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

Outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.2

The children’s home provision is outstanding because:

 Staff show great commitment and skill in implementing the therapeutic ethos of the home in every aspect of daily practice. Their work with children is informed by detailed plans which draw on psychological insights. As a result, children make outstanding progress in all areas of their lives.  Children forge close relationships with staff and learn to place trust in them. This reduces children’s anxieties significantly, enabling them to develop greater emotional resilience.  The generous staffing ratio ensures that children receive a high degree of individual attention and are safeguarded effectively. Staff help children to learn how to relate to others appropriately and deal with conflict more constructively.  Staff work closely with families to promote contact and, where appropriate, support plans for rehabilitation. They also liaise with other agencies to ensure that all services work together to promote children’s welfare and safety.

p.3

The children’s home provision is outstanding because:

 Some aspects of management, for example the quality of records, require attention. In all other respects the leadership of the home is exceptionally good. The registered manager provides staff with the vision, skills and knowledge that they need to support highly vulnerable children.

p.3

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.4

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. 07/10/2016

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23(1)) In particular, that the administration of controlled medication is carried out in accordance with the home’s policy. 07/10/2016

p.4

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. (Regulation 35(3)(iv)) In particular, that the description of any restraint is recorded in detail and in plain language. 07/10/2016

p.4

Requirement Due date

(1) The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every 6 months. (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; (b) the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and 07/10/2016 (c) any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (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’). (4) The registered person must—

p.4

Requirement Due date

(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. (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)

p.5

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 company.

p.6

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.6

Recent inspection history

25 February 2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.6

Recent inspection history

24 March 2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.6

Outstanding

The home’s remit of offering therapeutic care to children who have suffered significant trauma is clearly evidenced in the practice of staff. There are always sufficient staff on duty to provide a high degree of individual attention to each child. Staff use appropriate physical touching to make children feel comfortable, reassured and relaxed, for example when watching TV together on the sofa. This kind of support enables children to develop greater emotional resilience and stability and helps them to make exceptional progress. All the children attend school full time and are thriving. One child said, ‘The staff are good at education, they help me.’ For example, staff support children to complete their homework. The close liaison between staff and schools contributes to the success that children achieve. The psychologist who works with the home meets with teachers and support assistants. This is to ensure that they are fully aware of a child’s particular

p.7

Outstanding

emotional needs and how best to respond to them. As a result, any difficulties can be managed effectively, allowing the child to concentrate on their education. A class teacher commented, ‘The child benefits greatly from the skilled and extremely dedicated staff team, who provide consistent care to them.’ Children’s care plans are detailed yet easy to follow. They set out the children’s needs and how to meet them in day-to-day practice. Plans are rooted in psychological theory, addressing children’s emotional well-being and what staff need to do to improve it. For example, for a child who is fearful of separation from those she cares about, staff ensure that they never leave the building without saying goodbye to her. This reassures her that the member of staff will be coming back. The psychologist provides weekly consultation to the home, as well as attending staff meetings and providing training on at least a monthly basis. This gives the

p.7

Outstanding

staff insight into what children might be feeling as a result of their earlier experiences, and how to provide the right kind of support. Staff look beneath a child’s behaviour to understand their feelings, addressing the cause of their distress rather than the symptoms. One said, ‘If a child was being aggressive, we would explore what they were feeling rather than just looking at their behaviour, and then work out ways to manage it.’ To ensure that children’s needs are met, staff also work in collaboration with other agencies, for example, specialist counselling and therapy services. This consistent, considered approach results in children making outstanding progress in becoming more self-sufficient and better able to understand and control their own feelings. For example, one child has been able to significantly reduce the amount of medication they take, originally prescribed to help them manage their behaviour. Staff are skilled in helping children to overcome their

p.7

Outstanding

fears, for example in persuading them to undergo dental treatment. The patience, persistence and skill of staff also enable children to make huge improvements in social skills. Children who would not sit at the table to eat now do so; others who simply could not be taken to a restaurant are now able to relish the experience. This ensures that they are not excluded from wider society. A social worker said, ‘The child would not have come as far as he has without the expertise of staff. They spend so much time with them, reducing their anxieties.’ The voice of the child is paramount in the home’s practice. The therapeutic way of working is evident in how staff listen to children. They encourage them to reflect on how they are feeling and to suggest their own solutions to problems. Children have choice about what happens in the home, for example what colours their rooms are painted. One child said, ‘You ask staff what you want and they try to

p.8

Outstanding

arrange it.’ There is a range of activities, which children love. Within the home they can do arts and crafts, play board games or enjoy the garden. Some children like riding their bike outside with friends they have made in the street. The home has a caravan in a nearby seaside resort. This is well used, children liking nothing better than pottering about on the beach during the day and relaxing with a DVD in the evening. The happiness of the children is clearly evident. They made comments like, ‘I love it here…’ ‘I like all the staff…’ ‘I give the home 9 out of 10…’ The child who made the last comment said he would give it 10 if he had more money to spend. Staff understand the importance of maintaining children’s relationships with their families. Often, they need to supervise contact in order to ensure that children are safe. Staff evaluate and record the quality of this contact. This helps to inform

p.8

Outstanding

future planning, for example in assessing the viability of a child returning to live with a parent. One parent said, ‘Staff are really helpful, they give me advice, talk about different scenarios with my child and how I might handle them. I know I can ring them for support any time.’

p.8

Good

The individual attention that each child is able to receive ensures that they are kept safe. There have been no incidents when a child has gone missing. This level of supervision does not in any way restrict their ability to go out and about in the community and interact socially. Some children have acquired sufficient responsibility, and confidence in their own ability, to spend time with friends. One enjoys overnight stays at a friend’s house. Friends are also encouraged to visit the home, or take part in joint activities accompanied by staff. Encouraging this social activity enhances children’s self-esteem and helps them to learn the give-and-take of relationship-building. Children’s level of access to social media is controlled, and determined by their level of understanding. This ensures that they are safeguarded and are not at risk of exploitation. Children who are more mature have a mobile phone, which staff

p.8

Good

ensure that they take with them when they go out. One child refers to this as ‘my safeguarding phone’. Staff draw up a set of risk assessments on each child. These are based on historical information as well as observed behaviour within the home. They are helpful in identifying strategies to address risks and so keep children and other people safe. However, not all potential sources of harm are assessed, creating the possibility that some areas may be missed. The premises are safe. Electronic monitoring of children’s bedroom doors, agreed with placing authorities, ensures that staff are aware if children leave their room at night. Medication is kept securely, and only administered by staff who have received the appropriate training. However, the administration of controlled medication is not always witnessed by a second person. This is contrary to the home’s own policy as well as good practice guidance, and creates potential for

p.9

Good

error. Staff are good at managing challenging behaviour. Their insight into children’s past experiences and emotional characteristics enables them to be aware of what might trigger distress or anxiety in a child and respond accordingly. Staff encourage appropriate behaviour through the use of incentives and praise, and use sanctions relatively rarely. Because of the skills of staff, the number of times that physical restraint needs to be used has reduced significantly. In most respects, records of restraint are detailed, but the description of how the child was actually held is in jargon and not plain English. This makes it more difficult to understand what happened and so reduces robust accountability.

p.9

Good

The registered manager is highly experienced. She is qualified not only in management of children’s services but also as a social worker, with additional qualifications in therapeutic practice. She ensures that the ethos of the home as described in its statement of purpose is put into daily practice by staff. When the contribution of other services in progressing a child’s plan is below standard, she will advocate determinedly on their behalf. The style of leadership is hands-on, with both the registered manager and the deputy working directly with children. This gives staff confidence and ensures consistency. Staff report positively on the quality of support they receive. One said, ‘Glynis is amazing. We get regular supervision where we can discuss the children and reflect on the difference we are making to their lives.’ Another commented, ‘Sometimes the work is draining, but we get brilliant support from supervision and

p.9

Good

team meetings.’ Staff are able to understand the progress that children make through the use of monthly summaries. These detail measurable outcomes over the previous six months, including indicators such as: school attendance and attainment; participation in activities; notable achievements; family contact; and attendance at health appointments. The summaries help managers and staff to identify where additional work may be needed to address a particular area of difficulty. The registered manager’s monitoring reports focus on themes which are particularly relevant to the circumstances of the home during the period under review. They evaluate the contribution of the home in promoting children’s welfare and keeping them safe. They would be improved by taking more explicit account of the views of children, staff, social workers and parents. In addition to the ongoing training for staff provided by the psychologist, the

p.10

Good

organisation is committed to more intensive staff development. For example, three members of staff are shortly due to start a degree course in therapeutic child care. It is intended that, over time, all staff will access this. Enhancing the skills of staff in this way will further strengthen the capacity of the home to help the most vulnerable and traumatised children.

p.10

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’.

p.11

What the inspection judgements mean

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 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

p.11

What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.11

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 that 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

p.12

Information about this inspection

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 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.12

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.13

Information about this inspection

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

p.13

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.13

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.13