Children's home run by Newcastle City Council

Unique reference number SC033645 Inspector Vicky Johnson 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 Ian Penrose Date of last inspection 28/10/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 17/03/2015

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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 declined in effectiveness .

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This inspection

At the last inspection in October 2014, the home’s overall effectiveness was judged to be good. Both recommendations made at the previous inspection are met.

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This inspection

There are a number of shortfalls that have impacted upon the judgement of the home’s overall effectiveness in this inspection. Care plans and risk assessments are not always updated to include the use of specialised equipment. For example, those for children with specific complex health needs are not updated to address health and safety risks arising from the use of specialised beds. Furthermore, the necessary consents from parents and placing authorities are not in place when the use of specialist beds restricts the normal free movement of a young person. In some cases, an appropriately qualified professional has not assessed the specialist equipment used for individual young people. Such omissions means the home cannot guarantee that the care they are providing is at all times safe and suitable for individual young people.

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This inspection

There are also weaknesses in the recording of the monitoring of young people’s safety and wellbeing during the night. The home’s records do not clearly demonstrate that staff always carry out the required checks upon young people. This is short break service, and this shortfall in home’s recording system means that it is not always clear if a young person’s stay in the home has ended.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has devised plans to improve the children’s guide. In the future, this will be available for children with communication difficulties by including the details in the form of a DVD. The young people who stay at the home will be involved in this process through support from a consultation worker. Additionally, the Registered Manager has purchased additional communication aids to enable all young people to express their views about their care and how the home is run. 3 of 6 Following consultation with some young people the format of their meetings has also changed. The recording of actions for these meetings and their outcomes are now included. These improvements provide opportunities for all young people to contribute to their care, ensuring they feel their voices are heard and matter.

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This inspection

Young people achieve and make progress as a result of the home’s care. Each young person has clear goals against which their progress is monitored. Young people are aware of their individual goals and work with staff towards attaining them. This promotes a sense of growing competence and fulfilment in young people. Young people gain independence skills with support from the staff. They benefit from a range of enjoyable experiences in the community. They are relaxed and happy in the home and enjoy their stays there. One young person described the home as ‘really good’. Staff have a good understanding of the needs of the young people and share supportive, warm, nurturing relationships with them. The Registered Manager ensures the home maintains good material standards, taking steps to provide furnishings to make it homely, well-furnished and decorated.

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This inspection

Young people do not go missing from the home and there have been no incidents of bullying. Since the last inspection, there has been one incident of restraint; this is fully documented. Staff record all accidents involving young people and managerial oversight of these records ensures incidents are monitored. Communication with professionals is good as records show placing social workers are informed of these incidents.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager keeps abreast of relevant changes in legislation and practice. For example, they are aware of forthcoming changes in regulations and are ensuring staff are well-informed to prepare them for these changes. The Registered Manager has also implemented a new recording system, which focuses upon young people’s goals and outcomes. Staff training is updated where necessary, enhancing the team’s skills and knowledge in important areas of practice. For example, the Registered Manager has arranged an advanced moving and handling course for all staff that will take place within the next three months. The internal monitoring of the home takes place at the required intervals, but it does not routinely detail every incident when a young person has attended accident and emergency or another hospital service. As a result, the home cannot confidently demonstrate that it responds to children’s needs consistently and that hospital attendance is always

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Information about this children’s home

The children's home provides care and accommodation for up to six children with a learning disability or physical disability. Five places are for short breaks and one child lives at the home. It is provided by a large local authority.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/10/2014 Full good 21/08/2013 Full good 21/01/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 25/07/2012 Full good

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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 Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the children’s home is conducted so as to – promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated there that risk assessments are regularly updated and include the use of medical equipment and specialised beds. (Regulation 11 (1) (a)) 05/05/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure physical restrictions on normal movement within the home are 5 of 6 agreed with the responsible authority and where necessary, parents (NMS 10.4)  ensure that children are provided with any aids or equipment required by particular health needs or disability, specifically that the need for any specialist equipment is thoroughly assessed (Volume 5, statutory guidance, para 2.49)  ensure that the monitoring of the matters set out in Regulation 34 Schedule 6 includes full details of children requiring accident and emergency services and other hospital services (Volume 5, statutory guidance, para 3.14)  ensure that all children’s case records are maintained and kept up to date, specifically that the date of a child’s discharge from the home is clear. (Volume 5, statutory guidance, para 3.25) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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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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