Children's Home run by The Gateshead Group Ltd in Norfolk

Inspection report for children’s home: 2837233 1 Registered provider: The Gateshead Group Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the Social Care Common Inspection Framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to 2 children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2025 when the home opened.

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 requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2837233 2

p.1

Summary of findings

The children are settled and staff are providing them with good care. Parents and professionals gave positive feedback about the staff in the home.

p.2

Summary of findings

Shortfalls were identified with the home environment, the home’s initial assessment process and the statement of purpose. In addition to this, leaders and managers admitted children outside of their registration conditions. However, this had not impacted the care children receive.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have moved into the home since it opened. The inspector spent time with both of the children.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised care and support. Staff adapt their approach to suit the children’s communication needs. Consequently, the children have made progress with their communication. For one child, it is the first time they are able to communicate their wishes and feelings effectively.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have positive relationships with the professionals involved with the children, as well as with their families. Staff promote positive relationships between the children and those that are in the children’s support network. Staff support the time children spend with their families. They keep in regular contact with families to provide updates about the child. Feedback from professionals and family members is positive about the staff and the progress children are making.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff advocate for children to have an education that best suits their needs. Consequently, the children attend full-time education. Staff work closely with the children’s schools and are in regular communication with them. This supports the children to have consistent responses from staff at home and at school.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to engage in a variety of activities in the home and in the community. Staff ensure that children have opportunities to engage in these activities together or separately, depending on their choice. These activities reflect the children’s likes, interests and preferences.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of children having multiple opportunities to share their views, wishes and feelings. They arrange weekly meetings and have regular planned conversations with the children. Children know how to make complaints and have various ways to do this that are adapted to meet their individual needs and abilities. Inspection report for children’s home: 2837233 3 Children’s moves into the home are well thought out and child focused. Staff take the time to consider the needs of the child and whether they can provide the care they require. Children meet the staff and visit the home before they move in. Referrals and information about the children are discussed with staff before children move into the home. However, both children have very different needs, and when the second child moved into the home, leaders and managers did not fully assess staff’s ability to meet the needs of both children and how the children would comfortably live together.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The house is not consistently well maintained to provide children with a pleasant and comfortable environment. The garden is overgrown in parts and has some broken wood on a veranda. Furthermore, there are some small holes in the lounge walls that need repair , and one child’s bedroom had an unpleasant smell.

p.3

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

Staff have a good understanding of the children’s needs and what to do if an incident should occur. Children have individualised plans and assessments that consider their current needs and vulnerabilities. These plans and assessments provide clear guidance to staff and are regularly reviewed to reflect the children’s individual needs.

p.3

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

Staff are proactive in their response when allegations are made or incidents occur. Staff have a good understanding of what processes to follow and confidently follow the policies and protocols in place. Following any incidents or allegations, staff and children are spoken to separately. Professionals are contacted and referrals are made as appropriate.

p.3

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

Children’s complaints are taken seriously by staff. When a child raised concerns about an adult outside of the home, this was proactively managed. The child was supported and the relevant authorities and professional bodies were informed about these concerns.

p.3

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

Staff provide the children with help and support to manage their feelings and behaviours. Positive behaviour is consistently promoted through clear boundaries. Staff use praise and positive reinforcement to encourage positive behaviours. Children rarely receive negative consequences. Staff use de-escalation techniques effectively and physical intervention is only used as a last resort.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers know the children well. They are motivated to help the children make good progress and achieve positive outcomes. They ensure that staff have a good understanding of the home’s therapeutic ethos and use therapeutic approaches to help support the children.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Children have been admitted into the home with needs that do not fall within the home’s registration conditions. The home is registered to support children with social, emotional Inspection report for children’s home: 2837233 4 and behavioural needs. However, the children’s primary needs relate to their learning difficulties.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have not had the required training to help them support children effectively with their learning difficulties and particular individual needs. This means that staff are not up to date with current practice in supporting children with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and communication support strategies, including the use of communication aids.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home’s statement of purpose is inaccurate and potentially misleading. Information regarding the mental health support the home provides to children does not stipulate a clear account of what is actually offered. The statement of purpose says a psychological consultant is employed in the home, but there is no such role.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff said that they feel supported by, and have confidence in, leaders and managers. They feel leaders and managers are approachable. Staff are supported through regular supervision sessions and benefit from regular team meetings. Leaders and managers ensure that consistent messages and learning points are discussed in these meetings. This helps staff understand manager’s expectations and supports their professional development.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Management oversight of the day-to-day running of the home is effective. The manager advocates for the children and challenges decisions made by professionals when these are not in the child’s best interests. Inspection report for children’s home: 2837233 5

p.4

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.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d)) 1 September 2026

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

p.5

Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)) 1 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2837233 6 The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Nothing in paragraph (5) or regulation 46 (review of premises) requires or authorises the registered person to contravene or not comply with—

p.6

Requirement Due date

any other provision of these Regulations; or

p.6

Requirement Due date

any conditions in relation to the registration of the registered person under Part 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000. (Regulation 16 (1) (5) (6)(a)(b)) 1 September 2026

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff complete training relevant to children’s individual needs, including training on communication strategies, such as up-to-date training on the use of communication aids. 5 October 2026

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 Inspection report for children’s home: 2837233 7 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: 2837233 8

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Gateshead Group Ltd

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 59 Wainwright Avenue, Hamilton, Leicester, Leicestershire LE5 1QW

p.8

Inspector

Maisy Griggs, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2837233 9 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.8

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.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9