Children's Home run by Norfolk County Council in Norfolk

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC068076 1 SC068076

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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

This local authority home provides care for up to 2 children. It provides care for children when family, foster care or other community-based placements are not possible or desirable at the time. One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2021.

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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. 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: SC068076 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The home was closed following significant damage in October 2025. It has been renovated and redecorated to a good standard presenting as fresh and calm in readiness for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Four children have moved into the home, and 5 children have moved out since the last inspection. Their moves were not supported by appropriate assessment or planning. This caused disruption to the children’s care and stability.

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Findings from the inspection

One child’s move into the home was unplanned and took place as an emergency move. The child moved from another local authority home with no opportunity for consultation or preparation. The child became highly distressed when moving and staff from the child’s previous home required assistance from emergency services to support this move. The child subsequently ran away on arrival and was missing from this home for three days. This unplanned move caused significant emotional distress for the child, and the lack of coordinated support increased the risk to their wellbeing.

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Findings from the inspection

Senior leaders have made decisions on when children move into or out of the home. The registered manager and responsible individual are not always part of this decision-making. The registered manager has not been allowed to assess whether the staff team has the necessary skills, experience, and capacity to meet a child’s needs before they move in. As a result, staff have not been adequately equipped to support children. However, feedback from an independent reviewing officer for one child highlighted that the relationship-based practice and interventions as exceptional and a smooth transition to supported accommodation. This involved staff vising the child after the move.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff did not take effective action in response to a child’s disclosure of having ingested glass while in police custody. While staff did respond to the child’s need for medical attention and they shared some of the information, they did not follow up the safeguarding allegation to establish a shared understanding of the circumstances. This failure undermines multi-agency safeguarding practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have failed to recognise and respond appropriately when a child was at risk of harm. The safety plan is clear, individual and well written, providing staff with guidance to follow. However, it was not followed on this occasion when the child accessed items that were harmful to their wellbeing.

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Findings from the inspection

While staff and managers have undertaken a wide range of training, they have not been able to apply this learning effectively in practice. As a result, staff are not Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC068076 3 confident in applying the skills and knowledge required to meet children’s individual needs during this challenging period. Although staff have had training in physical intervention, they have not always implemented this behaviour management approach. They have relied on police support when incidents have escalated resulting in a child being arrested on multiple occasions. This normalises police involvement in conflict situations and affects trusting relationships with adults and authority figures. However, when consequences are used, they are appropriate and proportionate in response to children’s behaviours, helping them to understand expectations and develop safer ways to manage their emotions.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager does provide oversight of incidents. However, poor practice is not routinely challenged or identified, and no learning has taken place to inform practice improvements. This lack of effective management oversight increases the risk of unsafe care and prevents improvements from being made.

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Findings from the inspection

The statement of purpose has been revised, and the previous requirement has been met. Children’s stays are not restricted or time limited. Feedback from a professional was positive

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/08/2024 Full Good 21/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/08/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC068076 4

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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, 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child's placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

(c)that each child's relevant plans are followed.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c)) 3 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

*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— 3 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC068076 5 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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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

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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(h))

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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

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

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

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vii)(e)) 3 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC068076 6

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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

Sarah Cooper, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC068076 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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