Children's Home run by Suffolk County Council in Suffolk

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063110 1 SC063110 Registered provider: Suffolk 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 operated by the local authority and provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties. The home has an on-site lodge that is used to provide emergency support for children under the care of Suffolk County Council.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in December 2024.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to monitor the shortfalls raised at the assurance inspection in August 2025, when Ofsted identified serious and widespread concerns.

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This monitoring visit

Although leaders and managers have not addressed all the concerns raised at the previous inspection, there are no serious failings that put children at risk of harm or do not promote their welfare.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector was aware during this inspection that serious child protection allegations were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the allegations were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

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This monitoring visit

There have been changes to leadership and management since the last inspection. The previous manager has withdrawn their application to register with Ofsted and is no longer in post. An interim registered manager from another home in the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063110 2 organisation is providing short-term management cover with a view to improving the effectiveness of the service.

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This monitoring visit

There has been significant improvement in staff availability. This has led to a reduction in the use of agency staff. This continuity has supported an increase in positive relationships between children and staff.

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This monitoring visit

Staff know how to raise concerns and said that managers take their concerns seriously. Staff notify managers of serious incidents without delay. When there have been concerns in relation to staff practice, leaders and managers have taken prompt and effective action.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers provide clear guidance to staff through team meetings and supervision sessions. When gaps in skills have been identified, managers have sought additional training and support for staff. This has led to improvements in the care that children receive.

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This monitoring visit

Staff encourage healthy routines and promote children’s engagement in education and training. One child has a part-time job. Another child is engaging in education for the first time in a significant period.

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This monitoring visit

Staff generally ensure that children receive necessary medical attention. On one occasion, staff did not seek medical advice for a child who was vomiting because of drugs and alcohol.

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This monitoring visit

When children do not want to engage in external support, staff seek advice and resources from support charities. These resources support staff in working with children to help them understand the dangers of substance misuse.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not ensured that there is an adequate number of staff caring for children. On three occasions, there were not enough staff working to meet the children’s assessed staffing needs. On three other occasions, despite sufficient staff availability, they did not work in line with the children’s assessed staffing needs.

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This monitoring visit

While there has been improvement in the management oversight since the last inspection, on one occasion, monitoring and review processes did not identify concerns in relation to staff practice. This was subsequently identified during the inspection. Since this incident, managers have strengthened their review processes with daily checklists of recording. In addition, senior managers provide regular support and carry out audits of documents. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063110 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/07/2024 Full Good 05/07/2023 Full Good 27/09/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063110 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being.

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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

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) 10 December 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 the home has sufficient staff to provide care for 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)(d)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is always enough staff on duty to meet children’s needs. 10 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063110 5 Furthermore, ensure that managers review all records in a timely manner, including follow-up reviews for records when necessary.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063110 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Suffolk County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Endeavour House, Russell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX

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Inspector

Andrea Bounden, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063110 7 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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