Children's Home run by Norfolk County Council in Norfolk

Inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 1 SC463902 Registered provider: Norfolk County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated 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.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 2

p.1

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 Inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Since the last inspection, children have made progress from their starting points, and clear improvements are evident. Children experience positive, trusting relationships with a stable and dedicated staff team. Staff demonstrate curiosity and a strong commitment to the children’s individual needs. Children enjoy a wide range of activities inside and outside the home. They attend education provisions that are tailored to their needs, and the staff encourage structure and daily routines. Leaders and managers understand and know the children well. Children experience warm, consistent care in a supportive home. They feel safe and build emotional resilience. This has resulted in an overall judgement of ‘good’.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, 5 children have moved out of the home, and 4 children have moved in. At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living in the home and spoke with the inspector. One child said, ‘The home feels so homely. I think it’s the people in here; they are just great. They understand and help me. There is nothing I would change, other than being able to stay.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves into and on from the home are well supported by the staff team. They benefit from a child-led approach, even when these moves happen quickly. Children receive a welcome basket filled with personalised items, such as age-appropriate toys, toiletries and information about the home. This helps children to feel safe and valued, resulting in a smooth transition.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have built trusting relationships with children. They know them well and demonstrate positive, caring interactions. Observations show relaxed engagement, such as colouring together, cleaning the home’s cars, chatting and laughter, which contributes to a happy atmosphere.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are active and happy. Staff create thoughtful planning opportunities based on children’s hobbies and interests. Children are actively encouraged to pursue creative interests, such as poetry and creating songs. Poems written by the children are framed and displayed in the home. Children benefit from a wide range of activities, including trips to the beach and theme parks, as well as playing football in the park or helping with the gardening. These experiences are celebrated through memory books.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend education that is tailored to their individual learning needs. Those who have previously experienced poor school attendance now attend regularly, with support and encouragement from staff. Staff have the children’s best interests at the forefront and look for creative solutions when faced with challenge. One professional said, ‘This was not the outcome I was expecting. They have managed it in such a way that worked Inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 4 for [name of child].’ As a result, children feel heard, understood and confident to return to learning.

p.3

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

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of the children’s needs, including their strengths and vulnerabilities. Risk assessments are detailed, regularly reviewed, and include clear support strategies. This means that children receive consistent care.

p.4

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

Supporting records are written using child-friendly, strengths-based language and are focused on the child. Daily records and key-work sessions show thoughtful and consistent use of the therapeutic model. This approach helps children to feel understood and build trusting relationships with staff.

p.4

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

When children go missing from the home, staff respond promptly and follow agreed protocols, including searching for children and notifying the police. On their return, staff are warm and curious, balancing the need to give children space with showing care for their wellbeing.

p.4

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

When children struggle with their emotional wellbeing, staff take effective action to keep them safe. At times, this includes staff holding children. Holds are used when staff have exhausted all other options to help keep children safe. On one occasion, staff have allowed a member of the public to assist with holding a child during a road incident outside the home. Following this incident, leaders and managers did not demonstrate sufficient curiosity or take time to review and reflect on this assistance with staff, particularly in relation to the potential risks.

p.4

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

Leaders and managers have not reviewed the location risk assessment in line with emerging risks. Therefore, potential high-risk factors have not been fully considered, and strategies for managing these have not been put in place.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A permanent, qualified manager oversees the home. The manager is supported by an enthusiastic deputy manager. Both have a strong desire to achieve positive outcomes for children. The shortfalls identified at the last full inspection have been fully addressed, resulting in improvements to the quality of care provided.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers are now more visible at the home. They maintain effective oversight through daily contact with staff, regular audits, and the review of records. This ensures that staff practice remains consistent and child centred.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers promote a nurturing ethos that creates warmth and stability for children. Staff describe the management team as ‘amazing’, ‘approachable’ and ‘supportive’, which helps to sustain the positive culture. Inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 5 Staff benefit from regular team meetings and purposeful supervision sessions. Feedback from staff is very positive, reflecting strong morale and a motivated team.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers work effectively with external professionals. They take a thoughtful approach to partnership working, ensuring that communication is purposeful and that agencies are well informed. Professionals said that communication is strong and that the manager is a reliable advocate who represents children’s views well.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers do not always ensure that the manager’s quality of care review report is sent to Ofsted. This limits Ofsted’s ability to monitor the strengths and weaknesses of the care provided. Inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a) (4)(a)) 5 July 2026

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they review the appropriateness and suitability of the home’s location and premises. This review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location, as well as strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)  The registered person should ensure that all incidents involving control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny. This is to ensure that their use is fair and that the child’s rights are upheld. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)

p.6

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: SC463902 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Norfolk County Council

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Mackney

p.7

Inspector

Sallie Bloomfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC463902 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8