Children's Home run by Norfolk County Council in Norfolk

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 1 SC463902

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Registered provider: Norfolk 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 run by a local authority and provides a crisis assessment and reunification service. It offers care for up to 4 children with complex needs who require specialist support.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024 and is qualified for the role.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has 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: SC463902 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living at the home. Both children spoke to the inspector.

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Findings from the inspection

One professional and one family member commented positively on the progress children have made since living at the home. They said that the staff care for the children well and keep them safe. They noted clear improvements in the children’s development and overall wellbeing. This reflects the effectiveness of support provided by staff and the positive impact this has on children’s lives.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children to attend health appointments and follow the advice of health professionals. Children with specific health needs are supported to attend specialist appointments as required. Staff arranged access to a private health provider to ensure timely care for one child. Staff used positive reinforcement to encourage the child’s engagement with the appointment. This enabled them to access the care they needed. Staff also support children to manage their own personal care. As a result of consistent role modelling and the establishment of routines, children have improved their self-care routines.

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Findings from the inspection

Individual risk assessments are in place for both children. These assessments outline known risks for the children, and the actions staff should take to reduce them. Leaders and managers review these plans monthly and after any significant events. Regular reviews enable emerging risks to be identified promptly.

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Findings from the inspection

All staff are trained in the use of physical intervention. This is used as a last resort to prevent children from harming themselves and others. Following incidents, staff have supported one child to reflect on what has happened. Staff have involved the child in developing a plan to reduce the likelihood of future incidents. This helps children to talk about their feelings and develop strategies to manage their emotions.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have made improvements to the general quality of the home. Children have been provided with additional storage in their bedrooms, paintwork has been refreshed and rubble removed from the garden. These actions have helped to create a more homely and well-maintained environment for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive regular supervision sessions. The manager has implemented a supervision practice document that outlines expectations for these sessions. Staff have access to additional wellbeing support, with a template to record and monitor this. This helps managers keep oversight of staff practice, address any issues Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 3 promptly and supports staff when needed. This helps to maintain consistent care for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, all staff have undertaken additional training that reflects the needs of the children. Further training has been booked in response to a newly identified need for a child. This ensures that staff have the right skills and knowledge to respond effectively to children’s needs and keep them safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Both children said that the staff listen to them and take account of their wishes and feelings. One child said that this can take some time and that they would like more written feedback so they can review responses later. The child also said that, while staff consult with them about activities, the activities offered do not always reflect their interests. As a result, opportunities to further encourage the child’s activities are not always realised.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff carry out room searches when risks are identified. Items that present a risk to children are removed appropriately. However, staff do not consistently engage children in discussions about items found in their bedrooms. This was identified at the previous inspection. While the manager has addressed this with staff during a team meeting, this has not yet been sufficiently tested in practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have used consequences as part of their wider approach to manage behaviour. These are generally logical and restorative. However, some consequences have not been recorded. This has not been identified by managers. This limits managers oversight of these measures to assure that their use is fair and proportionate.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have met the 5 requirements and 2 recommendations from the last inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/10/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/12/2024 Full Good 11/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/05/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. 19 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 6 (Regulation 35 (3) (a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children feel safe and be safe. Staff should support children to be aware of and manage their own safety both inside and outside the home to the extent that any good parent would. Staff should help children to understand how to protect themselves, feel protected and be protected from significant harm. In particular, staff should have discussions with children about any dangerous items they find in their bedrooms to support children’s understanding of the dangerous items. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)  The registered person should ensure that children are supported to express themselves as individuals and should be given an appropriate degree of freedom and choice in relation to day-to-day arrangements for their care, depending on their individual needs and the setting in which they are cared for. This is in

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Recommendations

relation to both activities and personal items, such as clothing, technology and leisure items. Children’s reasonable preferences in relation to day-to-day arrangements should be met with consideration given to safeguarding, particularly in relation to the use of technology. Where a child’s preferences are unreasonable or cannot be met for safeguarding reasons, staff should provide feedback for the child, using their preferred method to help them understand why. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.21) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Norfolk County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Martineau Lane, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 2DH

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Inspector

Emilja Myers, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 8 regulates and inspects 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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