Children's Home run by Gateshead Council in Gateshead

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

Young people who come to live at this home have complex needs and some degree of challenging behaviour. Young people have often led a chaotic lifestyle with little formal education, have a history of placing themselves at risk by going missing and some may have been involved in criminal behaviour. As a direct consequence of this, they have often experienced poor relationships with their parents and family members. However, they are making measureable progress. Staff are good role models for the youngsters in their care. They are very supportive and show great resilience. Through hard work, consistent handling and dedication, young people settle well into a daily routine. Some young people are very settled living at the home some have lived there for several years.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Each young person has an individual health care plan in place that staff understand and implement. Young people are encouraged to attend all health related appointments and, as part of their on-going development, they are encouraged to make their own appointments. This helps promote their overall health and well- being as well as their independence. Following a requirement made at the last inspection, the acting manager has impressed on young people the need to lead a healthy lifestyle to reduce the amount they smoke, use drugs and drink alcohol. The acting manager has also arranged an activities based residential weekend. Staff and young people will be joined by workers from the drug and alcohol team who will participate alongside them in a range of sports and activities. The aim of the weekend is to further develop positive relationships and to have informal discussions around the dangers associated with smoking, drinking and using drugs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s interim manager and staff have taken positive steps to reduce the number of times young people are absent without authority or missing from the home. New initiatives include, providing one young person with 1:1 support at peak times in order to engage them positively in activities. And another initiative is paying double the amount of pocket money to those who don’t go missing throughout the week. One member of staff said, ‘Most young people have responded very well. I think there’s been a significant reduction in the number of times they have gone missing. We just have to keep trying everything we can.’ Staff share a common purpose of improving the lives of the young people they look after. They have high hopes for them and provide on-going encouragement for them to have aspirations for themselves. They all attend education. Some young people have consistently high attendance at school and have recently

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

completed examinations. Others have secured employment locally and others have career aspirations in the armed services. Young people are also encouraged to participate in household activities and to develop their daily living skills. Staff show determination in helping them to do this and there has been some success.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support the transition process for young people moving into or leaving the home. They contribute to the pathway planning process and discuss, openly and honestly with young people what accommodation may be available for them when they leave the home. They advocate for the young people in their care to ensure they are fully supported by the local authority in returning home to live with their family or to move into independence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff fully understand the need to keep young people safe and promote their welfare. All policies and procedures have recently been reviewed and updated in line with new regulations and quality standards. Additionally, young people are actively discouraged from smoking in the home, particularly their bedrooms. The registered manager has introduced incentive plans for young people who persist in smoking in their bedrooms. In addition, she has ensured that an officer from the local fire authority has attended the home to speak directly with young people about the dangers of smoking in their bedrooms. Fire drills are kept up to date and are carried out at regular intervals.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Notifiable events are quickly addressed and notifications to Ofsted are appropriately made. This shows that the home operates in an open, transparent manner.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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 on-going safety and wellbeing of the young people living there. This issues 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

Staff are actively encouraged to think of new experiences they can support young people to enjoy. For instance, going to sea food restaurant for the first time or going on a theatre break to London. Staff supervision has also been increased to bi-monthly. The registered managed said, ‘Bi-monthly supervision allows us to take a detailed look at placement plans and key working sessions. It really focusses the mind of staff on what they need to do to help young people continue making progress.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to five young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by the local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

05/02/2015 CH - Interim sustained 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

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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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