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 requires improvement at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team consistently provide high levels of care to children and young people. Since the last inspection there has been some progress made, particularly for those young people that have reached adulthood and are awaiting transition to independent living or adult services. For instance, one young person has accommodation and support services clearly identified, with an agreed timescale for their move to take place. For others this is not the case. There are outline plans in place but no date agreed for their move on from the home. One member of staff said, „I know what the overall plan is but I can‟t tell you when things will happen because we‟re not included in those discussions.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people attend full-time education and they are achieving their potential. Staff regularly speak with teachers to share essential information and to provide consistency of care. One member of staff said, „One of our young people was poorly in class recently. We arranged with the school for a meeting to take place with the young person‟s consultant in order to check that their medication levels were appropriate. We regularly share information and we work well together.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a warm, caring and affectionate relationship with the children and young people they look after. They encourage and support them to be involved in all aspects of their care and how the home is run. One member of staff said, „We try to involve all the young people in as much as possible. Some are more able than others but that doesn‟t mean they can‟t all be involved in things.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people‟s healthcare needs are met very well. They have access to the services they need to stay fit and well. Meals are varied and nutritious with specialist diets fully catered for. Young people also get lots of fresh air and exercise. This supports them to stay healthy and to achieve their developmental milestones.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no new admissions to the home for some time. However, the admissions process is detailed and robust. The registered manager ensures that detailed pre-admission assessments are received before a placement is agreed. This ensures that the home is a suitable place for the young person to live and that the staff team can meet their assessed needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has made some progress by meeting several of the previous requirements. For instance, the registered manager has agreed a programme of redecoration and refurbishment with a local tradesman. This will ensure the home is well maintained and remains homely and welcoming. In addition, risk assessments have been completed for young adults living in a children‟s home. This ensures that children are kept safe and do not face unnecessary hazards. The home‟s Statement of Purpose has also been reviewed. The Statement of Purpose now reflects the full age range and needs of the children and young people accommodated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home‟s manager has also reviewed staff supervision and has redrafted the paperwork used to record individual supervision sessions. The new paperwork ensures that supervision is practice based. This helps to ensure that staff are always looking at ways to improve their practice and the lives of the young people they look after.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Keeping young people safe is a paramount concern of all staff at the home. Notifiable events are quickly addressed and, where necessary, notifications to Ofsted are made in a timely manner. This shows the home operates in an open and transparent way.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

External monitoring of the home by an independent visitor takes place regularly and is often unannounced. The independent visitor does not have the written permission of the local authority or the young people themselves to review individual casefiles. This means the privacy of young people is not fully protected.

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Information about this children's home

The home is run by North Tyneside Council and provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people with learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

22 October 2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

18 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 „Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards‟. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which includes information and documents listed in Schedule 3 (19). Specifically, that each child has a comprehensive and detailed transition plan in place to support their move into adulthood (Regulation 36(1)(a)). 31 August 2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children‟s home at least once each month to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home‟s records (except for the child‟s case records, unless the child and the child‟s placing authority consent as the independent person requires (Regulation 44(2)(b)). 31 August 2016

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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.

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Information about this inspection

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 „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 0300 123 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, work- based 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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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