Children's Home run by Gateshead Council in Gateshead

Unique reference number SC036773 Inspection date 04/02/2014 Inspector Nicholas Murphy Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 05/06/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This children’s home provides care and accommodation to five young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by the local authority.

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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.

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Progress

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

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Progress

The home received a full inspection in June 2013 when it was judged to be outstanding in all areas. No statutory requirements or recommendations were made. Since then the home has continued to build on the quality of service it provides to young people.

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Progress

The home is compact but extremely well decorated, furnished and maintained. Any minor damage to the fabric of the home is attended to promptly; for example, staff touch up scuffs to paintwork almost immediately. Plans have been approved to refurbish the bathrooms which are already more than adequate. Keeping the home looking immaculate, and setting high standards, conveys to young people how much they are valued and enhances their self-respect.

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Progress

Staff have excellent relationships with young people. They set clear boundaries and expectations, being firm when necessary but always ready to give time and attention to them. The staff team is well-established, with little turnover. Nevertheless, staff are constantly seeking to refresh existing skills and learn new ones. This gives them the expertise they need to promote the welfare and safety of young people who have significant difficulties. The complex needs of young people have presented some challenges to staff. However good planning and perseverance has resulted in improvements in outcomes for most young people, relative to their starting points. Young people who have moved on since the last inspection are doing well; this is evidence of how effectively the home prepared them for independent living. In addition the Registered Manager allocated staff time for outreach working with these young people’ supporting them

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Progress

The home continues to be effective in keeping young people safe. Good interagency cooperation contributes to this as does the focus of the home on each young person’s individual needs. For example the home has restricted new admissions on a temporary basis because of one young person’s particular circumstances. This demonstrates the home’s determination to commit to young people and support them safely.

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Progress

Staff work together well. This provides consistency and predictability for young people, enhancing their feelings of security. For example staff handovers are structured, well managed, and centred on young people. Key workers give formal feedback to staff meetings, bringing the team up to date with what is going on in each young person’s life. Furthermore there is solid evidence of how well staff involve young people in their placement plans and objectives. This helps young people to feel that they have some control over what direction their future will take.

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Progress

Staff also provide ample opportunities for young people to have a voice in the running of the home. Young people choose not to have formal group meetings; instead staff make sure that there are weekly individual consultation sessions. The staff team gives serious consideration to all suggestions and makes changes as necessary. For example young people felt that there were insufficient staff on duty in the evenings and weekends. This meant that not every young person’s choice of activity could be supported. Accordingly the Registered Manager has committed significant resources to the recruitment of additional staff.

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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 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.

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