Children's home run by Suffolk County Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2696325 1 Registered provider: Suffolk County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for one child with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2022.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2696325 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/01/2025 Full Good 28/11/2023 Full Good 21/02/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2696325 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has moved out of the home and one child has moved in since the last inspection. The child living at the home contributed to this inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Prior to the child coming to live at the home, they had not attended education for a long period. Managers advocate for this child’s educational needs. Staff encourage routines that support the child to be ready for education each day. The child is now attending an education provision out of the home every day. This is providing this child with education that meets their needs and positive peer interactions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child attends various clubs and youth groups. This has supported the child to be able to develop healthy friendships and peer groups for the first time. The child regularly has friends visit the home and enjoys spending time with friends in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have successfully implemented some rules and boundaries for the child, which helps them to feel safe. The child’s family said that staff have supported them to implement the same rules and boundaries during family time with them. This has led to an increase in successful family time, and the introduction of overnight visits.

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

There has been a significant decrease in incidents and concerns for the child living at the home. This child has been supported to learn safe coping mechanisms when they are upset. They have made great progress in feeling able to trust staff to care for them and keep them safe.

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

The staff work closely with the police, health and social care services to develop shared plans to support the child. This has contributed to significant progress in the child’s overall well-being.

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

Staff have intervened effectively when there have been serious concerns about the child’s safety. On occasions, this had led to incidents of the child being restrained. This restraint has kept the child safe during times of extreme distress. The manager reviews records of restraint to ensure that its use was necessary and proportionate. The manager’s review has not always been added to the record within timescale, and staff have not always been spoken to after being involved in restraint. This does not allow for the manager to identify patterns and trends, or any concerns about staff practice, in a timely way.

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

Generally, incidents are managed well, and staff show commitment to the child during times of distress. There have been two incidents that have not been managed in line with the child’s risk assessment, involving the child having access to items that they Inspection report for children’s home: 2696325 4 should not have. These incidents had the potential to undermine the safety of the child and the staff.

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

Risk assessments and relevant documents do not always contain up-to-date information. The child’s plans are not always clear or easily accessible for staff. Staff were unclear on some of the safety planning for the child but did say that they would seek further advice from managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced manager, who has been in post for a number of years. The manager knows the home and the child well, and he is ambitious for the child. The deputy manager is newly appointed. They have a good understanding of the running of the home and the needs of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they are well supported. They receive regular supervision and attend team meetings. Where there have been significant incidents, staff are updated via various methods, including daily meetings and emails.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and families have been consistently positive about the home. Families said that there have been huge changes in the child that they never thought they would be able to see, and one professional commented that staff ‘have shown real patience and commitment to the child’. The child said that they are happy at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers do not always record conversations with staff sufficiently following practice concerns. This limits managers’ oversight and the ability to monitor staff practice and learning. Inspection report for children’s home: 2696325 5

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s plans are updated with relevant information and that staff adhere to these plans. 9 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘‘the authorised person’’)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)) 9 December 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered should ensure that everyone working at the home understands their roles and responsibilities. In particular, they should ensure that staff are able to learn Inspection report for children’s home: 2696325 6 from any practice concerns and that these are documented. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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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: 2696325 7

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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: 2696325 8 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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