Children's Home run by North East Autism Society in Durham

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.

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The children’s home provision is outstanding because:

 Children and young people receive exceptional support that meets their needs. Their short breaks significantly improve their lives. All children and young people are progressing, many beyond expectations. Nurturing, caring relationships with staff enhance children’s and young people’s emotional security and overall development.  Staff cater for children’s and young people’s health, emotional and social care needs to a high standard. They provide a range of communication tools and innovative, interactive resources that involve all children and young people in their short breaks.  Children and young people have exceptional day-to-day experiences. A strong emphasis on providing a wide range of activities fully engages children and young people and helps them thrive socially.  The home provides a safe, comfortable environment that focuses on children’s and young people’s sensory needs. This has successfully

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The children’s home provision is outstanding because:

strengthened children’s and young people’s placement stability.  Leaders and managers ensure there are robust risk management strategies in place. This, alongside staff providing very good supervision and observation levels, keeps children and young people safe.  Behaviour management is sound and based on positive reinforcement. However, behaviour management plans lack detail, including on children’s and young people’s preferred restraints according to their needs.  Leaders and managers focus on the needs of children and young people. Their progress and welfare is paramount. Purposeful inter-agency relationships significantly increase children’s and young people’s potential. The support offered to families and carers is extraordinary.  Staff are motivated, committed and work very well together as a team. Improvements in care practice link directly to regular staff supervision and good communication forums that include meaningful staff meetings and

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The children’s home provision is outstanding because:

daily handovers.  Monitoring is improving and is showing areas of strength. However, not all children’s and young people’s records relating to incidents are fully evaluated. Also, the home’s bespoke development plans do not fully reflect how monitoring outcomes will drive improvement and progress.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that the registered person makes the best use of internal monitoring to promote continuous improvement. In particular, ensure that the monitoring of restraints includes a full evaluation of events and that the home’s development plans include outcomes and actions from the registered person’s findings. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the home’s approach to promoting positive behaviour and measures of control include individual behaviour management plans for each child that include the preferred restraint technique to be used depending on the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.33)

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides short breaks care and accommodation for children and young people with learning disabilities. The home 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

16/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

04/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Outstanding

Children and young people see their short breaks as a fun, exciting time when they will see their friends and fully enjoy and participate in everyday childhood pastimes. This is especially important as many of the children and young people experience profound difficulties relating to socialisation. The majority of children and young people do not have friends outside of school, which significantly isolates them.

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Outstanding

Giving children and young people opportunities to be part of a sociable, safe and welcoming environment significantly enhances their well-being and overall progress and development. Parents’ comments include, ‘They have placed [name] with two other girls the same age, it is lovely to see blossoming relationships’, and ‘The atmosphere and staff are amazing, they do amazing things. The male carers inevitably end up covered in nail varnish, its fab.’

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Outstanding

Staff have a very good knowledge of children’s and young people’s needs, unique personality and their family and cultural background. They work closely with parents to gather as much information as possible, which highly personalises each child and young person. Support for parents is also exceptional. A parent said, ‘This is the best place ever, and I don’t know what I would have done without them. I can’t say enough, and I will be forever grateful for the support they have offered me and my family.’ This holistic approach actively contributes to maintaining children’s and young people’s place within their families and other placements.

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Outstanding

Children and young people have excellent relationships with staff. For many children and young people with autism, forming trusting bonds is difficult. Staff are very skilled at helping children overcome their fears and this was very evident at the inspection. Children and young people were very happy entering the home and greeted staff with smiles and laughter. They approached staff and responded to cuddles and happily went to their bedrooms to unpack and get ready for their after-school snacks. The children and young people were very happy seeing each other and strong friendships were evident. It is clear that attending this home for short breaks has a very positive impact.

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Outstanding

Staff fully enable children and young people to communicate to the best of their ability. There is a range of communication aids to assist communication that are child-friendly and visually attractive. For example, a member of staff has made a large wall picture to teach children and young people road safety. The picture is a colourful road map with removable pictures of cars, buses and children. Staff teach children and young people how to stay safe using play. This method of engaging them to understand potential dangers is innovative and very effective.

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Outstanding

The home also has a large, colourful wall painting of an, ‘achievement tree’ where children and young people display pictures of their achievements. This highly praises children and young people and celebrates their progress and development. A staff member said, ‘They love the tree and look at it every time they come in. They point to their names and know they have done something very good.’

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Outstanding

Activities are a strength and contribute greatly to children’s and young people’s emotional and social development. All children and young people have been enabled to grow significantly in confidence and to have new social experiences. Comments from parents include, ‘[name] goes on lots of trips; I don’t have the confidence to take her’, and ‘The boys are very happy. Both are severely autistic and they are much more social since going there. They get to do the things all kids do, and they do lots of activities.’

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Outstanding

All children and young people have progressed from their starting point and continue to thrive and learn new skills. A focus on teaching children and young people to be more independent is reaping rewards. Children and young people are included, where appropriate, in choosing their independent goals and parents and social workers are involved in the planning to maintain consistency at home. A social worker said, ‘There is something very special about this home. They do not disable children further and they make sure children can do what any child can do. They involve children in everything and they provide excellent individual care.’ A parent said, ‘We have seen a noticeable change in [name]. He is doing so much more since he went there.’

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Outstanding

All children and young people have an, ‘achievement’ file that shows their progress and tells a story of their happy times at the home and their progress and successes. Photographs show children and young people what they have achieved and how well they are doing. Child-friendly text and symbols accompany the photographs to provide children and young people with a visual life-story book. They take this with them when they move on from the home. This gives children and young people, and their families, a record of their childhood that they can take with them into adulthood. This inspiring work demonstrates exceptional care and support.

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Outstanding

There are a number of examples of where the home have gone out of their way to support children and young people and their families and carers. This level of support unquestionably enhances children’s and young people’s outcomes. For example, additional short break stays supported foster carers who were struggling to manage a young person’s behaviours. This intervention gave the carers a much- needed break and resulted in the placement not breaking down. Another young person had additional stays to help him make a difficult transition into a residential special school. This support helped the young person to adapt to a significant change in his life. A parent said, ‘The staff are fantastic and my child is very happy. We all have more structure and we as parents get a much-needed break.’

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Good

Children and young people are protected and enjoy their short breaks in a safe environment. Staff are vigilant in their supervision and observation, which significantly reduces known risks and potential hazards. A social worker said, ‘This home is very safe. They never take their eyes off my young person but allow them freedom.’ Bespoke training has given staff a very good understanding of risk-taking behaviours associated with autism. This keeps children and young people safe. A parent said, ‘The home is safe, [name] loves it there’.

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Good

Child protection concerns are addressed swiftly and robustly. The registered manager has good links with local safeguarding officers and shares any safeguarding concerns with relevant agencies. All staff have regular child protection training. Safeguarding information, including local contact telephone numbers, is readily available for quick reference. This open and transparent way of working promotes children’s and young people’s welfare.

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Good

Risk management is good and staff have a detailed knowledge of children’s and young people’s individual risk factors. Staff share written risk assessments with parents and social workers to ensure that they are comprehensive and current. Regular evaluation ensures that staff are aware of any changes to agreed risk management strategies. These measures promote children’s and young people’s welfare and well-being.

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Good

Behaviour management is good and effective. The home promotes a positive behaviour management ethos; sanctions are never used. Staff mould good behaviour with encouragement, rewards and lots of praise. Children and young people thrive with this approach. A social worker said, ‘[Name] has been judged in other placements about behaviours he cannot help. Staff here focus on his sensory needs and as a result his behaviours have massively improved.’

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Good

Behaviour management plans are currently integrated within children’s and young people’s risk assessments. This means that specific, written, behaviour management strategies are not immediately apparent. This is not directly affecting outcomes for children and young people currently attending the home, as staff know them very well. However, for new children and young people there is a potential to miss important behaviour management techniques where they are not easily located. Additionally, the current format does not include information about the most appropriate method of restraint to be used; based on individual children’s and young people’s needs.

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Good

No children or young people have gone missing and none are at risk of child exploitation. Staff supervise all access to the internet and teach children and young people about internet safety. Staff have forged good relationships with local police, who visit the home informally to help children and young people understand that the police are good adults who are there to help them. A recent event involved the police visiting with their cars to let the children and young people sit in the cars and work the flashing blue lights. The children and young people thoroughly enjoyed the visit and the police feedback was very positive about how the activity helped them gain a better insight into how autism affects behaviours. A member of staff said, ‘It was a great day and the kids loved it’.

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Good

Regular health and safety, and fire safety, checks protect children and young people, staff and visitors to the home. Close monitoring of generic health and safety risk assessments and regular utility maintenance servicing also makes the home a safe place. All visitors are vetted and checked and sign the visitor’s book. This ensures that children and young people are not exposed to unsuitable adults.

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Good

The registered manager has been in post since September 2015 and successfully completed her fitness interview with Ofsted in June 2016. She is a qualified social worker and has a wealth of childcare experience both in residential care and fieldwork. She is currently undertaking a level 5 qualification in caring for children and young people.

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Good

The registered manager has made a very positive impact and all feedback from parents, social workers and staff is very good. She is very committed and motivated to provide good outcomes and to make a difference to children’s and young people’s lives. A staff member said, ‘It’s much better and more consistent since the manager came. Staff are more gelled. The manager explains things and has time for you, and she wants you to do well.’

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Good

A competent deputy supports the registered manager and they work very well together. They lead a capable staff team who put children and young people first. Staff feel supported, listened to and valued. They receive the training they need to do their job effectively and receive regular, meaningful supervision. Strong leadership and management and having a united team of carers provides children and young people with stability.

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Good

Leaders and managers have a very good overview and understanding of children’s and young people’s needs and progress. They are instrumental in facilitating a service that is flexible and supportive. A social worker said, ‘I currently have three children using the service and I find the home to be flexible and accommodating. They work around families; this is their biggest strength. Feedback from parents is really good.’

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Good

Monitoring is overall effective and has improved by meeting a previous requirement. The independent visitor scrutinises the care and welfare of children and young people and drives improvement. Leaders and managers review care practice and safeguarding documentation regularly to ensure that children’s and young people’s needs are met and their rights respected.

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Good

Most of the records inspected are of a high quality. However, the home’s monitoring of the restraints log has not picked up that some restraints are not being fully evaluated. There are no concerns regarding the actual restraints looked at during this inspection; however, insufficient evaluation may result in a failure to recognise possible negative trends or patterns of inappropriate practice.

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Good

The registered manager has a clear vision of how she intends to develop the home to further increase services to children and young people and their families, which is very positive. There is a corporate development plan that focuses on the business elements of developing the home, but there is no written development plan that shows what the home’s future aims and objectives are; how these will be achieved; and when improvements will be made. A lack of formal planning potentially increases the likelihood that plans may drift and improvements be delayed.

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Good

The quality of professional relationships and family involvement is first class and contributes actively to outstanding outcomes for children and young people. All social workers said staff work well with them and communication is very good. This joint way of working effectively provides children and young people with good wrap-around care. A social worker said, ‘The team here are brilliant and very good at assisting me. They also provide excellent emotional support to my child’s mum. Staff are good at meetings and provide good information that is child-focused. They take the most challenging children. This service is brilliant for autism.’

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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’.

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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

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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.

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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 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 who 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 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

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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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