Children's Home run by Right-Trak Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 The home has experienced an unsettled period. Several young people have been discharged earlier than planned. As a result, they have not been able to develop a sense of permanence or belonging.  Young people’s care plans lack detail. They fail to identify what actions must be taken to help young people make progress.  Assessments of risk in relation to young people are not comprehensive and have failed to include important information.  The ability of management to provide effective oversight has been limited. Independent monitoring of the home’s performance is of poor quality. The registered manager’s own monitoring has not been completed as required by regulation.  Records of disciplinary measures are not sufficiently detailed. This exposes young people and staff to unnecessary risk and hinders effective behaviour management.

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The children's home strengths

 The registered manager and staff have good relationships with young people, and are committed to focusing on their needs and promoting their welfare.  Plans to manage incidents when young people go missing are detailed, comprehensive and drawn up in partnership with other agencies. They are very effective in reducing the risk to young people when they are absent.  The registered manager and staff are proactive in challenging the contribution made by partners when this fails to meet young people’s needs.  The responsible individual has already recognised the need to improve the capacity of leadership and management to bring about positive change. Additional senior posts have been created and recruited to.

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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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

14. In order to meet the care planning standard, with particular reference to including detailed actions to meet the needs of each child in their care plan, the registered person must ensure that children— (1)(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. 09/09/2016

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Requirement Due date

12. In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to addressing all potential risks to each young person, the registered person must ensure that staff— (2)(a)(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. 09/09/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes the description of the measure and its duration, and the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(iv) and (vii)) In particular, that the description of any restraint is recorded in detail and in plain language. 09/09/2016

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(2) When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person— (a) if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and 09/09/2016 (b) to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

(3) A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

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Requirement Due date

(4) The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether— (a) children are effectively safeguarded; and (b) the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

(5) The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions.

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Requirement Due date

(6) If the independent person becomes aware of a potential conflict of interest (whether under regulation 43(3) or otherwise) after a visit to the home, the independent person must include in the independent person’s report— (a) details of the conflict of interest; and (b) the reasons why the independent person did not notify the registered provider of the conflict of interest before the visit.

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Requirement Due date

(7) The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to— (a) HMCI; (b) upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located; (c) the placing authorities of children; (d) the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and (e) the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44)

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every six months.

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Requirement Due date

(2) In order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— (a) the quality of care provided for children; 09/09/2016 (b) the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and (c) any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

(3) After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (‘the quality of care review report’).

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Requirement Due date

(4) The registered person must— (a) supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and (b) make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(5) The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45)

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Children's homes have a duty to provide access to a telephone that children can use privately (Regulation 22(3)(a)). This can include the provision of a mobile phone, where appropriate and safe for the child, as long as an alternative is in place for the child to make telephone calls in private if their personal mobile phone is lost, out of credit or broken. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.17)

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Information about this children's home

The home accommodates up to six children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

23/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Requires improvement

The home has been through an unsettled period since the last inspection. Of the eight young people discharged during this time, three moved on earlier than planned as a result of their disruptive or unsafe behaviour. Nevertheless, some young people have made progress, for example by managing to establish good school attendance. Others have found it very difficult to engage with education or training. For these young people, staff have worked hard to explore different educational opportunities. For example, they have been proactive in challenging professionals in multi-agency meetings to provide alternative solutions. The home has moved to an electronic recording system. Care plans and other documentation are no longer paper-based. This has the potential to make information on young people more secure, and easier to access and update. Some staff have found the transition difficult, with the result that recorded information is

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Requires improvement

not as comprehensive as it should be. Care plans are sometimes lacking in detail, and are not specific about what actions need to be taken to meet young people’s needs. This means that work to help young people to progress is not consistent. For example, young people who smoke have access to information on giving up, but plans fail to identify more creative attempts to address this issue. For example, by inviting health professionals to the home to discuss the dangers of smoking with young people. In general, young people have good relationships with staff. Some, in particular, have built trust with their key workers and other staff. This enables them to develop their confidence in sharing their concerns and anxieties, and find solutions to what is worrying them. One young person said, ‘I trust all the staff. I especially like [name], as they understand me particularly well. I confide in them and talk

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Requires improvement

about my problems, and this makes me feel better.’

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Requires improvement

Staff have regular one-to-one sessions with young people to discuss their plans and help them to address barriers to their progress. Staff have a good knowledge of each young person’s needs and encourage them to make positive changes in their lives. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘The young people in placement are well cared for. Staff have their safety and well-being as a priority.’ Another commented, ‘Staff are child focused and know the young people well.’ In addition, weekly meetings enable young people to express their views as a group and suggest improvements to the home. Staff are keen to act on the wishes of young people wherever possible, for example how they want their bedroom redecorated. One young person was proud to show the inspector their room, for which they had recently chosen wallpaper. Staff understand the importance of young people maintaining links with family and friends. They work in partnership with parents to make family contact as

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Requires improvement

productive as possible. Staff welcome young people’s friends to the home, managing these visits so as to ensure the safety and well-being of the group as a whole. To keep them safe, and in agreement with the social worker, some young people have restrictions placed on their use of the home’s phone. However, there is no system of regular review of these arrangements to confirm that they remain necessary. Neither are the risks associated with this restriction of liberty formally assessed. It is important that this work is done to protect young people’s rights and to ensure that they are able to raise any concerns that they may have with people outside the home.

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Requires improvement

The daily practice of staff is informed by the home’s ethos, which prioritises safeguarding and creates an environment where young people feel secure. A young person said, ‘I feel safe here. I get on okay with the other kids, though I don’t like the way they talk to staff sometimes. I’ve not been bullied and I’ve not seen anyone else being bullied.’ There has been a high number of incidents of young people going missing or being absent without authority. Most of these have been where the young person has been late in returning to the home at the agreed time. Each young person has a safety plan in respect of going missing which is drawn up in consultation with the placing social worker. These are of excellent quality. They set out clearly what might indicate that a young person may go missing or not return on time; what actions staff are expected to take; locations where the young person might be; who to contact; and what to do when they return. Staff are highly proactive in

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Requires improvement

managing any episode, searching the local area and contacting by phone the young person or others who they may be with. This thorough approach to the issue of young people going missing contributes significantly to their safety. Some young people are at risk of sexual exploitation. Staff are trained in how to recognise the signs that this may be occurring and what they need to do in response. Prompt action by the registered manager in convening multi-agency strategy meetings ensures that a coordinated approach keeps young people protected. The home’s recent history has been characterised by a high level of challenging behaviour by young people. Managers have increased staffing levels at night to ensure that young people can continue to be safeguarded. In general, staff manage behaviour well. They respond to young people sensitively yet firmly, and are consistent in enforcing boundaries which the young people understand.

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Requires improvement

Sanctions are used, in addition to positive incentives, to encourage young people to behave appropriately. The recording of each sanction does not always evaluate its effectiveness. This reduces the ability of staff to know whether or not a particular approach is working or whether something different should be tried in future. Physical restraint is rare, but occasionally needs to be used in order to keep young people and staff safe or to prevent serious damage to property. The recording of restraints requires improvement. It uses jargon rather than plain language to describe how the young person was held, and some other details are poorly explained. This makes the actions of staff less accountable and creates risks for them (in terms of facing allegations), as well as the young people. Staff provide young people with comprehensive information about to how to make a complaint. The home has good links with the Local Safeguarding Children Board

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Requires improvement

and its officers. This ensures that any concerns or allegations are promptly notified and investigated, providing assurance that young people’s welfare is safeguarded.

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Requires improvement

The registered manager is a qualified social worker and is working towards the appropriate management qualification. His capacity to manage the home effectively has been compromised in recent months. This is because much of his time has been spent supporting staff in managing challenging behaviour and doing direct work with young people to safeguard them. It is 12 months since the registered manager completed a quality of care review and sent it to Ofsted. This failure to meet the regulatory requirement means that the performance of the home cannot be evaluated or its shortfalls rectified. It also results in the regulator having insufficient scrutiny over the home’s operation. Moreover, reports of the independent person’s monthly visits have not always been received by Ofsted within the required timescales, if at all. There is no evidence within the reports that the independent person has spoken to young people, staff

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Requires improvement

or parents. Some parts of the reports, including the date of the visit, have been ‘cut and pasted’ from earlier ones. The language used is sometimes unprofessional and inappropriately informal. There is no explicit opinion about whether young people are effectively safeguarded or whether the conduct of the home promotes their well-being. These shortcomings greatly reduce the effectiveness of this important additional monitoring tool. The registered manager and senior staff provide regular supervision for staff. These individual sessions focus on the needs of the young person and enable staff to reflect on their practice and how to improve it. The formal appraisal system has recently been revised. It aims to provide a more consistent and robust model of reviewing individual staff’s performance and setting out their development plans. The great majority of staff are qualified and experienced. They undertake regular

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Requires improvement

training in a range of areas to keep their skills and knowledge refreshed. The relatively low turnover of staff promotes consistency and a shared approach to supporting young people with complex needs.

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Requires improvement

The lack of capacity of the registered manager to carry out his tasks effectively had been acknowledged by the responsible individual prior to the inspection. As a result, an additional senior has recently been appointed, as well as a highly experienced and fully qualified deputy manager. This demonstrates the commitment of the provider to improving the standard of leadership and management, and is already beginning to have an impact.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’. An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements

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What the inspection judgements mean

are in place. However, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being harmed or at risk of harm or that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after. 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

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Information about this inspection

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

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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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