Children's home run by Juventas Services

Inspection report for children’s home: 2566488 1 Registered provider: Juventas Services Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children aged between 8 and 18 years who may have experienced trauma, a sense of rejection, neglect or abuse.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2023.

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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: 2566488 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/04/2024 Full Good 11/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/04/2022 Full Good 08/12/2021 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 2566488 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, three children have moved into the home and four children have moved out. At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home and both shared their views with the inspectors. Two children experienced planned onward moves, and two children moved in an unplanned way due to the home identifying an escalation in their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are positive about staff and the home. Staff know the children well and greet them with warmth. Staff prioritise building relationships with children. As a result of these relationships and the support offered by staff, children have made progress from their individual starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers complete detailed assessments before children move into the home. This helps to ensure that children’s care is well planned and that managers are confident that they can meet children’s individual needs. Good planning has helped to provide children with a level of stability that they have not previously had. Staff support children’s hobbies and interests. One child plays rugby regularly, while other children prefer to spend time with their friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their education. Children who did not previously attend education now have high levels of engagement. Their achievements are acknowledged, helping them to feel proud of themselves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment is welcoming, and the children say they feel comfortable and happy. Some areas appear worn or untidy, such as overgrown brambles in the garden and cobwebs throughout the house, which detract from the overall environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The laundry room remains locked, even when there is no clear reason, limiting children’s chances to develop practical skills. Improving these areas would enhance the homely atmosphere and strengthen children’s independence.

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

Children say they feel safe in the home. Safeguarding processes are effective, and staff act quickly when concerns are raised. Staff follow clear procedures, record incidents well, update risk assessments promptly and reflect on their practice with managers.

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

When children go missing from home, staff call the police and the local authority without delay. They also use key-work sessions and individual plans to help children to think about making positive choices. This protects children and helps them to feel safe.

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

Staff know and understand children’s vulnerabilities. When children talk about their worries, staff listen closely and respond quickly. Staff have created a safe space for Inspection report for children’s home: 2566488 4 children. Children are able to seek staff support if they need it. This open and proactive approach helps children to manage difficult emotions.

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

Complaints are handled seriously. Staff investigate concerns, share outcomes with children and explain any decisions made. Staff check that children understand the outcome and give them space to ask questions. This helps children to feel listened to.

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

Consequences are proportionate and consistently applied. Staff speak to children when their behaviour has not been positive and support them to reflect on their behaviour and understand the impact on others.

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

Incidents rarely occur. On one occasion, a child needed to be held to keep them safe. The manager was part of the physical intervention, and this did not receive external oversight. Leaders have reflected on this and improved their practice. This learning strengthens children’s safety.

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

When temporary staff have been used, fire evacuations have not been completed, limiting individuals’ knowledge of effective fire safety procedures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably skilled and experienced registered manager. The manager has high expectations of staff and leads by positive example.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a good role model. He has positive relationships with the children and understands their needs. The manager is passionate about achieving the best outcomes for children, and this is reflected in the practice of the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel supported by the manager. A stable staff team provides continuity of care for children. Practice-related issues are addressed without delay, and action plans are implemented to support staff development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works in partnership with a range of professionals. Feedback from professionals is extremely positive. They are happy with the care and support that children are receiving.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend regular team meetings. Team meetings are used to improve professional practice and provide clear guidance to staff to help them support children. Staff benefit from regular supervision sessions. Appraisals for staff are undertaken, although these lack feedback from professionals and children. This means there is no objective overview of staff members’ performance and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Robust and effective safer recruitment processes are in place, and staff are provided with a good and detailed training package relevant to their role. However, one staff member has not achieved a relevant level three qualification in the required timescale. Inspection report for children’s home: 2566488 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

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d)) 5 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b)) 6 March 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a manager is involved in incidents of control, discipline and restraint they are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and the above principles, as set out in 9.35, are respected Inspection report for children’s home: 2566488 6 by someone external to the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)  The registered person should review any decisions to limit a child’s access to any area of the home, and any modifications to the environment of the home, must only be made where this is intended to safeguard the child’s welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, be properly recorded and be kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of children. In particular, they should ensure that the environment is well maintained and provides a welcoming environment for children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, when reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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: 2566488 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Haines Watts Chartered Accountants Ltd, Yare House, 62-64 Thorpe Road, Norwich NR1 1RY

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Inspectors

Naomi Starbuck, Social Care Inspector Thembie Mzila, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2566488 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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