Children's home run by North Tyneside Council in North Tyneside

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 declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection a requirement made in respect of young people’s care plans being reflected in the work staff do with young people has been partially met. As a result young people benefit from books and chronologies that better informs them of their histories. This work has not been completed in conjunction with the young person, nor is it reflected in the individual key work sessions. The managers understood this latter work to be the responsibility of the social worker rather than the staff at the home. This presents a missed opportunity for young people to explore with the adults who care for them their identities, possible broken attachments and loss. A recommendation is therefore made with respect to staff at the home appropriately completing this work with young people and that they receive the necessary training to do so.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the previous inspection a further requirement was made relating to young people’s care plans being formulated and executed without drift or delay. One young person however has been placed at the home for over five months. It is likely that this will extend much further. This is due to a delay in securing historical information from a neighbouring authority and in commencing a focused assessment that would inform future care planning.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection young people have benefited from being offered, on a consistent basis, missing from home return interviews by their allocated social workers. The change in protocol regarding this has resulted in a greater number of offered interviews being taken up by young people. This assists in gaining a better insight into possible risks and in turn informing future individual work with young people. The home have therefore met the requirement made at the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who have left the home have done so in a planned manner and in line with their care plans. Not all young people joining the home have done so with suitable and essential assessment in place. One young person admitted to the home did not have adequate risk assessments, nor essential information completed. In addition, it was not clear under which legal status the young person was placed, as staff were unable to ascertain from the electronic file any information recorded by the placing social work team. The risks to other young people, to staff, or the young person themselves were therefore unknown. Through not ensuring risks assessments were in place, the home’s statement of purpose with regards to emergency admissions had been disregarded.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from a home that on the whole is relatively well maintained. Their bedrooms are decorated to their tastes which young people appreciate and the home is suitably resourced. Some aspects of the home are poor, for example, carpets that in many places are stained. Alongside this, the young person’s bathroom ceiling requires repainting as it is covered in mildew or mould.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no complaints since the previous inspection and physical intervention is rarely used or required. When missing from home incidents occur the staff are active in searching for the young person and follow the procedures and protocols laid out. Risk assessments are updated in a timely manner and any significant incidents are responded to promptly by the staff and managers. A multi- agency approach is taken to formulating plans in order to minimise any risks that young people’s behaviour may pose to themselves or others. Young people at the home do not engage in behaviour that may pose a risk to their welfare. This includes drug and alcohol misuse or associating with adults who may pose a risk to their emotional or physical health.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people value the time that they spend with staff and the advice that they are offered. One young person commented, ‘To be fair it’s good here. They listen to us and get things sorted out.’ A social worker commented, ‘X has a really good relationship with her keyworker and she speaks really positively about the staff. She appreciates how well staff support her.’ Young people are supported to negotiate and improve their relationships with family members and learn essential independence skills that they will require in adulthood. They are encouraged to develop positive leisure time and friends and family are welcomed into the home. For example, one young person was planning to cook his girlfriend a meal at the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people are in education and are fully supported by the staff to develop and maintain aspirations for their futures. For one young person, school have noted a marked improvement in his behaviour since living at the home. Another young person continues to enjoy his course in electrical installation. Good routines and expectations from the staff ensure that young people value the role that education and training plays in their lives.

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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. Its main purpose is to provide short to medium term assessment placements for children and young people who are entering the looked after system. Admissions may be planned or be made in an emergency. The home uses one bed for emergency admissions and retain five beds for assessment placements.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

26 March 2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

14. In order to meet the care planning standard with particular reference to ensuring that children placed in an emergency are done so appropriately and that longer term placements are not allowed to drift the registered person must ensure that children- (1)(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure- (a) that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home's statement of purpose. 15 May 2016

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Requirement Due date

12. In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to the emergency placement of children and securing appropriate risk assessments prior to placement, the registered provider must ensure that staff: (2)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child 15 May 2016

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Requirement Due date

6. In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, with particular reference to the admission of young people in an emergency, the registered person must ensure that staff: (2)(a) understand and apply the home's statement of purpose. 15 May 2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  For children's home to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15 paragraph 3.9) With particular reference to cleaning or renewal of carpets and repainting of the upstairs bathroom ceiling.

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Recommendations

 The importance of understanding who we are and where we come from is recognised in good social work practice, for example through undertaking life story work or other direct work. Staff in children's homes should play a full role in work of this kind. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 16 paragraph 3.14) With particular reference to staff receiving training in providing this direct support to young people.

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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

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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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