Children's Home run by Right-Trak Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to operate to a high standard, and one young person has been admitted since the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The five young people living here are all making progress from their starting points. Some of them are making very good progress, for instance, by taking driving lessons and a driving theory test. With the active involvement and support of staff, others have rebuilt relationships with family members, and are looking forward to reunification and a move to live back at home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person is nearing their 18th birthday, and has finished their formal education. This young person has already undertaken voluntary work, is currently undertaking online training, and has secured part-time employment. The young person would like to work full time and is actively seeking suitable employment. The positive attitude they demonstrate towards work, training and employment should be commended.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people nearing adulthood are encouraged to learn daily living skills, and to develop their independence, for instance, by making their own appointment to open a bank account, or by arranging their own doctor’s appointments. This helps to prepare them for independent living and the move into supported lodgings. Staff support this process and advocate on behalf of the young people concerned, to ensure that they are fully supported by the local authority.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A previous requirement was for all young people to be actively involved in education, college or training. This requirement has been met. Some attend a pupil referral unit (PRU), and others are attending different college courses to find the most appropriate one to meet their needs. One young person has requested a move from the PRU back into mainstream education. Staff are actively supporting this request, and liaising effectively with the authority’s virtual headteacher. Attending education helps young people to achieve their maximum potential and develops their self-confidence. There has been additional progress. Some young people have a history of substance misuse involving taking drugs or drinking alcohol. There are clear signs that this has significantly reduced since their admission. In addition, the number of times that some young people have been absent without authority or gone missing has also reduced. A member of staff said, ‘One young person was easily led astray.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

We went through a spate of them being missing from home, but that’s changed now. They enjoy coming in and socialising with staff, going to the cinema and even playing board games.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to be a safe place for the young people to live. Staff give clear, consistent boundaries for young people to follow. They know what behaviour is expected of them. Sanctions are seldom used to enforce boundaries. The home prefers to use restorative techniques to help young people to learn acceptable ways in which to behave. Additionally, restraint has not been used at the home since the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager leads the home well. Staff say they are well supported. The home is well maintained and well kept. The manager continues to monitor the quality of the overall care that young people receive, and is good at engaging external agencies when necessary. The documentation used by the independent visitor to record the summary of their visit to the home has been reviewed and updated. The visiting officer now makes a formal decision about the ongoing safety and well-being of the young people living there. This issue was raised at the previous inspection, and has been fully actioned.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are a number of new developments taking place. The registered manager and young people are rewriting the young people’s guide to the home. There will be several new guides. Some will be written in plain English, others will make greater use of pictures and graphics, and another will be written in a local Geordie dialect. Additionally, the registered manager has appointed education champions from within the staff team. Education champions will develop good working relationships between the relevant education providers and the home, with the aim of maintaining young people in education.

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and run by an independent provider. The home provides care and accommodation for up to six children and young people aged 10 to 17 with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

03/02/2014 Interim Satisfactory progress

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection, we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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