Children's Home run by South Tyneside Council in South Tyneside

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . There has been an unsettled period at the home during the autumn period, but staff have worked hard to resolve the issues and have ensured that the children and young people have settled and have achieved good outcomes. There have been ongoing issues around various aspects of safeguarding, and, while staff have tried hard to resolve these, they remain. A more concerted effort is required by more senior local authority managers. During the unsettled period, there were higher levels of missing-from-home incidents and some disruption in the home, which involved some bullying behaviour. A complaint of bullying was received from one young person and another from the mother of another young person. Both of these were fully investigated and dealt with to the satisfaction of the complainants.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Of the four children and young people who were living at the home at the time of the previous inspection, three have moved on in planned ways to successful placements and one is due to return home shortly, to live with a family member. Four other children and young people have been admitted since the previous inspection. Of these, one has moved on successfully and another is due shortly to return to live with their family. There are clear plans in place for the remaining two young people. There is clear evidence that the children and young people are consulted about and involved in the planning around their placements. At the previous full inspection, there were aspects of safeguarding that required improvement, and, despite staff efforts, these continue to require improvement. The first issue is that when children and young people are reported as missing from the home, they are not appropriately identified by other agencies as missing and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

they remain classified as absent. The registered manager and the staff have challenged this practice, but it has not changed. The consequence is that children and young people do not have the full range of agencies taking steps to find them. Staff do make reasonable efforts to find missing children and young people themselves. The second issue is that children and young people who are recorded as absent rather than missing from home are not being offered a return home interview. Also, some children and young people who were recorded as missing from home have not been offered a return home interview. The consequence of this is that an opportunity is lost to find out why the child or young person went missing. Requirements have been made to address these issues. The registered manager has made efforts to address these issues, but this now needs higher-level support from senior managers in the local authority.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has continued to lead the team well during a difficult time. The local authority is undergoing a restructure of its residential childcare services. The registered manager continues to monitor the quality of care well and has ensured that key work around safeguarding and other issues is being done appropriately. He continues to ensure that children and young people are referred to external workers and agencies for additional specialist support. This works well and contributes towards their good progress.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a local authority and is registered for the care and accommodation of up to six children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

22/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

11/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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, the 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

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to ensuring that children who go missing are properly reported to the police, the registered person must ensure that staff – 12(2)(a)(vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. 18/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to ensuring that children who go missing are offered a return from missing interview, the registered person must ensure that staff – 12(2)(a)(vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. 18/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the engaging with the wider system to ensure that children’s needs are met standard, with particular reference to liaising with senior local authority managers and police around safeguarding and missing-from-home issues, the registered person must ensure that – 5(c) if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’ or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, they challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. 18/03/2017

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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 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 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 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 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

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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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