Children's Home run by Gateshead Council in Gateshead

SC036773 Unique reference number 2 June 2010 Inspection date Steve Pearson Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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3 November 2009 Date of last inspection .

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children's Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Cripins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcome for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and relevant National Minimum Standards for the establishment.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is strong Good: this aspect of the provision is sound Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is not good enough Inadequate: 3 of 6 Inspection Report: SC036773

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Brief description of the service

The children's home is one of several provided by a local authority and is registered with Ofsted to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people, aged between 12 and 17 years old. It focuses on supporting young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Brief description of the service

At the time of the inspection, five young people were living in the children's home. All the young people were in the home during the inspection and three of them spoke to the inspector about the care they receive.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a detached house with an enclosed garden at the rear. The ground floor comprises of a staff office, lounge, dining room, laundry, toilet and kitchen. On the second floor there are five individual bedrooms for young people, a further two bedrooms are used as staff sleep in rooms and there are two bathrooms. The home is a short distance from local shops. Local bus routes are nearby which provide easy access to a city centre and a range of amenities.

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Summary

This was an unannounced, interim inspection. It assessed the key national minimum standards (NMS) associated with how young people are enabled to stay safe. The inspection also assessed whether the registered persons had met a recommendation made at the previous inspection on 3 November 2009. The recommendation was about how the staff conduct searches of young people's bedrooms.

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Summary

As this was an interim inspection, it did not assess all of the key national minimum standards. Consequently there was not enough evidence to assess or amend the overall outcome judgement made at the previous full inspection.

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Summary

The Registered Manager and staff are very effective at helping young people to be safe.

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Summary

They promote their need for privacy, they support them to raise any concerns and they know and understand how to respond to any allegations, suspicions or evidence of abuse. Bullying is not an issue of concern for example, one young person said 'there isn't bullying in the home, there is some name-calling and arguments but it's not bullying…we all tend to get on ok together'. Suitable staffing levels also help to minimise any potential problems arising.

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Summary

Suitable policies and procedures are also in place if any young person goes missing or fails to return to the home on time. The staff record such occasions very clearly and this provides for full accountability.

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Summary

The Registered Manager and staff are also very effective at promoting positive behaviour among young people. The staff rarely use sanctions but if they do so they are fair. The staff are also effective at diffusing challenging behaviour and so it is very rare that they need to restrain young people.

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Summary

The premises are kept in a safe condition and suitable recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that only people who are suitable are employed to work in the home. The overall quality rating is good. 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC036773 This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Sometimes the staff have to search young people's bedrooms if there are concerns about welfare. Such occasions are now recorded comprehensively which provides for full accountability.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people have the privacy they need when they need it. For example, one young person said 'we have our own bedroom and bedroom door key so we can keep our things safe. We can also make and receive phone calls and the staff give us a mobile phone and top-ups now and again'. Occasionally the staff search bedrooms if there are welfare concerns and suitable policies and procedures are in place for this and the staff record such occasions appropriately.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff fully support young people to raise any concerns they have about their care. There is a formal complaint system although young people said that most issues are dealt with quickly on an informal basis. The home maintains a record of formal complaints. These records do not clearly show how a complaint has been investigated or how the final outcome was reached. This means there is not full accountability for how the issue has been dealt with.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff receive regular training about how to safeguard the welfare of young people. They are fully aware of how to respond appropriately to allegations, suspicions or evidence of abuse.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Effective counter bullying measures are in place including risk assessments and an appropriate level of staffing. Young people said 'there isn't bullying in the home, there is some name-calling and arguments but it's not bullying…we all tend to get on ok together'.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Suitable arrangements are in place if any young person should fail to return to the home on time or go missing. For most young people this is rare but the staff record the details clearly and comprehensively when such occasions do arise.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff promote positive behaviour appropriately. For example, one young person said 'sanctions are fair and we get rewards for going to school and for our behaviour'. The staff are very effective at diffusing challenging behaviour and consequently the need for physical intervention is very rare.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home itself is maintained as safe premises. Professional technicians regularly service the electrical equipment, gas appliances and equipment for preventing, detecting and extinguishing fires. One young person said 'the staff test the alarms once a week and we do fire drills every few months. We also had a drill in the middle of the night'.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Appropriate arrangements are in place to ensure that staff recruited to work with young people are suitable and safe.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is not judged. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC036773

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person meets the Care Standards Act 2000, The Childrens Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider must comply with the given timescales.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • record how a complaint is investigated and the findings of the investigation in the complaints documentation. (NMS 16.3) 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC036773

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