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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has addressed in full all but one of the requirements and recommendations made at the previous inspection, and the other has been partly addressed. The care plans are now more detailed. They set out clearly what actions the staff need to take day-to-day to ensure that the young people achieve planned objectives. They also record work which is carried out with other services, such as education. This has resulted in improvements in some of the young people’s engagement with school. The considered and sensitive work of the staff with other young people has produced a beneficial impact on their health. For example, one young person has not misused substances for several weeks, a major achievement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Individual risk assessments of the young people contain more information and address all potential risks. These include the potential harm which might arise from access to social media via their mobile phones. As a result, the staff are able to use strategies which are more effective in safeguarding the young people. Additionally, when a young person’s access to a telephone may need to be limited or supervised to keep them safe, this is set out in writing, ensuring that their liberty is not inappropriately restricted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff rarely use restraint, but have taken action as a result of the previous requirement to improve the recording of restraint. This is now more accurate, detailed, and evaluative, providing added accountability for the use of the measure.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The external monitoring of the home has been improved. The reports of monthly visits by the independent person are more professional and contain greater detail. They are sent to Ofsted within the required timescale, ensuring that the regulator can apply the necessary scrutiny to the home’s operation. Monitoring by the registered manager has been partly addressed. His reports are now sent to Ofsted at the required intervals. However, they do not clearly take account of the views of young people, social workers, parents and staff. They do not set out actions for the following period designed to bring about planned improvements. These shortfalls reduce the effectiveness of this monitoring.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff are proactive at working with other agencies. They have liaised closely with the police to share information about potential sexual exploitation and identify individuals in the community who pose a threat to young people. Plans are in place to improve the support for the young people’s emotional well-being, by engaging a psychologist to do direct work with them. The staff also advocate for young people, and challenge other professionals when they feel that the service provided to the young people is not good enough.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to provide stability for young people. The two young people who have left the home since the last inspection did so in accordance with their plans. The quality of the relationships between the staff and the young people has become more meaningful. Some young people who chose to spend most of their time with friends now socialise more frequently with the staff. They value the support that the staff provide and the benefits this brings, for example in increasing the quantity and quality of one young person’s contact with their family.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The support and encouragement of the staff has also had an impact on the young people’s health outcomes. Thoughtful use of incentives has resulted in one young person attending and engaging with health appointments that they previously declined. There is also evidence that the young people’s self-esteem and sense of identity has developed. The young people are beginning to acquire the confidence to engage in work to build the skills they will need as they make the move to adulthood. This is as a result of the skill and commitment of staff in winning young people’s trust and praising their achievements.

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Information about this children’s home

The home accommodates up to six children who have 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 09/08/2016 Full Requires improvement 23/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 24/11/2015 Full Good 08/12/2014 Full Good

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Regulation 45 sets out requirements for the registered person to have a system in place which allows them to monitor the matters set out in the regulation at least once every six months; also see regulation 13 (2)(h) (the leadership and management standard). The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next six months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, pages 64 and 65, paras 15.2 and 15.4)

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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’.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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 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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