Children's Home run by Northumberland County Council in Northumberland

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff have a good knowledge of the needs of young people. Well written care plans ensure that progress is tracked and good outcomes are achieved. Staff are good at promoting young people’s educational opportunities and ensuring that they are in good physical and emotional health.  The home is warm and welcoming and conveys to young people that they are valued and respected. Young people’s views are listened to, and what they say brings about changes in the home.  Effective policies and procedures, and their consistent implementation by staff, keep young people safe. Missing episodes are relatively infrequent. Staff act proactively to notify other agencies of concerns and follow them through.  The home is outstandingly well led. Staff have a strong commitment to the home’s ethos and values and embody them in their practice. The positive impact of the home’s leadership and management upon the welfare of

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The children's home provision is good because:

young people is clearly evident.  Two statutory requirements have been made where regulations have not been met in every respect. These shortfalls have had minimal impact upon young people.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered provider must ensure that staff: (1)(b) deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential: in particular, to ensure that they record all individual discussions (key worker sessions) with young people about their care plans. 07/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard with particular reference to children who may be coming to live at the home, the registered provider must ensure that staff: (2)(a)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, specifically that any risk assessment shall include the potential risks of the new child to the existing group of children and vice versa. 07/08/2015

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Information about this children's home

The home accommodates up to four children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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good

The home is spacious, welcoming and well-decorated, conveying to young people and visitors that it provides a caring service which prides itself on quality. One young person said, ‘I’d give the home 9 out of 10.’ During the inspection, the lounge was being efficiently redecorated in a colour of the young people’s choosing. The high standards of physical care are echoed by the aspirations for young people which staff consistently express. Staff are attentive to young people and have an excellent awareness of their individual strengths and needs. They relate to them with warmth and evident concern for their welfare. They share in activities and games, with much banter and good humour.

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good

Care plans are concise and regularly reviewed and updated. They clearly set out what the home intends to achieve for each young person and how it will do it. Staff use individual work sessions to discuss with young people particular aspects of their plan. Sometimes, young people find the formality of this process off- putting. Although staff take advantage of less formal opportunities to have conversations with young people about their plans, these are not always recorded. Progress reports show how well young people have done since coming to live here. Most have excellent school attendance and attainments. A social worker said, ‘I have observed significant and very positive changes in the young person’s presentation, their behaviour and overall development. The home has worked very hard to fully understand the young person’s needs and this has enabled all staff to provide for their needs.’

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good

Care plans reflect the individualised approach to each young person’s specific health needs. One young person needs encouragement to maintain personal hygiene and will attempt to avoid teeth brushing. Staff therefore support him in this task with encouragement, chivvying, and showing by example the correct method. Staff also motivate young people to take an active part in making decisions about their health. In one case, a young person was involved in reviewing the level of medication to help with their behaviour, and wrote their reasons for wanting this in their plan.

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good

For those who are struggling with education, staff are creative and persistent in exploring other options which will engage the young person. They support and encourage young people in applications and interviews, giving them the confidence and motivation which pays dividends. For example, one young person has just successfully secured a college place and is looking forward to starting in the new academic year. One member of staff illustrated how young people acquire greater self-esteem, saying, ‘When I came back from a period of leave recently, one young person rushed to show me his achievement certificates from school, he was so proud of himself.’

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good

Staff hold regular meetings with young people where the day-to-day running of the home is discussed. Young people’s suggestions for change are considered by staff and decisions about whether they are possible are fed back. The majority of ideas put forward by young people are implemented. For example, given that all the young people currently living here are male, they said that the home’s décor was too feminine. As a result, areas of the home have been repainted and subtle changes made to furnishings and fittings.

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good

There is plenty for young people to do. Staff encourage them to take up activities in the community, such as Scouts and youth clubs. They also support them in after-school clubs, for example, canoeing. Staff celebrate young people’s achievements in these areas, and also maintain photo albums which will give young people good memories of their time here and what they did. One young person said, ‘People think that living in a kids’ home must be bad, but it’s not like that here.’

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good

As young people approach adulthood, staff begin to help them gain greater independence and self-reliance. For example, they give them a monthly allowance which they are expected to use responsibly to buy clothing and personal items. They also begin to wean young people off reliance on the home’s car and use public transport instead. This kind of practice builds resilience as well as important practical skills, which include learning to cook, and launder clothes.

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good

Many young people have experienced disruption in family relationships. Staff are keenly aware of the importance for young people in keeping in touch with family and friends and work creatively to re-establish contact. In one instance, staff had the idea of supporting a young person’s camping holiday with their father by actually accompanying them for the duration of the trip. This laid the foundation for increasing periods of contact which are proving productive and satisfying for parent and child.

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good

The home is good at protecting young people. One said simply, ‘I always feel safe here.’ Staff have a good knowledge of the risks which might cause harm to each young person and how they can minimise their impact. These risk assessments are updated at regular intervals and whenever there has been an incident with implications for safeguarding. Staff are good at planning for the introduction of new young people to the home. They gather information about the young person from a range of sources, identifying whether the home can meet their assessed needs. Preliminary visits enable the young person to meet staff and those they will be living with. There is evidence that staff and the placing authority consider the risks which a new young person might present to other young people. However, this process is not recorded, reducing the accountability of decision-making about the potential impact of the new young person on the group and vice versa.

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good

Effective policies and procedures underpin the daily work of staff in keeping young people safe. For example, the e-safety policy is practical, workable, and understood by young people. They cooperate with staff in making sure that their use of Wi-Fi within the home is responsible, and accept the need for reasonable monitoring of internet activity. Additionally, rules for the use of social media keep young people safe from its potential dangers. Simple but important measures enhance young people’s safety. For example, one young person who is soon to be changing schools will be walking there instead of using the home’s car. Staff have organised road safety education for them, as well as practising the route with them in advance. The number of incidents where young people go missing has reduced. Robust action is taken when a young person fails to return at the agreed time or is not where they are supposed to be. Staff are proactive in searching the area and

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good

contacting people who may know where they are. Staff work closely with other agencies, such as the police, to minimise the time a young person is away. They also ensure that, as far as possible, the reason for them going missing can be understood and appropriate action taken if necessary. For example, in every case, a social worker independent of the home interviews the young person on their return. There are no concerns about child sexual exploitation. The home’s rules are clear to young people and convey the basic message that everyone is expected to behave responsibly and with respect for each other. Routines are individual for each young person and appropriate for their age and ability. These clear boundaries give young people predictability and security. It also helps them to develop their own self-control and appreciation of the needs of others. A young person said, ‘I used to be really angry, but now I can manage my

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good

behaviour better; staff deal with me and I can control myself.’ A social worker remarked, ‘The staff have been consistent with boundaries and the young person has responded to this.’ This approach has resulted in positive changes for young people which others notice, a parent commenting, ‘My child is much more mellow now.’

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good

All staff have training in behaviour management which is regularly refreshed. This focuses on preventing challenging behaviour in the first place, and equips staff with the skills they need to manage the occasional violent incident effectively and safely. Physical restraint is occasionally necessary. Each time restraint is used, the young person has the opportunity to give his views which are set down in the record. In addition staff are debriefed by a manager, ensuring that they can reflect upon what happened and identify whether the situation could have been handled differently.

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outstanding

The Registered Manager is experienced and suitably qualified for her role. She has continued to develop, and add to, her existing skills and knowledge. For example, recent training in attachment has helped her to develop the home’s focus on working with parents and repairing damaged family relationships. The Registered Manager works directly with young people every day, giving support at crucial times; for example, taking a young person to a college interview. This hands-on approach inspires staff and creates a team with a shared vision which directly benefits young people.

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outstanding

The Registered Manager’s regular monitoring of the home’s performance makes use of detailed individual records of each young person’s progress. It also takes full account of the views of others, recording detailed consultation with young people, placing social workers, and parents. This feedback is used to identify improvements and plan future actions, for example, the young people’s preferred holiday venues. External monitoring of the home has recently been reviewed and is good. Young people know who the independent person is and how to contact them. The registered provider also makes good use of technology. Young people can use a dedicated mobile phone app to make a complaint or register a concern. Having these routes by which young people can contact somebody outside the home adds significantly to their safety.

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outstanding

All staff are suitably qualified. They have access to a range of excellent training which is refreshed at intervals and so keeps their skills up to date. One senior member of staff is undertaking a counselling course, which will prove of benefit both in their work with young people and also in supporting staff. Group training opportunities are sought whenever possible. A recent session on play therapy has taken place, enabling staff to use play with young people to promote their emotional health and development. The Registered Manager has recently asked staff to undertake pieces of research and feed back to the whole group. This innovation gives staff greater responsibility for their own development and increases their knowledge of wider child care practice.

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outstanding

Arrangements for staff supervision are particularly strong. The agenda for each session is focused on the young people. It encourages the member of staff to reflect upon their daily practice and how what they do can improve outcomes. One particular heading in the agenda asks the supervisee to consider ‘what difference have you made to your link young person’s life?’ This is outstanding supervision practice.

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outstanding

The home’s statement of purpose is explicit in setting out its aims and objectives. All staff have a clear understanding of, and commitment to, the home’s ethos. They strongly identify with the ambition to bring about positive change in young people’s lives, and are able to explain how their daily work reflects the home’s principles. They are aware of the importance of acting at all times as role models for young people, promoting considerate and respectful behaviour. As a result, the staff team work highly consistently and supportively with each other, promoting young people’s aspirations and wanting nothing less than the best for them.

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outstanding

The home works in close partnership with families and other agencies. The Registered Manager robustly challenges those agencies which are not delivering a good enough standard of service to young people. She is also proactive in alerting social workers to situations of concern, sometimes resulting in the initiation of statutory child protection enquiries, and following up to ensure that appropriate action has been taken. Occasionally, staff need to call police when a young person’s behaviour is placing other people at risk. Nevertheless, the good working relationship between the home and the police ensures that, wherever possible, the outcome does not result in the criminalising of the young person. For example, a young person caused serious damage to the home. Following negotiation between staff and police, it was agreed that they would make reparation within the home rather than face a criminal charge.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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