Children's Home run by Talbot House Children’s Charity Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

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:

 The manager offers strong leadership. She is able to offer the children and young people firm, clear boundaries but is also able to work in a nurturing way. The manager is building a strong team of staff who are gaining in experience and who are able to offer a good service.  The children and young people are kept very safe. Staff do this by understanding risks well and putting appropriate measures in place to minimise these. Staffing levels are high so that children are supervised well and are able to spend lots of one to one time with staff doing shared activities.  Staff take the time to understand the children and young people’s likes and dislikes so that they are able to put individualised routines into place so that they feel comfortable and safe. This also contributes well to reducing challenging behaviour  All the children and young people attend school well and are making progress. Staff put a high priority on education and ensure that there are

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The children's home provision is good because:

good plans in place for ongoing education and training.  Children and young people are supported well to have continued and regular contact with their families.  Young people are prepared well for independence and although many of the young people in this home will need to move to supported living situations when they reach adulthood they are encouraged to be as independent as possible.

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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

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Requirement Due date

6. In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, with particular reference to ensuring young people with needs around sexualised behaviour are offered appropriate support and guidance, the registered provider must ensure that staff –

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b)(iv) provide personalised care that meets each child's needs, as recorded in the child's relevant plans, taking account of the child's background; and 2(b)(v) help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. 30/10/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that –

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Requirement Due date

(3)(a) within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes –

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Requirement Due date

(v) details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to any physical interventions which deviate from taught methods. 30/09/2015

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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 that staff gain skills to actively support each child to achieve their potential. Specifically to ensure all staff to receive sufficient training in autism and child sexual exploitation. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 52 paragraph 10.5)

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned by a charitable organisation and is registered for up to seven children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or with learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

28/01/2015 Interim sustained effectiveness

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good

The home mostly provides longer term placements and this allows time for children and young people to settle well and make good progress. There is a clear ethos at the home where structure and routine are important so that young people clearly know what is expected of them and what boundaries are in place. This is delivered within a very caring and nurturing environment. This approach allows the home to have a clear impact on the children and young people placed here.

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good

The home has high ratios of staff to young people and this allows both good supervision and an excellent opportunity for close relationships to be built because of the ability to share activities. Staff are able to spend time in the home working with young people or outside the home sharing a range of trips and activities. Children and young people clearly do have good relationships with staff. Some young people were offering to help with household chores, others were discussing what activities to do for the day. They were all looking forward to further days out through the summer holidays.

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good

Placement plans are detailed and it is clear that staff know and understand each child and young person and has been able to put an individual plan and routine together for them. One young person is very keen on playing electronic games. He would play them all day given the chance but he has negotiated with staff about when and where he can play these and happily joins in other activities on a daily basis. This young person was extremely anxious and would not socialise at all, however, now he attends school and goes to a number of outside clubs and activities every week. He has joined a specialist scout group and goes swimming and to nature club. A major achievement recently was when he was able to stay at scout camp overnight without any staff support. He has also recently conquered his fear of thunder and lightning which is a big achievement. These changes have been brought about because staff have taken considerable time to encourage him to slowly try new

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good

activities and have introduced them slowly with a great deal of reassurance and practice. This is excellent progress and has made a major difference to this young person’s life.

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good

Bedtimes are important and the routines are well planned. This allows children and young people to settle well and to have more individual staff attention.

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good

One young person described the home as ‘great’. He has come from a very traumatic background and has developed some very controlling behaviour. However, he is now much more relaxed and allows staff to support him with clear routines and care. He can give and receive affection and helps around the house regularly. He is also less reliant on a number of security objects which he likes to have nearby. Again, this is significant progress for this particular child.

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good

All the young people attend school and have excellent attendance. They are all making progress. A number of the children and young people require support in school to ensure that they stay settled. One young person has moved back to mainstream classes after being in a special education setting. Another young person was said in his recent Looked after Children review, to have matured and gained in confidence at school. Another young person was making ‘good progress’ at school according to his review.

p.5

good

A number of the children and young people have more complex health needs and a number have arrived taking medication. Some of the young people take medication to help with ADHD and because the home has been able to settle these children and young people and meet their needs well, several of them have been able to reduce their medication after consultation with their doctors. This is clearly an improvement in their life.

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good

All the children and young people have good quality planning in place and this was particularly so around their routines, targets and goals, and their needs. However, two of the young people had backgrounds where their sexualised behaviour was of concern. The staff were not taking sufficient steps to address their needs around sex education and around discussing appropriate sexual behaviour and this has been made a requirement. Most of the young people who move on to independent living situations have needed, and will need, some supported arrangement. The staff prepares them well so that they can lead as independent lives as they can. Young people were helping with the cooking and a full range of household chores. Staff try to make activities into opportunities for young people to practice a range of skills.

p.5

good

Two parents contacted during the inspection were full of praise for the staff. One said, ‘it’s a fantastic home’, and the other said how happy she was with the care they gave her son and that staff supported her really well.

p.6

good

Because most of the children and young people at the home are autistic, staff need to have good knowledge and skills to deal with the issues that arise. While some of the staff had attended formal training some had not. A recommendation has been made that more training for staff around autism would improve care practice.

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good

It is particularly noticeable that staff listened well to what children and young people had to say and that they acted on this information. One young person who is at times unable to make good decisions about their safety is given a great deal of support when required and staff can spend extended periods of time negotiating positive outcomes.

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good

The children and young people at this home are kept very safe. Staff are very aware of risks and understand how to minimise these by working with them. The children and young people are closely supervised and there has been only one young person go missing for a short time since the last inspection. On this occasion staff were very proactive in attempting to find this young person and return him to the home. An independent return interview was held which means the young person had the opportunity to talk about what had happened. Staffing levels are high in order to effectively supervise the children and young people and this allows them plenty of time with staff to be able to do shared activities. This helps build relationships. Staff have good internet security in place and manage online devices well. There has been an issue around young people accessing inappropriate material occasionally but this has been resolved. Staff now restrict some young

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good

people from using the internet away from staff. Staff also address issues such as the internet and social media with children and young people so that they are able to learn about the dangers themselves.

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good

Staff work well with challenging behaviour. Clear, firm boundaries are put in place and these work well. One child likes to play outside in the garden and this is encouraged. This child enjoys moving a variety of objects around the garden and arranging them as he wants. Staff understand the importance of allowing him to do this but supervise closely. They have taught him the principles of safe moving and handling and have introduced several rules to keep him safe. This approach to a rather unconventional situation demonstrates how well the staff work with the children and young people to allow them choice and keep them safe. The child concerned was able to show me around the garden and explain the rules around safe lifting so that I could join him in the activity.

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good

Staff work out daily routines for some of the children and young people because this is really important for them. These routines clearly reduce challenging behaviour and allow children and young people to feel comfortable and safe. Staff deal well with challenging behaviour and do on occasions use appropriate sanctions.

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good

One recently admitted young person has had a history of challenging behaviour and staff are working hard with this young person to lessen these episodes. Good progress has been made and these episodes now last much less time than when they first arrived. This progress comes from staff being very clear and straightforward with this young person as well as listening to them and what they want. This combination of clear boundaries and expectations together with allowing young people to explain what they want has worked very well.

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good

The home is well maintained and appropriate health and safety checks are carried out regularly. There were no hazards around the house or grounds.

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good

The Registered Manager has been in post for over two years and has a social work qualification. She is currently undertaking a level 5 leadership and management qualification and will complete this before the required date.

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good

The manager is experienced and is a strong manager. She is clear and firm but also nurturing and caring. I observed her spending time with the young people when one of them was a little unsettled, she was able to take a firm position but was able to negotiate well and ensure that the outcome of a potentially difficult situation was positive.

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good

A social worker spoken to during the inspection said the manager was firm but very nurturing and commented that staff in the home were doing a good job in working with the child she had placed, seeing that he was visibly more relaxed and happy.

p.7

good

The manager offers good quality support to staff. Several staff spoken to commented on how supportive the manager was. Supervisions are carried out regularly and are of good quality. The staff benefit from a comprehensive training package and apart for a couple of areas have completed all the required training.

p.8

good

The manager is clear about wanting to build a stronger and more experienced team. There are some staff vacancies and the manager is taking great care to appoint the right people to these posts. There was a situation earlier in the year when staff had to be dismissed following allegations that came to light about their life outside of work. This was handled well by the manager and she continues to be very vigilant around recruitment issues. The manager has a vision for her staff team and is taking time to support, supervise and train the staff so that they are able to offer the service she wants. The staff are keen to learn and develop themselves and are motivated to offer higher levels of care and support.

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good

One restraint had occurred since the last inspection and although this was only a short physical intervention, staff did not use a hold that had been taught. The manager did identify this and did discussed it with the staff, as well as discussing the written record as this was inaccurate. However, the matter was not recorded in sufficient detail and does not clearly evidence that it was dealt with adequately. A requirement has been made to ensure that any future restraints are recorded accurately and that if they deviate in any way from taught methods then there should be a full written account of the management response.

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good

The manager has good links outside the home and has clearly demonstrated that she has been able to ensure that all the children and young people are well placed at school to achieve the best they can. The manager has been able to organise support for several young people in school during times when they have been unsettled. All the children and young people have up to date ‘Looked after Children’ medicals and have had ‘Looked after Children’ reviews on time.

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good

The manager has plans to develop other parts of the service as well and this demonstrates the commitment and ambition of both the manager and the responsible individual.

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good

At the last inspection there was a requirement to ensure the Statement of Purpose described the surveillance and monitoring equipment, it now does. There was also a recommendation that the home used the appropriate induction workbook. Staff still use the CWDC workbook to complete their induction but the manager is close to finishing the home’s own induction workbook which will then be substituted. Currently induction is carried out well and in a timely manner.

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good

There are two requirements arising from this inspection. Firstly to ensure appropriate personalised work is carried out with children and young people and secondly to ensure restraint practice and recording is better. There is also a recommendation that staff receive more training around autism and around child sexual exploitation. The home offers placements to children and young people with autism and not all staff have much training in this topic.

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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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