking to increase face-to-face learning. This Inspection report for children’s home: 2786766 4 includes a plan to invite an external therapeutic professional to the home in due course to discuss and share knowledge in response to one child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been occasions when it has been necessary to lock rooms temporarily to manage crisis situations. However, staff also routinely lock the kitchen and living rooms at night. The intention is to help children to settle down for bed, but this creates an institutional environment and detracts from a family-style setting. There are monitoring systems used, including door sensors at nighttime. Sensors are activated if children upstairs move downstairs after they have settled to bed. This is not included in the home’s statement of purpose and is not individually reviewed to ensure this is always necessary to address children’s risks. Inspection report for children’s home: 2786766 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that a written policy is in place for monitoring equipment describing how this will support the safeguarding and well-being of those living and working in the home in accordance with regulation 24. The home must gain consent to any monitoring or surveillance by the placing authority in writing at the time of placement. In particular, ensure that the use of monitoring through door sensors is reviewed regularly, used for safeguarding purposes based on individual assessment and need, and included in the home’s statement of purpose. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, ensure consistent recording of actions and outcomes in

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Recommendations

response to concerns in records. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that, just as in a family home, children can access all shared areas of their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child’s needs. Limits on privacy and access may only be put in place to safeguard each child in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. (‘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: 2786766 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: PCT Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 28 Gordon Road, Lowestoft NR32 1NL

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Inspector

Carrie Twinn, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2786766 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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