Children's home run by Newcastle City Council

Good

The children‟s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people enjoy their short breaks and make significant progress. The staff are attentive to their needs and pay close attention to their wishes and feelings. This means that the short breaks are planned in such a way as to ensure that young people have a say in the range of activities on offer and the way in which they are cared for.  Activities in the home are designed in such a way as to help the young people enjoy new experiences and develop confidence and to promote a positive sense of identity.  The staff are committed and passionate and put the best interests of the young people at the heart of everything that they do. They demonstrate considerable skill and creativity in the way that they seek to get the best out of each young person and make sure that the short break is a positive experience for them.  The physical environment is well maintained and provides all the resources needed to meet the needs of the young people who stay there. This means

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The children’s home provision is good because:

that the young people are comfortable and safe and feel at home when using the service.  The service works in close partnership with a range of health professionals. This ensures that they are well trained to meet a range of complex health needs.  The leadership and management of the home are visible and effective. The management team has good oversight of care practice and knows the young people who use the service well.  The staff work as a team to deliver exceptionally good care to the young people. They have a range of skills and experience and share a common, child-centred, value base. They provide constructive challenge to each other and comment positively that they work as part of a mutually supportive team.  Parents, placing social workers and other members of the professional network have the highest regard for the quality of care that the service delivers to the young people.  The registered manager of the home is very experienced and

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The children’s home provision is good because:

knowledgeable. He creates an open learning environment where the staff feel comfortable to raise concerns and are encouraged to reflect on practice. This means that any shortfalls in practice are quickly resolved and that any lessons learned inform service development.

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Statutory requirements

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

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision and have their fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(4)(b)(c)) 18/01/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that staff undertake and regularly update child protection training. This should be designed to address the particular vulnerabilities of children who have physical impairments and learning difficulties. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟ (2015), paragraph 9.12, page 43)

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated and owned by Newcastle City Council. It provides a short- break service for up to six children and young people aged eight to 18. The home is purpose built and fully equipped to provide care and accommodation for young people who have learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

05/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

17/03/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Good

The young people enjoy their short breaks. One young person described the service as being „fun, exciting and a laugh‟. Staff meet with the young people at the start of each short break. They involve them in making choices about the activities, food and any ideas that they have for making their stay more enjoyable. Staff use a range of communication strategies to ensure that all young people can contribute to the best of their abilities. Young people benefit from staying in a purpose-built home. The environment is designed so that they can enjoy their stay in comfort and safety. There is ample space so that young people who use wheelchairs can move around freely and make good use of the indoor and outdoor facilities. The home is equipped to provide a range of physical and sensory experiences. This enables all young people who use the service to find something to enjoy. The staff are very creative and motivate young people to take part in a range of

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Good

activities that help them to have fun and learn. They work with young people to produce a regular newsletter, called the Bedeburn Planet. Young people use this to record a range of activities and to explore areas of interest. This helps them to build a positive image of themselves and a healthy curiosity about the world around them. This enhances their short-break experience as it creates a sense of celebration and achievement. The young people experience a range of media- related activities, such as creating posters of themselves, and they recently made a film, which was exhibited at a local theatre. This gave them the opportunity to learn a range of skills and to build confidence. Some young people were able to overcome their fears about talking to a large audience and presented the film to an audience of 300 people. As one member of staff put it, „We aim to get the best out of young people and help them be more than they think they can be.‟

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Good

The staff team is very experienced. The team members have worked together for a long time and work well as a team to deliver consistent, high standards of care. Parents appreciate this, and their comments about the service were extremely positive. They consistently reported that they trust the staff to look after their children well. One parent said, „Staff always call me to see how she has been at home. My child has a great time and is happy there.‟ Another parent said that the home provides, „a fantastic service‟. She does not feel that there is anything staff could improve on and said the service „is perfect the way it is‟. Staff know the young people well. They have detailed care plans that describe the care that each young person needs to stay safe and happy. They pay close attention to detail and make sure that they know exactly how to make sure that young people get the most from their short-break experience. Staff celebrate

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Good

diversity and ensure that they meet the cultural needs of young people. They have a range of books and music from different cultures and provide a range of cultural meals. Parents feel that, as a result of the staff support, their children learn a range of independence skills. They feel that their children benefit by making friends, developing social skills and improving their confidence. Placing social workers spoke highly of the service. A senior social worker reported that staff communicate effectively and always attend reviews and meetings. She described the staff team as being very supportive and said, „They know the young people really well.‟ She was particularly complimentary about the way that staff take their time to get to know the young people and their families when planning introductions. The professional network and parents gave consistent feedback in terms of staff being welcoming, friendly and focused on the needs of young

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Good

people. Staff work effectively in partnership with education providers. They ensure that young people are ready and prepared for their school day on time. They communicate with schools about any concerns or relevant observations, so that young people have a consistent experience of care.

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Good

Young people are safe. The staff pay close attention when planning short breaks, to ensure that they have the right mix of young people. They plan the day-to-day care in detail to ensure that each young person has the level of individual care and support that they need to stay safe. Young people comment that they get on well with each other. They report that there have been no incidents of bullying. Staff regularly talk to young people about how to stay safe and treat each other kindly in the group. Care plans clearly identify what young people need help with and what they can do independently. This helps the staff to achieve a good balance between allowing young people to stretch themselves, while at the same time staying safe. Each young person has a detailed healthcare plan which outlines how best to promote their health and keep them safe. Staff work closely in partnership with the community pharmacy team and the community nursing team. They receive

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Good

bespoke training to make sure that they are competent in meeting the needs of young people who have complex health needs. The community nurse said, „Staff are conscientious and thorough. They follow our instructions to the “nth” degree.‟ She said that staff always consult with her if they are unsure or have any concerns. She went on to say that staff have not made any errors or mistakes in relation to making sure that children receive the support that they need to stay healthy and safe. She said, „Staff think about children first, and always.‟ The community pharmacist provides regular training to ensure that staff have the skills, knowledge and competency to administer medications safely. She undertakes regular audits of the home‟s medication systems and recording. She described staff as being „knowledgeable and competent‟ in the administration and recording of medications. Staff talk to parents before each short break. They make sure that they are fully

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Good

aware of any concerns in relation to health or changes in medications. One parent described staff as „being on the ball‟ when it comes to understanding health needs and administering medications. The excellent partnership work and communication with parents, schools and expert advisers is a significant strength of this service. It enables young people who have complex and potentially life-threatening conditions to receive the help that they need to stay safe at all times. Staff follow robust procedures and protocols, and these are closely monitored by managers and senior staff to ensure safe practice. Staff are trained in relevant areas of child protection. They know what to look out for in terms of the vulnerabilities of each child and they know how to respond to concerns. There are some gaps in recent child protection training for staff. This is necessary to ensure that staff update their knowledge. In practice, all staff are very

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Good

experienced and have good knowledge of child protection procedures. Staff speak to parents and closely monitor young people to make sure that any accidental injuries are accounted for and explained. This provides a safe environment, with effective checks and balances, for young people who may not be able to communicate concerns for themselves. There have been no recent concerns, child protection enquiries or allegations made against the staff in the home. The staff describe the home as, for example, a „brilliant place to work‟. They feel that they are able to share concerns and speak their minds at team meetings. They describe a mutually supportive environment where they feel able to provide a constructive challenge to each other, to help to ensure that high standards of care are maintained. The manager encourages an open and honest culture within the team. This promotes the safety and well-being of young people, as staff are able to

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Good

share concerns and have the opportunity to reflect and learn. Staff are attentive to the needs of young people and develop relationships with them that are based on genuine trust and affection. They are trained in a range of techniques to manage challenging behaviour, and incidents of concern are rare. Staff seldom use any form of physical restraint, but are trained to do this safely, if necessary, to prevent harm from occurring. Each young person has a detailed risk assessment. This outlines any particular vulnerabilities for each of them, and details a plan of intervention to keep them safe. The staffing levels are such that all young people are closely monitored when in the home or out in the community. The home environment has a number of security features that prevent young people from leaving the home without staff supervision. As a result, there have been no instances of young people absconding

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Good

or going missing. The physical environment is clean, homely and well maintained. Staff regularly check the building, and any faults or hazards are reported and rectified. They are trained in first aid and fire safety. There are clear evacuation plans in place in the event of a fire, and fire equipment is regularly checked and maintained to ensure that it is in good order.

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Good

The registered manager has served notice to leave his post and he is moving on to manage a different service. During his time in post, he has been an effective manager and excellent role model and has been able to continuously improve the service. He is very experienced and maintains a „hands-on‟ role and keeps in close contact with the young people. This helps him to monitor practice and have a good understanding of how young people experience their short breaks. He has an excellent oversight of the care provided in the home. He leads the management team effectively and closely monitors recording. He regularly uses feedback from staff, parents and other professionals in order to inform service development. He has developed positive links and relationships with a range of other professionals and uses these well to ensure that the needs and welfare of young people remain central to care planning. In one example, the manager

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Good

reviewed recordings of incidents and noticed a pattern of behaviour for one young person. He was able to share his observations with the young person‟s family, school and health professionals. This resulted in a change to the young person‟s medication, which in turn improved their behaviour at home, at school and during short breaks in the home. Staff do not always receive regular formal supervision, but when supervision does take place, it is of good quality. Staff report that they feel well supported by the manager. They describe him as being approachable and feel that he listens to them. The transition arrangements for the management of the home are excellent. A new manager has been recruited. He has already spent time in the home with the current manager and staff. He attended the feedback for this inspection, which will help him to have a good understanding of the key strengths and areas of development for the service. Staff are positive about the choice of new manager

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Good

and are looking forward to working with him. The manager leads a high-performing team and runs a service in which young people are safe, make progress and have fun. He is thoughtful and considered in his approach to managing staff. This is evidenced by his emphasis on managing performance by encouraging a learning culture where staff can learn from mistakes, rather than a „blame‟ culture. He understands the challenges that staff face and offers praise, encouragement and support, in order to help them to perform to the best of their abilities. He encourages staff creativity and is supportive of new ideas. The manager is supported by two deputy managers. They have clearly defined roles and are very competent and experienced. All senior staff sometimes work residential shifts. This enables them to maintain close contact with practice and allows them to provide emergency cover when necessary. This means that young

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Good

people have a consistent experience of care and only staff who know them well look after them. New staff are recruited in line with safe recruitment procedures and undertake a thorough induction process to ensure that they are effective in their roles. There were no recommendations or requirements from the previous inspection, and the shortfalls identified in this inspection do not have a significant impact on the welfare of young people.

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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 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 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, workbased 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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