Children's Home run by Evolution Children Services Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

Unique reference number SC382595 Inspector Vicky Johnson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Evolution Childrens Services Limited Registered person address Evolution Housing 1 Osborne Road NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NE2 2AA Responsible individual Michael Laws Registered manager Ann Elizabeth O'Rourke Date of last inspection 03/07/2014 2 of 11 Inspection date 26/01/2015

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

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

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Overall effectiveness

Young people have made good progress from their individual starting points. They receive personalised care in line with their care plans, which comprehensively address their individual needs. The home provides consistent and reliable nurturing, support and boundaries. The staff team focuses upon positive consequences for good behaviour, an approach that is beginning to bring about improved outcomes. The home has high aspirations for young people, who are beginning to share these and to become more positive and confident about their potential. The staff team has good morale and communication. They provide the young people with consistent support, advice and guidance. They possess sound knowledge and understanding of the young people in their care. Good support is provided to young people to address their health, education, emotional, physical and developmental needs.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people say the quality of care afforded to them has improved significantly. They report staff help them and adopt a positive, supportive approach. Some young people say that because of the support of staff, their lives have improved. These young people are now more meaningfully engaged in plans for their care and show a significant reduction in risk taking behaviours. Young people moving on to independence receive positive sustained help from staff and maintain good relationships with the home. Young people say they feel safe living at the home. Social work professionals are confident the home does everything it can to 3 of 11 safeguard young people. Staff work in a consistent way to ensure the risks to young people are minimised and they are kept safe.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager, who was new to the post at the last inspection, has made improvements to way the home delivers care. These changes have had a positive impact upon staff morale and motivation. The changes to care practice are now beginning to deliver improved outcomes for young people. The Registered Manager is committed to service development and to providing supportive and child-centred leadership. They respond quickly and decisively to address any shortcoming in care and practice. They ensure that at all times staff are focused upon the needs, safety and well-being of the young people. 4 of 11

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Information about this children’s home

The children's home is registered to care for up to five young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. The registered provider of the home is a limited company

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/07/2014 Full adequate 24/02/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 20/08/2013 Full adequate 10/01/2013 Interim satisfactory progress

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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 accommodated specifically that risk assessments on individual young people for activities are fully completed to include arrangements when young people are not sleeping within the home (Regulation 11 (1) (a)) 23/02/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all significant incidents are notified to Ofsted including when police are called to attend the home. (Regulation 30(1) Schedule 5) 23/02/2015 5 of 11

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people make good progress from their starting points. They display an increasing capacity to understand themselves and to take responsibility for their actions. In recent months, some young people have shown a marked decrease in levels of risk taking behaviours. They go missing less often, are engaging with professionals and have significantly reduced levels of substance misuse. As their episodes of going missing have decreased, their risk of sexual exploitation has also reduced. Young people are at less risk of harm because of their better understanding of the consequences of their behaviours.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people report greater trust between themselves and staff. Due to better communication and improved relationships with those responsible for their care, they are more stable and secure. Young people recognise their progress in making good attachments to staff, which promotes their sense of emotional well-being. Some young people identify the Registered Manager’s caring approach as responsible for the change in their behaviour. They say they now feel positively cared for, which has made them want to ‘make something’ of their lives and not return ‘to the old way’. They point to the Registered Manager’s ability to lead the team by example, to cultivate a positive, caring approach towards them. They are now beginning to show confidence in others and an increased willingness to take advantage of the support and advice available to them. Such young people show a growing capacity to achieve and fulfil their potential.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people report their health has improved significantly as a result of a reduction in their substance misuse. Young people’s attitude to attending education has also improved. Those young people who have missed education previously are encouraged to attend as part of the home’s ethos. They show signs of re-engaging in education with the support and persistence of staff to motivate them.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people gain life skills and are more able emotionally and practically to manage the transition to independence. All young people are expected to take responsibility for caring for themselves as they progress through adolescence. This helps them to develop skills, prepares them for living on their own, and to make the transition confidently and successfully. Because of the support from staff, some young people are living independently, managing their finances and attending apprenticeships. They demonstrate their ability to make and sustain positive attachments in their relaxed interactions with staff when they return to visit.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people benefit from the support of staff in maintaining contact with their families. When relationships with family members are difficult and complex, some young people draw upon the support of staff to help manage these more constructively. These young people show an increasing insight into the impact of 6 of 11 these relationships on their behaviour and emotional wellbeing. Greater stability in the contact between young people and their families ensures their emotional and identity needs are well met.

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Quality of care good

Young people benefit from positive, nurturing relationships with staff. Since the Registered Manager’s arrival, they report there has been a substantial change in the quality of care they receive within the home. The Registered Manager’s shift to focus upon rewards for positive behaviour has motivated the young people to change. One young person commented the impact of the approach ‘makes us want to be good for good consequences’. This style to behaviour management has brought about an increase engagement in care plans. Some young people are now working cooperatively with staff towards positive shared goals with growing motivation and confidence.

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Quality of care good

The Registered Manager and the staff team have aspirations for the young people in their care. They cultivate a caring, positive and homely environment which allows young people to feel relaxed and comfortable. The Registered Manager’s impact upon the young people is significant in the development of their self-esteem and insight. One young person said the Registered Manager had, ‘made me see things about myself that I didn’t see before’. Such investment in young people promotes their feelings of self-worth and enables them to recognise their abilities and potential. This means achievement and success in their chosen goals is more likely.

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Quality of care good

The staff’s firm but fair boundaries guide young people and enhance their ability to problem solve. Key working sessions happen regularly. They have an educative, and support function to address the young people’s problems, such as health and drug use. Young people say staff encourage them to make healthy choices and to attend health appointments. Care plans comprehensively detail the individual needs of the young people. Staff record the events of young people’s within these plans. Staff know the children well and provide them with consistent and individualised care. The Registered Manager and the staff team are committed to young people, demonstrating this through understanding and perseverance. One social care professional said, when faced with particular challenges from a young person, the home, ‘hung on and showed some stickability’. Because of this commitment, significant changes in behaviour emerged and the young person’s engagement with

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Quality of care good

their social worker and other professionals improved.

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Quality of care good

The home has strong, effective collaborative links with a range of agencies and professionals. One social care professional said, ‘Staff have been amazing in trying to help me establish a relationship’. They also remarked that the staff were ‘so helpful’ and proactive in providing information between their visits with the young people. With regard to young people’s substance misuse, the professional believed the home 7 of 11 was ‘trying to promote change’. Through genuine commitment and effective supportive relationships with vulnerable young people, the home has achieved positive behavioural change.

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Quality of care good

Staff maintain good links with school and other educational providers. They have an active and focused approach towards promoting and supporting consistent attendance. Communication and collaboration between the home and social work professionals is good. Professionals comment positively about the quality of the reports the staff provide on a monthly basis and to statutory reviews. Key worker contributions to such meetings are detailed and accurate. Effective communication from the home ensures young people’s needs are well known and comprehensively addressed.

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Quality of care good

Young people know how to make a complaint; this information is readily available to them. The Registered Manager has introduced a questionnaire to ensure the young people’s views about their care are well known and taken into account. Young people’s voices are listened to and help shape the development and improvement of the service. Material standards and decoration of the home is good and, wherever possible, the young people’s views influence change. For example, staff give young people choices about the décor of their rooms. One young person wished to change their room; staff listened and took steps to facilitate the move. The young person’s involvement was actively encouraged, thus promoting their life skills and increasing their sense of belonging to the home. Young people live in a comfortable and well- maintained home. Recruitment processes are sound ensuring new staff are suitably checked before they begin working with young people. Regular fire drills and safety

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Quality of care good

checks ensure the environment is safe and all necessary safety equipment is in working order.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people say they feel safe and protected by staff in the home. Social care professionals express confidence in the home’s ability to protect the young people. Risk assessments are individualised and clear. Staff record the events in the young people’s lives within these assessments. They understand the risks to young people from going missing, unsafe sexual relationships and drug abuse and they address these in individual risk management plans.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Records clearly detail the home’s response to reporting young people missing in line with their risk management plans. The Registered Manager has introduced a ‘safe and well check’, a procedure which all staff must follow when a young person returns after being reported missing. Regular key working sessions with young people take place where staff discuss safeguarding issues and address threats to their safety directly with them. Staff receive a range of training to address risk, such as safeguarding and anti-bullying training. All staff within the home are trained in child sexual exploitation. Safeguarding is discussed at team meetings. Although restraint is 8 of 11 a rare occurrence in the home, with only one incident since the last inspection, it is discussed at each team meeting. For example, a refresher session takes place around a particular technique where staff are required to demonstrate their competence.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

This ensures practice is frequently updated, and staff can confidently secure the safety and welfare of young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff report that under the current Registered Manager, safeguarding has become a focus of the work of the home. One staff member commented that risk assessments are more thorough and staff refer to them daily. They said, ‘Risk assessments have turned into a daily document and you can see exactly why the risk has increased’. This member of staff remarked the consistent approach towards safeguarding within the team ‘makes you more confident in everything, because you know what everyone is doing’. By giving safeguarding greater attention and priority, the home has ensured young people’s safety needs are quickly identified and addressed.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home has effective, collaborative links with external agencies and professionals such as social workers, educational resources, health services including substance misuse workers. They are proactive in ensuring safeguarding action is effective and happens quickly. Communication with agencies is consistent and effective. One social care professional said, ‘If anything happens, we know about it’. Another social care professional said they believed the home had worked productively to address child sexual exploitation concerns. They were positive about the home’s approach to safeguarding stating the Registered Manager, ‘does everything they can to safeguard the children in their care’.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people report that they understand the rules of the home and the procedures in place to try to keep them safe. Bullying incidents are infrequent but when it does occur, the Registered Manager takes action to address the young people’s behaviours. Young people feel the staff care about them and they can see the benefits of the work they are doing. The reduction in risk taking behaviours have coincided with the change to a more nurturing, reward care based model. The change to a positive consequences approach has improved their engagement in plans to keep them safe and reduced the likelihood that they will suffer harm.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home completes risk assessments for all external activities, including those that involve young people staying overnight away from the home. There is a shortfall as these do not cover all arrangements in sufficient detail and do not contain contingency plans. These assessments need to be strengthened to ensure they cover all important aspects of a young person’s care when not sleeping in the home.

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Leadership and management good

9 of 11 The Registered Manager was registered in September 2014 and is suitably qualified to undertake the role of managing the home. All the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection have been appropriately met.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager provides strong, effective leadership. They lead by example, demonstrating a clear model of concerned child centred care and practice, which they ask the staff team to follow. They provide structure and direction to staff. Their management style is cooperative, motivating and shows attention to detail, with ongoing guidance to staff. One social care professional commented upon the Registered Manager’s vision for the home and their capacity to identify areas for improvement. They said, ‘The home has grown with (the Registered Manager) around’. The Registered Manager has high aspirations for the home and is committed to provide a quality service to young people. They are rigorous, conscientious and thorough in their leadership and management of the home, addressing shortfalls and identifying improvements quickly. Good communication and supportive senior management arrangements ensure that the needs of children are reliably and more

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Leadership and management good

Since coming into post the current Registered Manager has transformed the way the home works. They have made significant changes to the approach to caring for the young people and managing their behaviour. Substantial changes have occurred in the way staff are managed and in their morale. One staff member referred to regaining their motivation under the Registered Manager’s leadership. Staff consider the changes instigated are ‘for the better’; they now feel well supported and more confident in their role. They commented they felt listened to and remarked upon the Registered Manager’s skills as a ‘good reader of people’. Because of the Registered Manager’s approach, staff feel communication has improved and they are more confident and consistent in the way they approach the care of young people.

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Leadership and management good

Staff receive regular, structured supervision, which is well recorded. Team meetings take place regularly. These are structured and substantial, addressing key areas such as safeguarding and behaviour management. The Registered Manager sets tasks for the staff in these meetings and in supervision to refresh, improve and extend their practice. Examples of those areas covered are safeguarding policies and procedures, and notifications of significant incidents to Ofsted. One staff member said, ‘It does make you more knowledgeable and confident in your job’. Staff receive a wide range of training opportunities and complete competency questionnaires to ensure their knowledge is regularly updated.

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Leadership and management good

Young people’s records are comprehensive and well organised. The Registered Manager has close oversight and monitoring of all aspects of the home’s operation and practice. They have made changes to ensure the views of parents, young people and professionals are gained about the service the home provides. The introduction of questionnaires for young people and their social workers gathers feedback to drive change and improve practice. 10 of 11 Notifications of significant incidents are generally made when necessary but there have been some shortfalls. Ofsted as the home’s regulator has not always been notified as required on every occasion when the police have attended the home. This prevents Ofsted having adequate oversight of the home and ensuring that whenever necessary action is taken to protect young people.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager acts promptly to address and remedy any serious or significant issue that may affect the young people’s care. When a medication error occurred, they acted swiftly and effectively to make sure the young people were safe. They undertook a full review of the practice and handling of medications to strengthen their policy and procedures. This swift action ensured that all the young people were guaranteed safe and consistent care. 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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