Children's Home run by Right-Trak Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

Unique reference number SC394909 Inspector Bill Drumm Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Right-Trak Limited Registered person address Suite 104 1st Floor West Wingrove House Ponteland Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 3DE Responsible individual Glynis Spriddell Registered manager Christine Walker Date of last inspection 03/02/2014 2 of 12 Inspection date 13/10/2014

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Previous inspection satisfactory progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness inadequate

Outcomes for children and young people inadequate Quality of care adequate Keeping children and young people safe inadequate Leadership and management inadequate

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Overall effectiveness

Young people live in an environment where their standard of care is not good enough. Some young people do not have comprehensive, detailed placement plans, health care plans and risk assessments in place. Placement planning documentation is essential if staff are to provide care in a coordinated manner and to understand what a young person’s placement at the home is meant to achieve. Additionally, a lack of clear risk assessments means, that staff are unable to keep young people safe. Health care plans do not clearly record information about each young person’s health care needs, allergies or known health conditions. In addition, each young person does not follow a healthy, well-balanced diet. This means that the health and welfare of young people is not fully safeguarded or promoted.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are regularly reported as missing from the home. There are policies and procedures in place for staff to follow and they have a good working relationship with the local police service. However, information retained within the home about the time at which a young person should be reported as missing is unclear. This means that a consistent approach to dealing with young people who go missing is not achieved.

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Overall effectiveness

Sanctions and restorative techniques are used to help young people modify their behaviour and all sanctions are recorded in a volume specifically for that purpose. 3 of 12 However, the use of sanctions is not fully evaluated for their effectiveness by the home’s manager or by the home’s independent visitor.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff at all levels, do not consistently receive formal supervision from senior staff. Supervision provides management with the opportunity to discuss with staff their individual training needs and working practices.

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Overall effectiveness

Other shortfalls highlighted as a result of this inspection are in relation to reviewing the home’s Statement of Purpose; ensuring each young person’s care is reviewed formally at specified intervals; writing comprehensive policies and procedures regarding internet safety and social media; ensuring each young person who is old enough has a pathway plan in place; recording clearly the discussions that take place between key-workers and young people regarding the young person’s placement plan and ensuring all staff have an annual appraisal. 4 of 12

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to six young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. This home is privately owned by a small company.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/02/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 19/06/2013 Full good 05/03/2013 Interim good progress 30/08/2012 Full good

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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

4 (2001) compile in relation to the children's home a written statement of purpose which shall consist of a statement as to the matters listed in Schedule 1 (Regulation 4(1)) 28/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) prepare in consultation with the child's placing authority a placement plan for the child setting out, in particular how on a day to day basis, he will be cared for, and his welfare safeguarded and promoted by the home (Regulation 12(1B)(a)) 07/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) prepare in consultation with the child's placing authority a placement plan for the child setting out, in particular the arrangements made for the child's 07/11/2014 5 of 12 health care (Regulation 12(1B)(b))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated there, specifically in relation to the comprehensive and robust assessment of risk (Regulation 11 (1)(a) 07/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the children accommodated in the home are provided with food which is properly prepared, wholesome and nutritious (Regulation 13(1)(a)(ii)) 07/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that if any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table (Regulation 30 (1)) 07/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children's home, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose of which shall include the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of any measure (Regulation 17B (3)(f)) 07/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) appoint at the registered providers expense, an independent person to visit and report on the children's home in accordance with the regulation. Specifically to critically examine and scrutinise the quality of care that the children's home provides for children accommodated there (Regulation 33 (3)(b)) 07/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) establish and maintain a system for improving the quality of care provided in the children's home (Regulation 34 (1)(b)) 28/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure all persons employed by him receive appropriate supervision (Regulation 27 (4)(a)) 07/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) shall promote and protect the physical, emotional and mental health of the children accommodated in a children's home (Regulation 20 (1)) 07/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

9 (2001) shall, having regard to the size of the children’s home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs of the children accommodated there, carry on or manage the home with sufficient care, competence and skill (Regulation 9) 07/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children’s home, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose of which shall include the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the 07/11/2014 6 of 12 measure.(Regulation 17B). (Regulation 17B)

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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

 contact placing authorities to request statutory reviews or visits if overdue for any child (NMS 25.5)  contribute to the development of each child's care plan, including the pathway plan for "eligible" care leavers and works collaboratively with the young person's social worker or personal adviser in implementing the plan (NMS 12.2)  ensure that each child's placement plan is monitored by a key worker within the home who ensures that the requirements of the plan are implemented in the day-to-day care of that child (NMS 25.2)  ensure children are helped to understand how to keep themselves safe including outside the home and when using the internet or social media (NMS 4.4)  ensure that all staff have their performance individually and formally appraised at least annually and that this appriasal takes into account any views of children the service is providing for. (NMS 19.6) 7 of 12

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Outcomes for children and young people inadequate

Since moving into the home, the overall health care of some young people has improved. They are able to access appointments with doctors, dentists and opticians with follow-up treatments prescribed or recommended where necessary. Additionally, specialist health care providers, such as the drug and alcohol service, are also available for young people who require them. However, not all appointments for treatment are attended, particularly at the dentists. This means that young people are not fully supported to work through any anxieties or concerns they may have about the need for treatment and the overall health care of all young people is not improved. Additionally, young people do not have a good, nutritious diet. Healthy well-balanced meals are not always provided by staff.

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Outcomes for children and young people inadequate

The majority of young people at the home are old enough to have completed their formal education, although for those of school age, their attendance is inconsistent. Staff make every effort to engage young people in alternatives to formal education. Some have individual meetings with teachers at a local library whereas others have been found part-time placements at a local college. One member of staff said, ’We have one young person who gets up every morning and goes off to school in their uniform. They say they’re going to school but they regularly don’t arrive there. We keep trying different things to make sure they stay there but it’s not easy.’ Despite the efforts of staff, the attendance of young people at school or college remains inconsistent.

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Outcomes for children and young people inadequate

Young people generally get on well together despite the occasional argument or disagreement. There have been no reports of bullying at the home since the last inspection. Relationships between young people and staff were observed to be friendly and respectful. Young people are encouraged to participate in activities for daily living and to learn independence skills. However, the involvement of young people in these activities is limited with some choosing not to become involved. As a consequence, young people may not acquire the basic skills needed to make a successful transition into adulthood.

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Outcomes for children and young people inadequate

Staff understand the importance of family contact and, where appropriate, they facilitate and support it. Young people place great value on the contact they have with friends and family members, although for some this can cause distress and anxiety. Additionally, some young people allow their friendships to take priority over attending school, college or in seeking employment. Staff are aware of this and try to help young people to make positive choices. One member of staff said, ‘We have one young person and all they want to do is be with their friends. We try to make them realise that they can go to school, have a job and have friends all at the same time but it’s quite difficult.’ 8 of 12

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Quality of care adequate

Staff and young people are observed to have a positive, relaxed manner with each other. One social worker said, ‘The home has provided stability for my young person. This has been the longest placement they’ve had.’ The home’s manager said, ‘We try to focus on the needs of the young people and to provide them with a supportive environment. I’m committed to helping them achieve what they can but this is often a long and hard process.’ The on-going encouragement provided by staff help young people to understand what opportunities they have to improve their lives and to make positive life choices.

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Quality of care adequate

Not all young people have a clear, detailed care plan in place that shows both their individual care needs and their health care needs. The health care needs of young people are not fully documented and any medical conditions they may have are not clearly recorded. Additionally, where care plans are in place, they show little or no involvement of the young people themselves. Written records of key-worker meetings do not routinely refer to each young person’s care plan. Key-workers do not therefore monitor the progress each young person is making. In addition, not all care plans have been signed by staff to say they have read and understood them. This means that all staff are not fully aware of the individual needs of young people and how those needs can be met. Additionally, involving young people in their own care planning provides them with an opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way and to understand what a placement at the home is meant to achieve.

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Quality of care adequate

Some young people living at the home have completed their formal education. Others, who are of school age, have the opportunity to attend alternative forms of education at a local college, by receiving personal tuition in a local library or by attending a pupil referral unit. Staff work hard to ensure young people attend education regularly although with limited success. One young person’s social worker said, ’Staff are proactive in trying to sort out education.’ As a consequence, and despite the best efforts of staff, not all young people make significant progress educationally and they are not in a position to achieve their maximum potential.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people receive support from staff to learn activities for daily living and to be more independent. However, not all young people who are eligible, have a pathway plan from their placing authority in place that highlights what their needs are now and how they can be supported into independence. This means that not all young people will know what help they can expect to receive to help them make a successful transition into adult life.

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Quality of care adequate

Staff have tried to engage young people in a range of community based activities, but with limited success. Young people have made friends in the local area and will often spend time socialising with them. 9 of 12

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Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

Individual risk assessments are not robust and they lack sufficient detail to ensure the day-to-day safety of young people. For instance, all young people have access to the internet and mobile phones, but the risks associated with young people using social media and going missing from care are not fully considered. Additionally, some young people with medical conditions do not routinely follow the advice of medical practitioners with regard to taking prescribed medication. Issues relating to this behaviour have not been explored within the risk assessment process and there is no evidence to show that discussions have taken place with individual doctors to consider alternative strategies. This means that the risks associated with looking after vulnerable young people are not fully explored, staff do not know how to keep them fully safe and they are not protected. Due to the impact of the failure to provide all

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Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

young people with an adequate risk assessment a compliance notice is to be issued to the provider. This is to ensure immediate action is taken to improve the welfare of young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

The home has policies and procedures in place for staff to follow if young people go missing or are absent without authority. Staff work hard to explain to young people the dangers they might face if they are missing. However, one young person was recently missing from early morning until evening time. Staff became aware of the young person’s absence in the morning but did not did not report them as missing until the evening. The failure of staff to immediately report the young person as missing to the police would place them at risk and does not help to keep them safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

Young people generally get on well with one another. One young person said, ‘I get on okay with the others. If I wanted to complain about anything I would, I’m not afraid to speak up if I need to.’ The young person went on to say, ‘I like it here and I want to stay.’

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Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

Staff try to promote good behaviour through the use of praise and rewards. Sanctions are generally used when young people misuse their finances. Written records are retained that show when this has happened and the amount concerned. However, some have also been used to try and discourage non-school attendance or going missing from the home. The effectiveness of these approaches is not fully considered in the written records. Additionally, a copy of individual sanctions given to young people is not retained on their file. A true record of the young person’s life at the home is therefore not retained.

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Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

The use of restraint to help manage young peoples’ behaviour is seldom used within the home. When restraint is used, written records are retained of the circumstances surrounding these actions. However, not all information is retained securely, with additional pages stapled to the formal records. Additionally, a copy of any restraint used on a particular young person is not retained on their file. A true record of the young person’s life at the home is therefore not retained. Recording issues relating to the use of restraint have been raised at previous inspections of the home. Due to the 10 of 12 continued failure to record all information relating to the use of restraint appropriately a compliance notice is to be issued to the provider. This is to ensure immediate action is taken to improve the safety and welfare of young people.

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Leadership and management inadequate

The Registered Manager has been registered since January 2014. She has the appropriate qualifications to be the Registered Manager of a children’s home as well as having a suitable management qualification.

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Leadership and management inadequate

Not all requirements and recommendations made at the previous inspection have been met. Requirements and recommendations have been raised as a result of this inspection.

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Leadership and management inadequate

The home’s Statement of Purpose does not fully comply with national minimum standards and regulations. The document does not fully explain the home’s approach to ensuring that the health of young people is promoted and what the individual skills and experience of the staff team are.

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Leadership and management inadequate

The home’s manager ensures that staff meetings take place regularly and that these meetings afford staff the opportunity to discuss the individual needs of young people. Not all staff, including the home’s manager, receives regular, formal supervision. Written records show that where supervision has taken place the content of these meetings are not fully documented, individual roles and responsibilities are not considered and staff are not held to account for their actions. Additionally, formal supervision records are not always signed by both participants. This means that staff are not fully supported in their work and that their work with young people is not adequately monitored.

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Leadership and management inadequate

Monthly monitoring of the home by the home’s manager and the independent visitor is not robust. Several areas looked at by the independent visitor over a period of months are duplicated and shows no detailed examination of the information provided, for instance, in relation to the participation of young people in activities. The home's manager records statistical information relating to the quality of the care provided to young people. However, a thorough analysis of the information recorded and an exploration of underlying themes does not take place. Analysing information retained in the home is essential in determining any patterns or trends in behaviour and helps to determine and inform alternative strategies for action. Due to the impact of the failure to adequately monitor the care provided to young people compliance notices are to be issued to the provider. This is to ensure immediate action is taken to improve the safety and welfare of young people.

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Leadership and management inadequate

Detailed notifications of all significant events are not received by Ofsted in a timely manner. This means that an independent evaluation of significant events, particularly 11 of 12 in relation to the police being called to the home is not carried out. The welfare of young people is not therefore be fully safeguarded. Due to the impact of the failure to notify Ofsted of all significant events within the home a compliance notice is to be issued to the provider. This is to ensure immediate action is taken to improve the safety and welfare of young people.

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Leadership and management inadequate

The care needs of young people are formally reviewed by placing authorities at regular intervals. However, the written records of these meetings are not received by the home in a timely manner. Staff who attend those meetings do not record the content of the discussions held or the agreed outcomes. This means that staff will not know who is responsible for carrying out any actions or the timescale agreed. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management inadequate

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information 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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Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

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