Children's Home run by South Tyneside Council in South Tyneside

Unique reference number SC032701 Inspection date 06/12/2011 Inspector Deborah White Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 02/12/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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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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 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Satisfactory : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Brief description of the service

This home provides care and accommodation for up to nine children aged 16 to 17 years who experience emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is provided by the local authority.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

Children generally feel safe and secure. Care plans are personalised to provide very good outcomes. Children are listened to and their feelings and wishes are taken into account. Relationships with staff are positive and based on mutual respect. Children live in a comfortable homely environment and strong management supports a committed, motivated staff team.

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Overall effectiveness

There is some bullying that makes children feel vulnerable and not all children are in education or a work placement. Some healthcare plans are not specific where children have complex needs and parents are not regularly consulted about the home's operation.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure where children are not in education they have access to appropriate training and educational activities (NMS 8.8)  ensure children's health is promoted in accordance with their healthcare plans (NMS 6.5)  ensure children do not identify bullying as a problem at the home (NMS 3.11)  ensure wherever possible and appropriate Regulation 33 visits include consultation with children's parents, relatives or carers. (Volume 5, statutory guidance, paragraph 3.14.)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good . Children receive good, personalised care that meets their needs. Children feel secure about plans for their future and understand why they live in the children's home. The children are confident and emotionally resilient, which will help them manage future challenges in their lives. Children are happy with their personal allowances and are empowered to make choices in their every day lives. A social worker said, 'All the children are treated as individuals. Staff respect the children and this comes across as a strength of the home. Children's feedback about the staff and the home is very positive'.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Planned admissions to the home help children settle into their new environment. Children attend for tea visits and overnight stays to get to know the staff and other children. There is a budget for children to personalise their bedrooms before they move in and each child gets a box full of goodies and useful items, such as toiletries, to make them feel welcome. A child said, 'I knew I was coming here, the visits helped so I didn't feel like I didn't know anyone. Staff make you feel very welcome'.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children's health needs are met and this promotes positive healthy outcomes. Children are very well informed about how to stay healthy and have access to a wide range of healthcare services to advise them on their emotional and physical health and well-being. Children are happy with their contact arrangements, and establish and maintain important relationships in their lives.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children generally attend and achieve in educational and work placements. Children have a range of options to help them progress into work so they can move into a full time meaningful career. However, where children do not engage in education there are no specific, formalised plans to help children spend their days doing educational activities and establish a school time routine.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children are extremely well prepared to make the transition into adulthood. Bespoke support packages enable children to learn and develop independence skills and one- to-one work with staff gives children the confidence to manage their finances, budgeting and shopping. Children have the added advantage of being able to live semi- independently in fully-equipped bedsits and flats that are part of the children's home. This gives children the opportunity to experience independence while knowing the staff are there as a back up. A child said, 'This is the best placement I have been in since coming into care'.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

The quality of care at the home is excellent. Each and every staff member promotes the home's ethos that all children are individuals with a unique personality who can achieve in their lives. Staff work closely and tirelessly with each child to empower and enable them to reach their full potential and every achievement is celebrated. Staff are committed to each child and relationships are genuine and based on mutual respect. A social worker said, 'One of the strengths of the home is the relationship staff build up with children. They gain children's trust and this helps children to move forward. There have been some brilliant outcomes for children at this home'.

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Quality of care

The service actively seeks children's views, wishes and feelings and takes these into account to give them a voice in their care and welfare. There is lots of helpful information available and accessible for children to browse at their leisure or read in private. Regular meetings give children a forum to talk about how the home is operated and one-to-one key worker sessions allow for children to talk in private with an adult they trust. Staff support children who need additional help and advice by enabling them to have an independent visitor, or advocate. A child said, 'I think we are consulted and I think the staff listen to me'.

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Quality of care

Each child has an organised case file that fully reflects their time living in the children's home. Files are regularly monitored to make sure they are current and relevant. Outcomes from placement reviews are recorded and included in residential care plans to ensure each child receives care that has been agreed by their independent reviewing officer. Children's care is regularly evaluated and written evaluations show how children have developed from their starting point.

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Quality of care

Staff continually network with local agencies so that children can access the services they need. Good working relationships ensure that multi-agency working is effective and beneficial. Healthy outcomes are facilitated by staff assisting children to attend healthcare appointments and, where appropriate, healthcare specialists. Good healthcare records are kept to ensure children have a medical history that they can take with them into adulthood. Healthcare plans are recorded but they are not always updated where children have complex needs to ensure all staff know about important health interventions.

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Quality of care

Staff work with colleges and work placement providers to look at how best children can attain academically. There is a wide range of activities that offer children new experiences and constructive ways to spend their leisure time. Children are encouraged to join in outdoor and healthy pursuits and enjoy regular outings and holidays. A child said, 'There are lots of activities. I like going to the gym with staff, and playing football'.

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Quality of care

Staff work extremely hard to provide a comfortable homely environment that children appreciate and respect. The home is spotlessly clean and tidy and all areas are pleasant and decorated to a high standard. Staff take time to add lots of homely touches such as modern prints and soft furnishings. If there is any damage caused, repairs are carried out straight away so children understand the importance of taking care of where they live. Children in turn learn to respect property and their possessions.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Children generally feel safe and secure in the home. Children recognise that staff care about their well-being and understand what measures will be taken to keep them safe. Staff receive regular child protection training and know how to recognise signs of abuse. There are agreed protocols in place to safeguard children who go missing and all children have individual risk assessments to reduce or minimise known hazards.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There is a wealth of countering bullying information to educate children about what to do if they feel bullied or threatened by their peers. Restorative justice techniques help children understand how bullying behaviour impacts on others and staff promote a zero tolerance to any threatening behaviour. However, there are occasions where children are bullied, which leave them feeling vulnerable. A child said, 'If I feel bullied I tell the staff or go to my room. There is some bullying but not all the time'.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home is very good at actively involving children in learning how to take controlled risks and keep themselves safe. Staff understand that older children will sometimes put themselves in risky situations and strive to inform them how to recognise and deal with potential dangers. Children are introduced to a range of outside agencies who visit the home on an informal basis to engage and befriend children. There are also training courses for children in safe e-learning and positive sexual health. Children live in a safe environment. All utilities are regularly serviced and checked and regular health and safety checks ensures there are no known hazards in and around the children's home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff promote positive behaviour to enable children to develop good social skills. Sanctions are very rarely used and when they are records clearly detail that they are appropriate and relevant. Children are included in decisions about what sanctions are given. This helps children to understand why their behaviour was inappropriate so they can modify how they interact with others. Restraints are infrequent and children acknowledge that restraints are only used as a last resort. A child said, 'They don't restrain you here, they talk to you instead'. Rewards and incentives play a big part in how children's behaviour is managed. There are a number of creative, innovative reward schemes in place. All children have incentive plans where they achieve positive outcomes. Children know how they can earn rewards and respond positively to this method of behaviour management. A child said, 'I can earn money for coming

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Safeguarding children and young people

home on time and keeping safe. We can save up for things for when we leave here so we have stuff for a flat, or we can buy things we want'.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good .

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Leadership and management

The home is effectively managed to provide a stable, organised environment for children. The Registered Manager is fully committed to the children and the staff team are motivated to provide good quality, consistent care. Leaders and managers operate an open door policy to staff who feel their contribution to the quality of care is acknowledged and appreciated. Morale is good, which reflects on the children and makes the home a happy place to live and work. A parent said, 'The children feel relaxed and safe being around staff members, staff are helpful and friendly with children and their families'.

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Leadership and management

Staff receive the training they need and feel fully supported. There are arrangements in place to deputise in the absence of the manager and regular staff cover any absences to ensure children are looked after by adults they know. Children know which staff are on duty and who will be sleeping in each night. Children say staffing levels are adequate and that staffing levels increase should the need arise. A member of staff said, 'This is a good place to work. All the staff get on and they do a great job with the children. The manager is supportive and I can talk to him about anything. I love my job, and love coming to work'.

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager continually improves the services provided and has ongoing monitoring and development plans in place to meet the needs of the children. A previous recommendation to improve fire safety is met. External scrutiny is welcome. For example, there was a recent inspection by an external organisation employing young people who have themselves been in care. This showed very good results about how children are looked after. The registered person visits regularly to undertake monthly monitoring visits and supplies a copy of the reports to Ofsted for ongoing monitoring. However, the organisation does not regularly consult with parents to ascertain their views on the home's operation.

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Leadership and management

All children's records are stored securely to promote privacy. Staff are aware of confidentiality and children know they can access their records if they wish to do so.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

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