Children's home run by Howard House Care Limited in Northumberland

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person living here is making good progress. The home offers her stability and consistency. She enjoys good relationships with the staff, trusts them and likes spending time with them. The staff have a good knowledge of her needs and devise ways of helping her to relax. For example helping her to settle at night by playing board games with her before bedtime. The staff support contact with family, not only in practical ways by providing transport but also in working with her parents to help their time together be productive and meaningful. Plans are in hand to promote increased contact in the community with friends. This is an important development in helping the young person to develop greater responsibility for her own safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team has become more confident and skilful in managing challenging behaviour. They have focused on increasing the young person’s self-esteem and confidence. For example, by providing a range of stimulating and challenging activities such as climbing, horse riding and a trip to the ballet. The number of significant behavioural incidents have reduced, as has the need to use physical restraint.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team has improved its ability to keep the young person safe. The staff have used information and resources from other agencies to help the young person to manage her emotions more effectively and thus reduce the need to self-harm. There has only been one incident of going missing, and this was short lived. In discussion with the young person, her access to social media has been increased. This is discreetly monitored by the staff to ensure that she can safely keep in touch with family and friends.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff are proactive in addressing the young person’s health needs. Overdue immunisations have been undertaken, and the young person has received the necessary dental treatment. An assertive strategy to restrict the young person’s access to cigarettes, supported by the input of health professionals, is proving successful. The activity programme has also helped the young person to stay healthy, and trampolining is a particular favourite. The staff ensure that the young person’s views are considered and respected in all aspects of life within the home. They involve her in her plans, including the behaviour management plan. This gives the young person ownership and responsibility, and encourages her to invest in the strategies that the staff use to keep her happy and safe. The young person is able to make written comments on each section of her care plan, and she rates almost all at 10 out of 10.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has only recently been registered. He has recruited several permanent staff, who are being integrated into the team. This has provided additional consistency in implementing plans and strategies for the young person. The home continues to be well resourced. Thoughtful touches throughout the home reflect the efforts of the staff to provide the young person with reminders of her achievements and so further enhance her view of herself. Her accomplished drawings are on the walls, together with photos of her enjoying activities and outings. In response to the young person’s request, the staff have provided a fish tank which the young person looks after. If she proves reliable and responsible, the staff plan to buy her a rabbit.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Care plans are reviewed and updated regularly. Detailed monitoring of the young person enables the staff to assess how well she is progressing. For example, by logging the time that she settles to bed each night. This demonstrates that the carefully planned night-time routine has helped the young person to have a more settled sleep pattern. The registered provider has commissioned a psychologist to provide regular consultation to the staff. This helps the staff to have a better and more informed understanding of the young person’s needs and how they affect her emotional well-being. Consequently, plans and strategies can be revised to make them more effective.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirement and the recommendation made at the last inspection have been addressed in full. Records of restraints and incidents of missing from home are now much more detailed and accurate, aiding accountability and enabling more effective analysis of patterns and trends.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to two children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/10/2016 Full Good 22/12/2015 Interim Not judged 11/11/2015 Full Good 09/03/2015 Full Good

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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 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 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 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

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

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