Children's Home run by St Cuthbert’s Care in Newcastle upon Tyne

Unique reference number SC033467 Inspection date 21/01/2014 Inspector Leonard Hird Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 06/06/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

Brief description of the service

The children's home is provided by a charitable organisation and cares for up to eight young people aged 10 to 17 years old. It is registered to care for young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.3

The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

p.3

Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress .

p.3

Progress

At the previous Ofsted inspection the overall effectiveness rating of the home was judged to be good and three recommendations were made. The home has addressed all of these recommendations and the young people and the home are continuing to make good progress.

p.3

Progress

Members of staff are provided with good levels of training by the parent company and the home. The training programme takes account of areas such as, addressing bullying behaviour in its many different forms, attachment disorder and safeguarding children from abuse by sexual exploitation. Members of staff spoken with confirmed they had undertaken training in these very important areas of care and that the training programme took account of their individual training needs. Young people spoken with were very positive in comment of their working relationships with the staff team and that there was little or no bullying currently occurring at the home. The implementation of this comprehensive annual training programme has addressed both of the recommendations made at the last inspection with regard to staff been equipped with the appropriate skills required to work with young people. External monitoring visits take place on a regular unannounced basis and records of

p.3

Progress

these visit are supplied to the company, the home and Ofsted. The regulation 33 visitor speaks to young people, their families, members of staff and partner agencies to ascertain their views on the day to day running of the home. A written report is also compiled by the homes manager and this is taking account of the views of the young people, parents and placing authorities.

p.4

Progress

There are comprehensive risk assessments in place to help manage the often challenging behaviours displayed by young people. On occasion, young people's challenging and negative behaviour has led them to be arrested and interviewed by the police. Members of staff support young people at these difficult times as well as acting as an Appropriate Adult at the police interview. However, members of staff who have acted in this role have not received the appropriate training in the role of Appropriate Adult and it is essential that this training be provided to enable them to safeguard the young person's interests.

p.4

Progress

All of the young people are actively engaged in educational courses and are fully supported by the staff to make positive progress in their studies. Members of staff actively and appropriately support young people at educational reviews, parents evenings and out-of-school activities and it is this level of support that is helping young people to succeed.

p.4

Progress

Young people indicated they were happy living at the home and that the staff involved them in planning for their future. A young person commented, 'the home was warm, friendly and welcoming and it was like living in a big family' The home has received positive feedback from parents and placing authorities. This demonstrates young people are appropriately placed and their complex needs are being met

p.4

Progress

One recommendation has been made at this inspection relating to the provision of training for members of staff to act in the role of an Appropriate Adult at formal police interviews.

p.4

Recommendations

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

p.4

Recommendations

 ensure staff are equipped with the skills required to meet the needs of the young people they care for, in particular how to support the legal rights of young people when acting as an appropriate adult. (NMS 18.1)

p.4

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.

p.5

About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

p.5