Children's Home run by South Tyneside Council in South Tyneside

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement 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

There have been significant improvements at the home since the last inspection. The interim manager has been in place since the last inspection and has applied to be the registered manager. He has a great deal of experience as registered manager in another children’s home and is appropriately qualified. His leadership of the home is strong. The interim manager has addressed all the requirements made previously. Most importantly he has stabilised the situation regarding admissions. During the period since the last inspection there has been one planned admission, one planned discharge and one short emergency placement lasting four days which was handled well and which caused no disruption. Other requirements to do more appropriate key work have been met and staff supervision is now given a higher priority. This is being conducted regularly and is much more effective, enabling staff to reflect upon and improve their practice. The

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

local authority has introduced a new missing from home policy which is satisfactory. As a result of the interim manager’s efforts, the home is now settled. The staff team has regained their confidence. There are now two deputy managers in post and they are working hard with the manager to further improve the home. Two staff have left and one person has returned from an absence. The staff team is now working effectively and is offering a high standard of care to the children and young people. The young people now living at the home are all making some progress. Two of the young people are making good progress at school and in their lives generally. They have positive, active social lives and appropriate family contact. Another young person has made significant changes to his risk taking behaviour and is misusing drugs and alcohol much less. They are also more settled and show less aggressive and challenging behaviour. This young person still requires a better

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

education placement although their attendance has improved and a college place has been obtained for the next academic year. A fourth young person is approaching independence and good plans are being made at an early stage for their move to supported accommodation. Several of the young people have workers from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health team working with them on a variety of issues. This helps to promote their emotional wellbeing. Children and young people at the home are being kept much safer. The number of missing from home incidents has dropped significantly and there have been no incidents for over two months now. The number of incidents of challenging behaviour has also dropped drastically and is at a low level now. Staff are able to keep the environment positive and have not needed to use physical interventions at all. Only one sanction has been necessary and staff now rely on positive rewards and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

incentives as well as very good relationships with the children and young people. There is no record of any bullying at the home and only one child protection incident. The interim manager has introduced a number of improvements to care planning and to recording systems and these will support further improvement. He has also been working closely with external professionals and agencies to develop the service. All of the children and young people have support work in place with external professionals. Two have had specialist assessments and others have support in dealing with various issues such as emotional health, dealing with loss and the impact of domestic violence. The manager has created a new development plan which places a high priority on staff training. All the staff are up to date with core training and all now have individual plans to gain additional skills and knowledge. All have the necessary

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

qualifications required by regulation. The interim manager and both deputy managers have commenced the qualification course required for registered managers. No requirements or recommendations have been made following this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The home is run by a local authority and is registered for the care and accommodation of up to six 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

11/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

24/01/2014 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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