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 full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been significant improvements made at the home since the last inspection. Both the responsible individual and the registered manager have made a number of changes in order to achieve this. Admissions have been better assessed and controlled, placing social workers and education providers have been worked with more closely and a second deputy manager has been appointed. As a result, the home is more settled, and the registered manager and staff team have been able to improve other aspects of the home and the care practices.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, only one new admission has been made. This young person was admitted in a planned way and the impact of their admission was well assessed beforehand. This young person has now settled in well and is making progress. Since the last inspection, two young people have been discharged. One young person left after making threats to harm another young person. Although this is not a good outcome for the young person leaving, it was the appropriate course of action for staff to take as the police were unwilling to bail the young person back to live at the home. Another young person left after there were increasing concerns about child sexual exploitation. Plans were already being made for this young person to be fostered, and these were put into place at this point. This move has been successful.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were eight requirements made at the last inspection and they have all been met. There was a requirement to ensure that the impact of new admissions were thoroughly assessed. No short-term or emergency admissions have been made and the home is more settled as a consequence.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were three requirements made around safeguarding children. All risk assessments around child sexual exploitation are now accurate. Staff have dealt with the single issue of bullying well and have put more robust systems into place should there be any future bullying incidents. Third, no children or young people have been reported missing since the last inspection. The other four requirements have also been dealt with well. Care planning has improved. Key-working has also been improved and further developments are planned. Staff are now giving education a higher priority. Several personal education plans have been challenged, and subsequently altered, to improve education provision. Two of the young people now attend school with full attendance, and are achieving well and making progress. One of these young people is hoping to progress from specialist provision back to mainstream education shortly, which would be a significant achievement. The third young

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

person is working with staff and external workers to identify a training opportunity to take up until they are able to attend college in the next academic year, where they have a place reserved.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirement to improve the physical appearance of the home has been acted on. Staff have taken the lead and almost all of the house has now been refurbished and redecorated. Young people have been involved in helping with this and are pleased with their newly decorated bedrooms. The house now looks much more cared for, graffiti has been removed and damage has been repaired.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One member of staff has left during the period since the last inspection and the young people have been helping to interview possible replacement workers. They have bought new smart clothes and have clearly be pleased to be part of this process. The young people have also been consulted in regular meetings and have been able to participate in various choices and decisions. One choice was a trip to Alton Towers for the Easter school holiday, and two of the young people were there on the day of this inspection. They had sent a text back to the registered manager to say how much they were enjoying themselves.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people are well supported to maintain and improve family contact, and this is positive.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people living at the home now, have been kept safe. Staff are clear about their expectations and there have been very few incidents of challenging behaviour. There has been no need for staff to use any physical interventions and very few sanctions have been used. There have been no complaints reported. One concern about child protection, involving a young person’s relationship with a friend of the same age, was dealt with by staff well.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has clearly made efforts to motivate the staff team and, in return, the staff team has made considerable efforts to support the manager’s leadership.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has monitored the home well and is continuing to make developments. No requirements or recommendations have been made at this inspection.

p.3

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.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

05/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.4

Recent inspection history

30/01/2014 Interim Satisfactory progress

p.4

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’.

p.5

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.

p.5

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 .

p.5

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,

p.6

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Information about this inspection

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

p.6

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

p.6