Children's home run by North Tyneside Council in North Tyneside

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people who access this service continue to be provided with an excellent level of care during their short breaks. Planning around admissions and discharges is very good. The management and staff ensure that attention to detail is maintained at all times during pre-placement introductions and sharing of information. One parent who was accessing the service for the first time said: ‘What is really good is that they cover things more than once. They do it over and over to ensure that they have all the information to make my child’s stay the best it can be.’ The staff ensure that the young people share their short-break care experience with familiar peers, who often attend the same school or college. This is all part of the meticulous planning process that reduces the anxiety that many parents experience when leaving their child for the first time. Staff work in partnership with parents and social workers with the sole intention of maximising the positive

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

experience of young people’s short breaks, providing consistency and safe care. A member of staff said: ‘We are on a journey of care together.’ This openness and transparency enables young people to feel safe and secure in their environment. Their confidence and well-being are promoted at all times. The staff communicate with parents to identify a range of independence skills they wish their child to improve on. Promoting independence skills is clearly evident in the work carried out with the young people. Each young person has set, and agreed, goals and targets that are discussed at placement reviews. ‘Prompt’ sheets, with the use of symbols, are utilised to promote the young people who have communication difficulties to independently, where appropriate, follow their independent goal plans. Targets are reviewed and evaluated after three to four stays. This is to ensure that targets are attainable and can be changed. The young

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people and staff informed me that there is a forthcoming ‘bake off’ competition that they were very enthusiastically awaiting, providing the young people with an opportunity to show off their baking skills acquired while attending their short breaks. Prizes and rewards are attainable for this event. Having their efforts and skills recognised like this raises young people’s self-esteem and increases their confidence. Relationships between staff, young people and their families are a strength of the home. This is reinforced by the positivity of the staff team, and the level of consistency in their approach and openness to share experiences and learn to improve outcomes for the young people while in their care. Management is strong and unity is apparent among the staff. Observations of the staff handover demonstrated effective, focused and passionate attributes of this staff team. The staff were relaxed and respectful of the young people’s needs and requirements.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

They treat children and young people with dignity and respect. A shortfall in the home’s recording systems is, in the main, due to the bulky nature and appearance of the young people’s working file. The files contain documents that are relevant to the historical nature of the young person’s care, but could well be maintained in an archive. This would maintain the file’s accessibility, but not impact upon the quality and importance of the working file. The use of the symbol charts, representing the young person’s views, are not evident in this file. It means that the young person’s file could be seen as less accessible to them and, therefore, reduces its quality.

p.3

Information about this children’s home

The home provides short breaks for up to five children who have sensory impairment, learning disabilities and physical disabilities. It is operated by a local authority.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

22/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

Recent inspection history

06/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

p.5

Recommendations

 Keep children’s records up to date, specifically that children’s case files are well organised, accessible and do not contain unnecessary duplication. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

p.5

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’.

p.6

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 who 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.

p.6

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 .

p.6

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,

p.7

Information about this inspection

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

p.7

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates at: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Information about this inspection

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

p.7