Children's home run by Outdoor Care Limited in Northumberland

Unique reference number SC415548 Inspector Nicholas Murphy Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Outdoor Care Limited Registered person address Woodland Place Belford NE70 7QA

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Responsible individual Stella Julie Grethe Registered manager Thomas Edward Grethe Date of last inspection 17/12/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 30/03/2015

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection there has been no enforcement action since the last inspection

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This inspection

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

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This inspection

At the time of the inspection there were no young people in placement. The last young person was discharged several weeks previously. This move was planned carefully with the placing authority and fully involved the young person. Staff advocated on behalf of the young person to represent their views, and supported the transition very effectively. Records indicate that the care of young people is good. Staff provide young people with considered advice about issues in their lives which trouble them. They support young people in voicing their opinions and making informed choices. Staff enable young people to access all the services necessary to maintain good physical and emotional health. Young people are able to enjoy stimulating physical and recreational activities, such as ice-skating, which are helpful in developing their self-esteem and confidence. Staff are also successful in encouraging young people to maintain education and work placements, enhancing

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This inspection

their readiness for independence. Young people leave the home fully prepared for the next stage in their lives.

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This inspection

The home keeps young people safe. There have been no incidents where young people have gone missing or engaged in risk-taking behaviours. Relationships between young people and staff are good, helping young people to form meaningful attachments. There have been no physical restraints or use of sanctions to manage behaviour.

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This inspection

At the last inspection a number of statutory requirements and recommendations were made. The Registered Manager has addressed the great majority of these. Care plans are more detailed. They set out more clearly the objectives for each young person’s placement and how they will be achieved. Further developments to this process are planned. For example, staff discussion will take place every fortnight to evaluate progress and make any necessary changes to the plan. The 3 of 6 arrangements for the administration of medication are more robust and therefore safer. There is greater accountability in recording, and medications for young people are kept separate from those which staff might use. Risk assessments have been improved. They address all potential hazards for young people, and describe the actions which the home takes to reduce subsequent risks. The home’s missing from care policy has been modified, improving the clarity of guidance for staff. The home

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This inspection

has a development plan in place, setting out future challenges and how they will be managed. Finally, the induction process for new staff is more tightly monitored. This ensures that staff acquire the basic skills they need in a more timely fashion.

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This inspection

One statutory requirement has not been met in full and so has been repeated. The times when the Registered Manager is working in the home are not consistently recorded. This means that the staff roster is inaccurate and does not reflect who was with young people at any particular time. There are two additional breaches of regulation. There was a recent month when the independent person did not make a visit. Also, the Registered Manager has failed to complete and submit their most recent three-monthly monitoring report. These shortfalls have not impacted upon the quality of care of young people. However, they do reduce the effectiveness of the Registered Manager’s evaluation of the home’s progress. They also mean that the regulator cannot exercise effective scrutiny of the home’s performance. 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home provides care and accommodation for one young person with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a private provider.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/12/2014 Full adequate 19/12/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 22/05/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 19/11/2012 Interim good progress

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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) establish and maintain a system for monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at least once in every 3 months, supply to HMCI a report in respect of any such review, and ensure that it provides for consultation with children accommodated in the home, their parents and placing authorities (Regulation 34(1, 2 and 3)) 30/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that visits by the independent person under paragraph (1) shall take place at least once a month (Regulation 33(7)) 30/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) maintain in the children’s home a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the children’s home, and a record of the actual rosters worked. (Regulation 29(1) Schedule 4(11)) 30/04/2015 5 of 6 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Reg. Requirement Due date

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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