Children's home run by Newcastle City Council

Unique reference number SC044485 Inspector Bill Drumm Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Newcastle City Council Registered person address Newcastle upon Tyne City Council PO Box 690 NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NE99 2BN Responsible individual Michael McCracken Registered manager John Andrew Murphy Date of last inspection 14/01/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 30/03/2015

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

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

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This inspection

At the last inspection in February 2015, the overall effectiveness of the home was good. However, the quality of care and, leadership and management were judged to be outstanding. No requirements or recommendations were made at the last inspection and the home has improved effectiveness since that time.

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This inspection

Since the last inspection, a number of young people have moved from the home. Some have returned to live with their families and others have moved into foster placements. Plans are in place for the remaining young people to move into longer term placements which includes, semi-independent living as well as returning home. Staff have been fully proactive in ensuring young people have the coping strategies, interpersonal skills and daily living skills necessary to successfully achieve this.

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This inspection

In addition, the home has also admitted several new young people. They often come from disordered and challenging backgrounds where they have not had daily routines or clear boundaries. Staff work extremely hard to build positive relationships with all young people in their care that are built on trust and honesty. Young people have excellent role models and are encouraged to achieve their full potential. Staff help them to feel safe, secure and welcome.

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This inspection

Since the last inspection, several members of staff have completed to Level 4 standard, training in Intensive Work With Families. This has provided them with the skills and competencies necessary to clearly understand family dynamics, and to provide families themselves, with different strategies to adopt in dealing with their children’s attitude and behaviour. Additionally, this training also helps staff understand the core values of each young person’s family. Staff within the home are therefore able to work with those values in mind and not their own. This helps to ensure young people are returned quickly to their family homes and not remain in the looked after system. 3 of 5 In addition, a number of staff have developed a level of expertise in child sexual exploitation. They are fully aware of the warning signs and signals that young people might present if they are targeted by those who seek to exploit them.

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This inspection

Additionally, staff arrange group discussions and 1:1 meetings with young people. The purpose of these meetings is to try and educate them about the dangers associated with child sexual exploitation and how to keep themselves safe.

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This inspection

Staff have also compiled an information pack and briefing sessions for young people in relation to new psychoactive substances and the health risks directly linked to their use. Young people are given encouragement and incentives to attend briefing sessions and to participate fully in any discussions that take place. Participating fully in the briefing sessions will help to keep young people safe from harm.

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This inspection

Staff have improved the consultation that takes place between key-workers and individual young people. Shortly after a new young person is admitted to the home a formal meeting is arranged between the young person and their key-worker. The purpose of the meeting is to discover, from the young person’s perspective, what it is like moving into the home and how this process can be improved. This helps to improve the admissions process to the home and helps young people to settle quicker into the daily routine. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

The home accommodates up to seven young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The particular remit of the home is to accommodate young people for no longer than 20 weeks in order to assess their suitability for returning home or moving on to another placement. The home is provided by a local authority.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/01/2014 Interim good progress 13/08/2013 Full good 29/01/2013 Interim good progress 08/08/2012 Full good Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections 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

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The 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 relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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