Children's home run by Norfolk County Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2652383 1 Registered provider: Norfolk County Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to 2 children may have sensory impairment, learning disabilities, autism and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since October 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of this inspection and the inspector saw them.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 27 November 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2652383 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/11/2024 Full Good 01/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/11/2022 Full Good 19/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2652383 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff demonstrate exceptional skill when supporting children, particularly those who initially resist care. Through warmth and consistent responses, staff helped 2 children feel valued and loved. One child increasingly participated in ordinary childhood experiences with confidence, for example attending friends’ birthday parties safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children contribute to everyday and complex decisions about their lives. Staff empower children to raise any concerns confidently and involve independent advocates where appropriate. When decisions cannot reflect children’s wishes, staff explain this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff explore each child’s needs and consider the impact of experiences carefully. Staff adapt communication methods to suit each child and ensure the child shapes and understands their care arrangements, health needs and safety plans. Staff create accessible materials to reinforce this understanding.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff show professional curiosity about the child’s health. Staff understand the purpose and effects of prescribed medication and ensure the child does too. Leaders promote a holistic approach to behaviour support, with relational and therapeutic strategies explored before medical intervention.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Relationships with families are highly positive and families feel grateful for the support staff give. Staff work creatively to strengthen family and child dynamics, including planning overnight stays. Outreach work strengthens family relationships and prevents children from reaching a crisis point. This demonstrates a strong commitment to reunification when it is safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff help children develop their self-awareness and ability to manage difficult feelings. This enabled a child to move from crisis to stability within a short time frame. As a result, the child has moved on from the home. This was carefully planned and deeply personal. One professional described the recent move as exceptional. Staff arranged a celebration that reflected the child’s interests, including a filmed farewell of staff singing the child’s favourite song. Children leave knowing they are valued and remembered.

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

Staff use risk assessments confidently to guide daily practice, helping the child develop skills to keep themselves safe. Families express full confidence in the child’s safety. Managers expect staff to view all aspects of care as safeguarding responsibilities, including health and safety. Structured monthly discussions focus on specific vulnerabilities, such as asthma management and medication oversight, ensuring practice remains informed and consistent. Inspection report for children’s home: 2652383 4 Staff respond to incidents with experience, consistency and confidence. Serious incidents have reduced significantly. For example, one child who previously required intensive wound care now rarely displays self-injurious behaviours. Staff maintain clear contingency plans should a child go missing from the home, although the risk is low.

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

Staff are committed to using least restrictive practice. Staff understand the child’s behaviours and associated risks in depth. They use therapeutic and relational strategies consistently to minimise the need to hold or guide the child. Additional safety measures, including those in vehicles, such as a harness, are reduced as soon as possible.

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

Staff prioritise repairing relationships after incidents by using restorative sessions. These sessions are purposeful and meaningful. The child and staff reflect together in a safe space and enjoy a shared activity to reinforce trust and emotional security.

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

Leaders view recruitment as a safeguarding priority. Managers have strengthened selection processes with applicants completing safeguarding scenarios, reflective tasks and completing an additional interview to assess motivation and values. This robust recruitment process helps to prevent unsuitable candidates from being appointed.

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

Children live in a safe and adaptable environment. Staff balance safety with independence effectively. They supervise activities rather than restrict access. For example, staff support children to cook safely instead of removing equipment. This helps children to develop practical life skills safely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders model reflective and values-led practice. Roles are delegated to staff with clearly defined responsibilities. This strengthens staff understanding of the service and their accountability. Staff lead on specific areas of practice with confidence and this strengthens leaders’ ability to develop the service. Staff compliment the manager and their approach to leadership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff culture is positive and child focused. Staff speak with pride about their work, their commitment to the child’s wellbeing and the service. There is a stable staff team, with internal progression into senior roles. Staff feel well supported emotionally and professionally.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers advocate for the child and offer their support to other services. When the child’s education provision was struggling to meet the child’s needs, resulting in suspension, the manager offered that staff temporarily attend education with the child to help education staff to better understand the child’s needs. Professionals recognise leaders as solution-focused and determined.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff training is bespoke and responsive to the child’s needs. Leaders invest in additional development when risks arise. For example, staff completed specialist education training Inspection report for children’s home: 2652383 5 to strengthen learning support during a period of school instability. Research-informed approaches are embedded into induction, promoting consistent practice from the outset.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers ensure that staff’s approach to care is led by the child’s needs and current research. For example, staff found research stating that the use of a calm, low-arousal environment helps children settle when they return from school and this approach is being embedded into daily practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Monitoring and supervision systems are embedded and effective. Supervision is reflective and developmental, and a child gave feedback about staff for their appraisal. This shapes future activities and care planning. Staff maintain up-to-date records that support effective monitoring. Managers are improving the language used in the child’s daily records to ensure it reflects the same clarity and standards as other documentation. Inspection report for children’s home: 2652383 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff record information about the child in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2652383 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: County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 2DH

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Inspector

Vikki Thwaites, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2652383 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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