Children's home run by Outdoor Care Limited in Northumberland

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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following the last inspection, the registered manager has sought advice from other providers of services for young people with learning disabilities. As a result, information for the young person is now provided in a format which he can understand. This includes the complaints procedure, which was a statutory requirement made at the last inspection. In addition, the young person is able to refer to information on activities and menus which is also explained in picture symbols. This gives the young person greater freedom of choice and ensures his welfare is safeguarded. Staff have also had additional training in disability. This helps them to meet the young person‟s needs more effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person enjoys living here. He said, „I like the home. The staff are good and I get on well with them. I like the food and the activities.‟ Staff are good at promoting his education. They take him the considerable distance to his placements and stay in the vicinity during the school day to provide any support should it be necessary. This has helped the young person to maintain his progress at school and college. He is sufficiently trusted by teachers to look after the school‟s African snails during holiday times. Staff are proactive in keeping the young person busy with a range of activities. He particularly enjoys fishing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are good at meeting the young person‟s complex needs. They have had to adapt to managing some particularly challenging issues. The responsible individual involves staff in planning the day-to-day implementation of new strategies. This ensures that everyone works consistently. They liaise closely with the placing authority and other agencies to keep the young person safe and promote his development. The social worker said, „The home is very good, staff ensure the young person is safeguarded. They use agreed strategies and always act on decisions made in planning meetings. They get other professionals involved where necessary and listen to advice, but are also keen to make their own suggestions to help the young person improve. I‟m really happy with the service the home provides.‟ Staff are effective in planning and managing the process of the young person moving out of the home. Their collaborative working with the placing authority,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

other agencies, and parents, helps to ensure a smooth transition. They also work sensitively and carefully with the young person in preparing them emotionally and practically for their eventual move. The social worker said, „Staff are creative in helping the young person overcome his anxieties about leaving. They have also communicated well with staff in the new placement to increase the likelihood of success.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff keep the young person safe. There have been no incidents of missing from home for several years. They also manage behaviour well. They use sanctions rarely and there has been no need to use physical restraint since 2009.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are some shortfalls in the home‟s practice. Monitoring reports written by the registered manager do not include consultation with social workers or staff. This means that the opportunity to use their views in identifying areas for development is lost. Formal minutes of looked after reviews are sometimes late in arriving, and notes of these meetings taken by staff who attend are not always copied to the case file. As a result, decisions taken at reviews may not be known by staff working with the young person. Although in general the premises are in a satisfactory condition, the bathroom is looking rather tired and in need of refurbishment.

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Information about this children's home

The home accommodates one child with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

29/01/2015 Interim sustained effectiveness

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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

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months. The system must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(1) and (5)) 06/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard with particular reference to ensuring that decisions made in looked after reviews are recorded and placed promptly on the case file, the registered person must ensure that children: (1)(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children‟s home. 06/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard with particular reference to improving the bathroom, the registered person must: (2)(c)(i) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. 06/05/2016

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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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