Children's Home run by Break Charity in Norfolk

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC025718 1 SC025718

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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

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager left the home in December 2024. There have been several changes in managers since this time. A new manager started in November 2025.

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Inspection date: 18 November 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 18 November 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC025718 2

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Findings from the inspection

There are serious and widespread shortfalls that lead to children’s welfare not being safeguarded and promoted.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been no registered manager. Several temporary managers have overseen the home in the absence of a registered manager. A new manager was appointed in November 2025. They are in the process of applying to register with Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

One child has a history of mental health difficulties and significant paracetamol overdoses. Leaders and managers have not ensured that there are enough suitably skilled staff to meet this child’s needs. On one occasion, the deployment of staff was ineffective, and they did not take immediate and necessary steps to prevent a child from taking a paracetamol overdose. Staff did not immediately call emergency services. This is a very recent and known risk for this child, and staff did not follow this child’s safety plan. Leaders and managers had not identified this as a serious concern.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have not always followed another child’s agreed missing-from-care procedure. This procedure has been agreed with multiple professionals due to the child’s risk of exploitation. On two occasions, the child was reported missing two hours later than the agreed time. On one of these occasions, staff had agreed for the child to travel on a bus late at night. It was then discovered that this child was not on the bus. This child was not reported as missing until after midnight.

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Findings from the inspection

There are significant concerns in relation to substance misuse and going missing from home for two of the children. The risks for these children are increasing. The management oversight of these concerns has not been effective.

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Findings from the inspection

There are several shortfalls in the management of allegations regarding staff practice concerns. Staff have not always followed safeguarding procedures in relation to allegations and practice concerns. On one occasion, staff raised a safeguarding concern via email to a manager who was on leave. This led to delayed referrals to the local authority designated officer (LADO) and a late notification to Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

In response to staff not following safeguarding procedures, leaders and managers planned a training day to equip staff with the relevant knowledge. However, leaders and managers did not ensure that staff took part in the training. Staff received contradictory information about how to raise concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff then failed to report another safeguarding concern. Staff did not use the on- call system to notify managers of this and instead sent it as an email the following day. This email was sent to a senior manager who was on annual leave, leading to Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC025718 3 another delay in safeguarding action, such as referral to LADO and notification to Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

Most children appear comfortable in the home. Children spend time in the communal areas and enjoy trips out with the staff. One child has been able to draw up an agreement to be able to have pet guinea pigs. Two children are in part-time employment, one child is moving to a mainstream high school, and two children are in college. Children have enjoyed holidays abroad and spa days. Children’s artwork is displayed on the walls, and the communal areas of the home are homely and inviting.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been no registered manager since December 2024. During this inspection period, there have been several changes to management. A new manager started in November 2025, and a deputy manager is due to start in the new year. Leaders and managers are aware of the shortfalls identified during this inspection and have been clear in terms of the improvements needed. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC025718 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/06/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/04/2023 Full Good 23/08/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC025718 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

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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d)) 19 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC025718 6 *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 work as a team where appropriate;

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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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(b)(c)(d)(f)(h)) 19 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is an organisation or a partnership. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)) 19 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

If there is a referral of a person working in the home pursuant to section 35 (Regulated activity providers: duty to refer) of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006(1), the registered person must without delay notify—

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 19 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC025718 7 a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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 (3)(a) (4)(a)(b)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance 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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Inspectors

Andrea Bounden, Social Care Inspector Gemma McNevin, His Majesty’s Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC025718 9 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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