Children's Home run by St Cuthbert’s Care 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 judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection the home has discharged two young people and has admitted three children and young people. There have been some changes in staffing, two having left and four new staff have joined the team. The two young people that left, left in very different circumstances. One young person had been at the home for a long term placement, had worked towards a return home and had made this move successfully. They are reported to be doing well and have continued with a successful college placement. The other young person was admitted during the summer and despite making some good progress early on in their placement and despite having excellent college attendance their behaviour deteriorated to such an extent that the disruption caused was beginning to impact negatively on others living at the home. Three children and young people have remained in placement and are all making progress. Two of them are making good progress, they are attending school well

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and achieving good results. They are both growing up and leading full and active lives with a range of interests and hobbies. One of these young people is very active with a local stables and works with the horses several times a week. One other young person told the inspector that he was ‘a different person now’ and that sums up his growing maturity quite well. Another young person has become quite isolated and their attendance at school has not improved. This young person is making some progress in relation to their emotional and behavioural difficulties but little progress socially. Staff are working hard to encourage this young person to have a more active social life and to develop more independence skills. Two children and young people have been admitted, one very recently. One young person was a planned admission from a secure children’s home and this has been particularly well planned and successful. This young person has really made

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

excellent progress since arriving. They have kept themselves much safer than before, have blossomed socially and have made good progress at school with full attendance. The other young person admitted in an emergency has settled well after a very well handled admission. The home is a safe place to live. Staff use very few negative sanctions and rely on positive rewards. They have, with the children and young people, devised and introduced a ‘superstars’ scheme where children and young people collect positive star rewards and exchange them for agreed rewards. This is working well. Only one physical intervention has been used and this was just a young person being escorted out of the office after they caused some damage. There have been no child protection incidents and no complaints made. There have been two minor instances of bullying recorded and these were dealt with well by staff. There have been a number of missing from home incidents but these

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

almost all involved the young person discharged after their behaviour became too disruptive. The registered manager has continued to develop the service. One fairly new member of staff spoken to was particularly positive about his experience of joining the team. He said he had received a really good induction with plenty of training and guidance. He said that both the registered manager and the deputy manager had been particularly supportive. Staff meetings have been productive with a succession of professional visiting speakers giving information and guidance. Staff have also developed some improved recording systems around evaluating the progress made by children and young people. At the last inspection one requirement was made to improve key work and this has happened. A recommendation was also made to improve working in partnership with local authority workers. There is clear evidence that this has happened as

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

well. There are no requirements or recommendations made at this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The home is run by a charitable organisation and is registered for the care and accommodation of up to seven children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties (EBD).

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

23/03/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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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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