Children's Home run by North East Autism Society in Durham

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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because:

 Legislation requires registered persons to notify agencies of significant events. This has not happened in relation to an important issue. This means the agencies were unable to follow up any relevant actions that may have been necessary.  Documentation such as staffing rotas, training records, care plans and risk assessments are not sufficiently clear. This reduces accountability and hinders staff in understanding children’s needs effectively.

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The children's home strengths

 The registered manager and staff are effective in promoting positive change in young people's development. In surveys, young people, parents/carers, social workers and the children's home staff gave clear examples of how the staff had helped children’s development.  Where allegations of misconduct are made, the registered manager and registered provider are fully supportive to all relevant people. They engage effectively with external professionals and follow their advice.  The staff are well-supported by effective training, supervision and guidance.  The staff are adept at communicating with children.  There is a full commitment by the registered persons to recruit and retain staff of the highest calibre. They are proactive in supporting staff to become qualified to the appropriate level as soon as possible.  The home is clean and well-maintained. Overnight staff have good sleep-in facilities.

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The children's home strengths

 Staffing ratios are appropriate to meet children’s needs.

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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

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the records are kept up to date.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that an up-to-date staff duty roster is maintained which demonstrates accurately the number of hours actually worked. 18/06/15

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Requirement Due date

If there is a referral of a person working in the home pursuant to section 35 (Regulated activity providers: duty to refer) of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006( a ), the registered person must without delay notify— (a) HMCI; (b) the placing authority; and (c) each other relevant person. In particular the relevant person here means the responsible individual. Regulation 40(3) 18/06/15

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (2) The registered person may only— (a) employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or (b) if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). (3) The requirements are that— (d) full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. Regulation 32(3)(d), schedule 2 para 4. 5/05/15 In particular, if a person has previously worked in a position involving work with children or vulnerable adults, verify so far as reasonably practicable the reason why the employment or position ended.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Maintain a clear workforce plan which accurately describes the members of staff who are qualified to level 3 in the diploma in Care or its equivalent. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53, paragraph 10.8)   Ensure information in risk assessments and care plans is recorded clearly. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62, paragraph 14.4) 

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and operated by a charitable organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation in short breaks for up to six young people with learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

04/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

11/02/2014 Interim Satisfactory Progress

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requires improvement

It is clear in surveys received from parents/carers and social workers that the staff have close and effective working relationships with young people stating, ‘My child is always happy when going to the children's home. They readily hugs the staff, they do not give hugs freely so that is a good indication they like and trusts the staff.’

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requires improvement

The staff are skilled at communicating with children. For example, one person said, ‘The greatest strength is their expertise of communicating with non-verbal children with autism.’

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requires improvement

The staff are effective in helping young people to make progress in their development. For example, a member of staff said, ‘One young person used to hit out a lot but doesn’t anymore. They now eat a lot better and are a lot more sociable. Because of what we’ve done, another young person no longer needs to wear an incontinence pad at bedtime.’ A parent said, ‘We were having problems with my child at school so the staff at the home made a storyboard just for them. We read it over and over with our child and it has helped them stop the behaviour through their own choice.’

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requires improvement

The staff communicate effectively with parents and young people. One parent summed this up saying, ‘The staff send emails, telephone calls and attend ‘Team Around the Child’ meetings. Our key worker or the manager is available to give advice at any time and we take advantage of this.’ Another parent said, ‘The staff make symbols with my child who is non-verbal, has severe developmental delay and autism. The symbols prepare my child for what is going to happen. This eases their anxiety.’

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requires improvement

The staff are effective at promoting good emotional and physical health. For example, one parent/carer said, ‘The staff have helped to prevent a lot of anxiety and heartache for us all by assisting our child to understand the changes associated with puberty.’ And a member of staff said, ‘We help young people to experience a wide and sometimes a new choice of foods. This helps them to be healthy and broaden their horizons.’

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requires improvement

Admissions to the children's home are appropriate. The registered manager assesses the needs of young people in sufficient detail so that the mix of children is safe.

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requires improvement

During the inspection Ofsted were aware of a police investigation into serious allegations about the use of restraint. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the children's home in response to the allegations were considered, where appropriate, alongside other evidence available at the time to inform inspection judgements.

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requires improvement

Recruitment arrangements are in place which help to ensure that staff employed to work with children are suitable. One aspect of recruitment practice, required by legislation, is not being followed. If employment applicants have previously worked with children or vulnerable adult, the registered persons are not routinely contacting those employers to verify the reasons the employee left. All other recruitment checks are robust.

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requires improvement

Risk assessments are not clear. Ratings of risk made in the summary section at the start of each assessment do not clearly follow through to the detailed section. This means the assessments are harder for the reader to follow; and there is a lack of assurance that registered persons are fully up-to-date with risk management. In talking to the staff, the risks young people may face are often better described verbally than in the documentation. Both formats should be equally effective.

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requires improvement

The staff receive training in how to care for young people safely. This is included in induction training and in mandatory core training which is then refreshed regularly. Clear procedures are in place to inform the staff what to do if they are allegations, suspicions or evidence of harm or abuse.

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requires improvement

All the four young people who completed a survey, and all the social workers and parents/carers who completed a survey felt that young people are cared for safely. The premises are also kept safe. Professional technicians regularly service the electrical equipment, gas appliances and equipment for preventing, detecting and extinguishing fires which ensures the environment is kept safe.

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requires improvement

The staff feel confident about how to respond to child protection concerns. An effective 24 hour on-call management support system is in place should they ever need help or guidance.

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requires improvement

The staff are effective in managing behaviour. They receive training in how to de-escalate challenging behaviour and how to respond with physical intervention if the welfare of any young person or other person is at risk. The staff record incidents appropriately in accordance with legislation. The registered manager monitors the records to ensure practices are appropriate and safe. Judgement grade

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requires improvement

The registered persons generally report significant incidents to other agencies, including Ofsted, in a timely manner. However, this does not always happen and so the relevant professionals including the responsible individual cannot take any immediate action that may be necessary. This weakness in communication procedures creates a potential negative impact in the promotion of children’s welfare.

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requires improvement

Some weaknesses in the recording of rotas and training records mean there is not full accountability for which staff worked when; and for whether staff on duty are appropriately qualified. Care plans also do not explain children’s needs in a succinct and clear manner. The impact is minimised because the child-friendly versions of the plans are very easy to understand.

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requires improvement

The registered manager and staff involve young people and their parents/carers in the development of the service. This helps to ensure improvements have maximum effect. For example, one parent said, ‘The staff always listen to my views and ask for them regularly. My child is so unique, challenging and intelligent we have to consistently think of innovative ways to meet the challenges s/he presents. I feel the staff value my insights and I value their expertise and knowledge.

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requires improvement

The registered manager has been in post since December 2014 and has been employed at the children's home since its opening in December 2013. They have the necessary experience and qualifications for their role. The quality of care provided by the staff is sound.

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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

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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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