Children's Home run by Newcastle City Council in Newcastle upon Tyne

Unique reference number SC033642 Inspection date 21/12/2011 Inspector Nicholas Murphy Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 03/03/2011 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

The home provides accommodation for up to six young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is provided by a large local authority.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

This home provides an exceptional experience of residential care for young people. Staff are caring, committed, and well-supported by skilled and inspiring management. The home places the opinions and feelings of the young people at the heart of everything they do. One social worker said ‘Here, kids’ views are so important.’

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Overall effectiveness

Relationships between the staff and young people are extremely considerate and trusting. Staff accept young people as individuals and seek to draw out and build on the positives in all of them. A social worker observed that ‘The nice thing about this place is that they claim young people. It’s like a family, such a warm place to be.’ The family atmosphere is further demonstrated by the fact that several young people who have left, even though they are well into adulthood, continue to return to the home for lunch most Sundays.

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Overall effectiveness

The systems within the home to keep young people safe are highly effective, with the result that young people themselves feel safe from threat wherever it might come from. Many of the young people in the home have been placed there only relatively recently. This means that they are still progressing towards the achievement of exceptional outcomes in all areas of their lives. However, the home’s previous track record and the experiences of young people who have moved on into independence, show that the home is capable of supporting young people to reach high levels of success.

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Overall effectiveness

Some minor areas for improvement include the monitoring of the home by the Registered Manager and the provider, provision of a telephone for young people, and some shortfalls in recorded information. However, these do not impact significantly upon outcomes for young people.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that children accommodated in the home are provided at all reasonable times with access to a telephone which they may use without reference to persons working in the home (Regulation 15(4)(a)) 27/01/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that, as appears necessary, the person conducting the visits under this regulation, interviews with their consent and in private, the children's parents and relatives in order to form an opinion of the standard of care provided in the home. (Regulation 33(4)(a)) 27/01/2012

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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 that the children’s guide contains details of how a child can contact their IRO and the Children’s Rights Director (NMS 13.5)  ensure that each young person has on their file prior written permission from a person with parental responsibility for staff to administer first aid (Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 5, statutory guidance, paragraph 2.54)  ensure that reports reviewing the quality of care under Regulation 34 are supplied to Ofsted at six monthly intervals within 28 days of completion. (Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations 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 .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are progressing well and are developing new skills and abilities. Even young people who have been placed only recently have made demonstrable strides in their development. One parent was delighted with the progress of their child, saying how they had ‘turned the corner’. This was echoed by a social worker for another young person, who said ‘It had been lovely to see them blossom.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are generally in good health. Where there are challenges to their well- being, for example the continuing use of substances, staff work hard to encourage young people to make better choices based on accurate information. Overall, young people have good educational outcomes, and some have made exceptional progress from a low starting point of poor attendance and achievement at school.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The contribution of ex-residents to the life of the home is clearly very important and demonstrates the positive impact that living here has had on many young people. The home strives to prepare young people for life as an adult not only through formal life-skills work but also through the example of young people who have left and made a success of their lives. Staff make young people aware of their responsibilities within the home and wider society and this helps them to develop a sense of their place within the community. For example, one young person has recently won a community service award for helping to raise money to provide hampers for disadvantaged families in the city, and young people also take fresh vegetables from the garden to older people in the local community.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people generally feel good about themselves and are helped to understand their family circumstances and how to deal with difficulties arising from their past experiences. Young people have ongoing contact from their families where this is appropriate. Because of the complex issues around contact for some young people, staff have to manage some situations very carefully. By being totally flexible around the arrangements for contact, for example by facilitating family meetings within the home and extending a warm welcome to parents and siblings, staff ensure that young people can derive maximum benefit from contact in complete safety.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

The contribution of young people to the running of the home is evident in daily interactions as well as through more formal mechanisms like the young people’s meeting. Staff place extremely high priority on seeking the views of young people and acting on them wherever possible. Every planning document and record of key worker sessions has a contribution from the young person, which gives them a real say in how they are cared for on a day-to-day basis. The plans themselves, and how young people contribute to them, are based on thorough assessment of each young person’s individual needs and are tailored to their particular circumstances and communication needs. For example, one young person feels more comfortable expressing their daily thoughts and feelings through writing or drawing, so staff have provided them with their own communication book.

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Quality of care

The home places a high priority on the health of young people. The work of the member of staff with particular responsibility for health matters has been instrumental in ensuring that all the health needs of young people are met. This is done by making sure that appointments are kept, liaising with health professionals, and seeking advice from specialist services where necessary. Another member of staff has particular expertise in drug and alcohol work. This helps to ensure that young people who have issues around substance use can receive not only skilled support in-house but be quickly referred to other services as necessary. All the staff are trained in first aid, although the written consent of parents for its use has not been obtained. This compromises their ability to exercise their parental rights and responsibilities.

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Quality of care

Staff ensure that the diet of young people is of extremely high quality. The kitchen is at the heart of the home, not only in terms of the home’s physical layout but also because young people and staff tend to gather there. The home’s cook is exceptionally innovative, creative and skilled, and has recently won an award for going ‘Above and Beyond’ in her attitude to her work. She ensures that young people have access to healthy food from a range of different cultural cuisines and encourages them to cook for themselves with support where necessary. This means that young people have learnt that making healthier choices about what they eat is not only good for them but also enjoyable. One young person said simply ‘The food is brilliant.’

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Quality of care

Staff work closely with schools and providers of alternative education to ensure that young people attend and achieve. They act firmly and robustly, as a good parent would, to make it clear to young people that not attending school is unacceptable, and reward good attendance with incentives. Staff ensure that young people can take part in a range of activities, as individuals or in a group, both inside and outside the home. These range from physical pursuits such as playing pool or ice-skating to more cultural activities such as outings to art galleries and museums.

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Quality of care

The home is very homely, safe, comfortable, and well-appointed. Young people feel valued by the investment that is made in their surroundings. The home is very much a part of the local community and this helps young people to maintain a close sense of identity with their cultural heritage.

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Quality of care

Staff advocate on behalf of young people to help them grow and develop confidence. For example, one young person stood in an election to join the local Children in Care Council. The young person lost the vote narrowly, but staff argued the case for them to be appointed anyway, and this was successful. This is not only an excellent outcome for the young person concerned but will ensure that young people in this home and others have a greater say in the strategic decisions of the council affecting young people in residential care.

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say that they feel very safe in the home. Any allegations or other concerns are dealt with promptly and appropriately. This means that any threat to young people can be effectively managed to keep them protected from harm.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are highly attuned to bullying and promote a strong zero-tolerance approach which ensures that low-level harassment is nipped in the bud and cannot progress to more serious emotional or physical abuse. Young people find this reassuring and are confident that any issues of bullying will be dealt with quickly and robustly. Staff are successful in encouraging young people to consider the views and feelings of others, and are currently undertaking formal training in restorative approaches which will strengthen their abilities in this area. The home works in accordance with local multi-agency missing person protocols. However, there are very few incidents where young people go missing overnight or for extended periods of time. The response to a young person returning from a missing episode is always welcoming and positive, which ensures that young people are not deterred from returning and so minimises the length of time when they may

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Safeguarding children and young people

be at risk. Each young person has their own safety plan, in which they are fully involved, which identifies potential risks when they are away from the building and how to minimise them. This approach, unique to each young person, means that the optimum level of protection can be given to each young person appropriate to their needs and capabilities.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The use of physical restraint is minimal. There is a positive behaviour plan in place for each young person. These are carefully written with the involvement of young people themselves, tailored to their specific needs, and contain details of what might trigger certain behaviours and how to respond to them positively and effectively. These plans not only promote good behaviour but also uphold and promote the dignity of young people. For example, one plan states that, rather than asking a young person to go to their room if they are becoming agitated, it is suggested that they go and listen to some music for a while. This approach achieves the same objective, without being overtly directive or drawing the attention of others to what is happening. Sanctions are proportionate and balanced by a range of positive incentives. One young person said ‘Some rules are not fair but you have to stick by them because there are rules in everyday life

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Safeguarding children and young people

and jobs so it’s good to get used to them.’

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

The leadership of the home is dynamic and inclusive. The Registered Manager uses the views of social workers, parents and young people to improve practice, although this is not always reflected in the formal monitoring of the home. This means that some opportunities to take into account the views of all users of the service, and so strengthen the performance of the home, may be lost. Also, the monitoring by the Registered Manager is currently not submitted to Ofsted. This weakens the level of external scrutiny of the home's progress.

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Leadership and management

Staff are experienced, well-trained, and highly motivated, and regard the welfare of young people as central to their practice. One manager within the local authority commented that they had ‘never known such positive staff’. Staff are not only intuitively caring and responsive to young people’s needs but are well supported by regular supervision and by a programme of training which keeps their skills updated. Although the written record of staff supervision is comprehensive and demonstrates a strong focus on young people’s needs, it does not specify the duration of the supervision. This makes it harder to be sure that staff are receiving the appropriate level of formal management oversight.

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager has given individual members of staff responsibilities for particular areas of practice. This ensures that specific expertise can be developed and cascaded throughout the staff team, and monitoring of key worker tasks can be more effective. Such specialisation means that young people can receive more informed and skilled care and so achieve better outcomes.

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Leadership and management

The home has a track record of innovation and improvement. One example of this is work recently carried out to convert one room in the building so that it can be dedicated to meeting health needs. This room now contains the medication storage cabinets, medication administration records, and information on health and health promotion neatly organised and displayed. This ensures that young people can be given medication or particular health advice in safety and complete confidence. The Registered Manager has high aspirations for further development of the home and is energetic in improving practice in every area. For example, there are plans to develop one area of the home into a semi-independent flat for one young person, which will enhance the ability of the home to prepare young people for transition to adult life.

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Leadership and management

Systems within the home, including young people’s case files and more general records, are well organised and easily accessible by staff. This ensures that the needs of young people can be met consistently by staff no matter who is on duty at any one time.

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Leadership and management

Users of the home are clear about the aims and objectives of the home and the facilities it provides, which helps to ensure that planned outcomes can be achieved. There is a minor shortfall in the children’s guide which means that young people do not have all the information they need if they wish to contact people outside of the home. Additionally, the young people do not always have access to a telephone at reasonable times, which reduces their ability to communicate as necessary without reference to staff.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

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