Children's Home run by Gateshead Council in Gateshead

Unique reference number SC036773 Inspector Vicky Johnson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Gateshead Council Registered person address Civic Centre Regent Street GATESHEAD Tyne and Wear NE8 1HH Responsible individual Frances Powell Registered manager Deborah Ann Noble Date of last inspection 04/02/2014 2 of 12 Inspection date 04/11/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

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

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Overall effectiveness

The staff team provide a good, personalised service and standard of care to young people. While the risk taking behaviours of some young people are presenting challenges, other young people have made good progress from their starting points. For some young people in particular, their risk taking in terms of taking drugs, drinking and going missing has increased since their point of admission. Their relationships with staff however are in an early stage of development. They are beginning to establish a reliance on staff, while they struggle with the need for independence as well as with safe and consistent boundaries. Some young people are also finding it difficult to make progress in respect of their health and engagement in education. This makes it more difficult for the home to evidence positive outcomes in respect of their overall care.

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Overall effectiveness

The home has an established, stable staff team, many of whom have worked there for some time. Their energy and commitment is apparent in the warm, welcoming and nurturing atmosphere of the home. This approach is also evident in their interaction with the young people. They often go beyond the expectations of their role to complete repairs independently and promptly. The young people therefore have a well-maintained home of a high material standard. The Registered Manager has extensive experience of meeting young people’s needs in a residential setting. They are in touch with the young people’s individual experiences and place their 3 of 12 requirements as high priority in the management of the home. Consultation with them is an ongoing process that serves to shape the staff’s practice and approach. As a result, records show that they strive to respond to the young people’s suggestions irrespective of the challenge this may present.

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Overall effectiveness

There are some shortfalls in practice, which mean requirements have been made but the impact on the young people is minimal. These relate to the induction of new staff, providing a clear outcome for complaints to young people and individualising risk assessments in a more detailed way. In addition, improvement is needed to provide more timely notifications to Ofsted. Internal monitoring processes need improvement in relation to consulting with parents and completing the necessary checks to ensure staff can continue to work safely with young people. Up to date information about the young people from placing social workers to the home is also an area of potential development. 4 of 12

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Information about this children’s home

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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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/02/2014 Interim good progress 05/06/2013 Full outstanding 27/11/2012 Interim good progress 30/07/2012 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

(2001) promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children, specifically that each child’s a risk assessment is tailored to the individual child (Regulation 11(1)(a)) 03/12/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) maintain in respect of each child who is accommodated in the children’s home a record in permanent form which includes the information, documents and records specified in Schedule 3, in particular providing up to date care plans (Regulation 28(1)(Schedule 3)) 03/12/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure without delay that Ofsted is notified of any significant incident affecting a child’s welfare (Regulation 30 (1)) 03/12/2014 5 of 12 (2001) ensure that a written record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response and the outcome of the investigation (Regulation 24(5)) 03/12/2014

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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, specifically to provide for consultation with children accommodated in the home, their parents and placing authorities. (Regulation 34(3)) 03/12/2014

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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 good recruitment practice is consistently followed to maintain a system for the renewal of Disclosure and Barring Service checks for staff (NMS 16.2)  ensure that new staff undertake the Children’s Workforce Development Council’s induction standards, commencing within 7 working days of starting their employment and being completed within 6 months. (NMS 18.3) 6 of 12

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

The outcomes for the young people living in the home are varied. Some young people have improved outcomes in relation to their education, increasing their attendance significantly since coming to live at the home. One young person reflected it was ‘10 times better,’ and as they ‘used to go rarely’. Some young people have achieved qualifications but now seem unable to engage in any further education. Others are no longer making educational progress and improvement is measured in terms of developing positive attachments with staff. These young people have opted out altogether, which significantly affects their capacity to establish routines in their lives. A lack of structure and purpose leads to young people to being ill equipped for employment and adult life. It also increases their social isolation, impacts upon their confidence, as well their capacity to make and sustain relationships.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people struggle to take positive steps towards maintaining their health. They continue to smoke, drink and take drugs, despite the efforts of the staff to guide them to make more positive choices. They are often unable to accept the advice and guidance in relation to maintaining good sexual health and keeping themselves safe. Some young people also do not recognise the need to address their emotional health needs via therapeutic support. This has an impact upon the development of their confidence and self-esteem, their ability to better manage their relationships and understand their feelings. While the home has constructive working relationships with outside agencies responsible for promoting good health, some young people continue to decline this support. As a result, encouraging the young people to take a responsible approach to meet all aspects of their health needs remains a challenge for the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people benefit from maintaining their relationships with important people in their lives. For some young people, the quality of these relationships has improved with the focused support of the staff. As part of their managed contact arrangements they now enjoy overnight stays with their family. They also have friends who visit the home, which enhances their social networks in preparation for independent living. For other young people, contact is part of a carefully managed package of support from the home alongside other social care professionals. This enables the young people in a safe and supportive setting to build upon existing relationships with family and meet their need to understand who they are.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Some young people are developing their confidence and social skills in preparation for living independently by attending various community groups. This increases the likelihood of them extending their friendship groups and ensures they do not become isolated from the community. For other young people, gaining the necessary skills and self-reliance to make the transition to adulthood is more complex and challenging. Records indicate these young people have particular difficulty 7 of 12 progressing in this area and staff struggle to effectively address their needs.

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Quality of care good

The relaxed and warm interaction between staff and the young people reflects the good relationships fostered in the home. The Registered Manager leads by example making time to spend with the young people, to offer advice, guidance and support where necessary. One social worker confirmed staff were ‘excellent communicators’ who created a ‘lovely atmosphere in the home’. Another social care professional agreed strongly that the staff cared and supported the young people well, with a developed understanding of their needs. The young people’s comments within the surveys confirmed this view. One young person wrote ‘the staff help me with a lot of things’. While another commented, ‘I get on with the staff and I am treated like an adult and with respect’. Such comments reflect an encouraging and nurturing environment within the home, essential for the young people’s emotional wellbeing and overall development.

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Quality of care good

Staff are flexible, motivated and enthusiastic about their role. They strive to identify particular interests of the young people and endeavour to make their choices a reality. One staff member said ‘one of the best things you can do is give them memories’. Therefore, spending time with young people in activities, taking their photographs and compiling memory books is part of the staff’s practice. The Registered Manager considers creating opportunities for young people an important aspect of the work, along with a ‘can do’ attitude to make things happen for them. Monthly one to one sessions are built into the staff rota as protected time. They also arrange staffing for further sessions should the individual needs of the young person dictate it necessary. One social worker considered this as a particular strength of the home. They said, ‘they make sure they have staff on hand to complete one to one

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Quality of care good

sessions’. This commitment provides a focus on meeting the young people’s emotional, intellectual and social needs, ensuring they feel valued and their individuality is promoted.

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Quality of care good

Consultation with the young people is a weekly activity for the staff. Young people have an opportunity to influence change within the home in a range of areas. Staff consult with them individually, their views are recorded and acted upon wherever possible. Records show staff also take steps to explain when it is not possible to meet their expectations. The dedicated cook takes time to develop healthy eating menus around young people’s choices and is adept at encouraging them to try new foods. The home reports an NHS dietician has endorsed the content of these menus as nutritious. The staff team makes every effort to ensure young people pay attention to their overall physical and emotional health. On admission, staff register young people with all relevant health agencies such as dentists, opticians, and 8 of 12 general practitioners. Despite the uptake being low, there is evidence they do encourage the young people to consider referrals to additional services to address

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Quality of care good

The staff’s communication and working relationships with social care professionals is good. One social worker stated their practice was ‘really collaborative’. Another social worker identified a strength in their communication as ‘understanding what the young people want and passing those on in care team meetings’. Practice is therefore child centred and the variety of the home’s plans tailored to the young people’s individual needs. Staff closely monitor progress and on this basis, compile good quality information in the form of reports to reviews. They attend care team meetings regularly, gaining an up to date knowledge and understanding of the plan to the meet the young people’s needs. The staff often obtain current information in this way rather than from an updated care plan on the young person’s file. It is therefore difficult for staff to be confident they are always effectively addressing the outcomes

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Quality of care good

for young people assigned by the placing authority. Furthermore, staff who are unfamiliar with young people’s situation may not be certain of the exact detail of their care needs and how best to meet them. This is particularly relevant when the home is dealing with an increased level of risk taking behaviour among the young people.

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Quality of care good

The material standards of the home are excellent. Rooms are spacious, decorated and furnished to a high standard. The Registered Manager is committed to on-going improvement in this area. This is evident in the recent refurbishing of the young people’s bathrooms, which both contain high quality fixtures and tiling. In preparation for young people coming into the home, bedrooms are painted in neutral colours so that they can personalise their space following their admission. Staff complete repairs to the home quickly, often without the need for outside contractors. The dining room displays photographs of the young people who previously lived in the home and who continue to visit. The Registered Manager commented, ‘they will stay there as long as the young people come back.’ Such attention to the environment and involvement of the young people reflects a high standard of maintenance. It also encourages the young people to invest emotionally in their

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Quality of care good

home and indicates it remains important to them long after they have left.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people say they feel safe living in the home and are able to identify whom they would turn to if they felt they had to complain. They are also confident in the Registered Manager’s ability to address their concerns and take them forward. The safety and wellbeing of the young people is therefore central to the staff’s practice. While risk-taking behaviour for some young people has increased, the staff liaise closely with professionals to minimise risk. With regard to missing from home, staff are aware of their responsibilities to communicate with professionals and parents regularly, and provide written information promptly. One social worker reported, 9 of 12 ‘Apart from the missing care episodes, I get a synopsis as well’ and, ‘Mum is communicated with, everyone knows what is going on’. One staff member commented staff are ‘Constantly assessing and doing dynamic assessments’ in response to young people’s individual behaviour. Such regular communication and

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Keeping children and young people safe good

risk analysis ensures all agencies as well as the home respond effectively as a team to the young people’s individual need for safety.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

It is clear the Registered Manager has an extensive understanding of the young people’s vulnerabilities and of what constitutes safe practice. Staff have completed training in child sexual exploitation and behaviour management techniques. They therefore receive the appropriate training to identify potential risks to the young people. There are shortfalls however in the home’s risk assessments in respect of other risks, such as self-harm and aggression for example. The young people’s specific vulnerabilities and the control measures need to be more explicit to extend the individualisation of these assessments. This means the actions of the staff to protect the young people are overall safe and appropriate. Effectiveness would be improved however, if risk assessments were more specific and detailed.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The infrequent use of restraint since the last inspection reflects the staff’s skills and abilities to manage difficult situations. Young people are encouraged to behave positively via the use of incentives. Staff achieve a good balance between providing opportunities for young people to earn rewards, alongside focused support and praise. Strategies are in place to reinforce expectations and provide a coordinated response from the staff team. For example, key workers hold structured discussions on the young people’s individual needs in team meetings. Clear records are kept of sanctions and staff and young people contribute to these. Additionally, the key worker sessions revisit incidences where particular risk taking behaviours are discussed with concern and sensitivity for the young person. If incidents of aggression occur, the Registered Manager has managerial oversight of these incident records and copies are sent to senior management and placing social workers. As a

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Keeping children and young people safe good

result, the staff team deliver a coordinated, consistent response to young people and professionals. This enhances young people’s feelings of stability, safety and security and informs care planning.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The arrangements of the recruitment of new staff are safe and appropriate. The environment is also physically safe for young people. Fire drills occur regularly and with increased frequency if there are new young people admitted to the home. The Registered Manager also organises the drills to take place at specific intervals to ensure all members of staff team are familiar with the evacuation process. This ensures both young people and staff know how to respond safely in the event of a fire.

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Leadership and management good

10 of 12 The Registered Manager has been in post since March 2007, and has the necessary experience and qualifications to carry out the role. There were no statutory requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. As a result of this inspection however, requirements have been made, but the impact on the young people living in the home is minimal.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has a strong and confident leadership style, with an obvious commitment to deliver a good standard of care to the young people. They are very experienced in managing the complexities of the young people’s behaviours with demonstrable sensitivity and understanding. They are proud of the staff’s ability to manage difficult and challenging behaviours and to sustain the care of young people often for a period of years. The Registered Manager’s approach to creating a caring and protective environment is mirrored in the staff’s enthusiasm for their role. One member of staff said, ‘If you have any good ideas and suggestions you’re listened to, especially if it involves doing things with the young people’.

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Leadership and management good

Staff feel supported in their formal supervision by management, describing it as a two way process to discuss young people’s progress. These sessions happen regularly, are recorded comprehensively, and cover all aspects of the work. The Registered Manager will also take steps to debrief members of staff in supervision following difficult and challenging behaviours from young people. Staff are also consulted about new admissions to the home and they contribute positively to this process. Young people admitted have a robust pre-admission assessment to ensure their needs can be met alongside those young people already living in the home. As a result, young people are admitted safely, increasing the likelihood that their placement will be sustainable.

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Leadership and management good

Team meetings provide regular structured opportunities to discuss information about the young people and their particular challenges. The Registered Manager keeps abreast of regulatory changes and developments in practice. They utilise team meetings to share this information and consider ways to improve practice in line with new developments. The home’s information relating to young people is extensive and very well organised. It clearly reflects the young people’s experience of living in the home and the actions the staff take to meet their needs. The staff team are trained in child sexual exploitation, behaviour management techniques and first aid. There is a gap however in the home’s training programme for newly employed staff. While they have received their induction in the home’s procedures, they have not begun the Children’s Workforce Development Council’s induction standards. Consequently, not all staff may have the required knowledge to provide a suitable standard of care

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Leadership and management good

There is gap in the Registered Manager’s quality assurance report in relation to effective consultation with young people, parents and social workers. This shortfall means that the home’s ability to monitor their progress in respect of quality of care they offer young people is reduced. There is also a delay in notifying Ofsted of significant events surrounding the welfare of young people. The lack of timely 11 of 12 notifications reduces the effectiveness of safeguarding the young people’s welfare. It also makes it difficult for Ofsted as the regulator to provide proper monitoring of the home. Also, while the Registered Manager takes time to consult with young people individually about their care, there is a lack of detail of about the outcome of their complaints. As a result, young people may feel that any complaint they raise may remain unresolved.

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Leadership and management good

There is a shortcoming in relation to the renewal process for the Disclosure and Barring Service checks for staff. A number of expired staff checks were not renewed until recently. An efficient system of monitoring and tracking needs to be robustly maintained to ensure staff are fit to work with young people at all times. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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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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