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 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 overall experiences of the young people in this home continue to improve due to the support of a consistent, knowledgeable staff team. The team, which is led by an effective manager, is very nurturing in its approach. This has impacted greatly on the young people and has improved their emotional well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

As a result of the approach that staff take, the young people have been able to settle and commit to the placement and have achieved a sense of belonging and safety. Consequently, the number of episodes of missing from home has reduced. The concerns around child sexual exploitation have now diminished and young people who were previously seen as being at high risk of harm are now not in need of specialist services. The use of sanctions is minimal; an incentive scheme is used with all of the young people as a method of managing changes to behaviour. This enables the young people to develop a sense of achievement that extends to other areas of their lives. A social worker stated she had been ‘very impressed’ with the home and the relationships that the staff build with young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Education attendance is seen as important. The majority of the young people continue to achieve in education and work. The staff team works in partnership with schools and agencies to ensure that such opportunities continue to improve. However, one young person lacks stability in terms of an education or work placement. Despite actively joining training schemes, the staff team has struggled to help the young person to maintain a placement. Nevertheless, staff continue to engage her in finding a suitable alternative. The young person has made improvements in many other areas and some of the behaviours that impacted on her education and work, such as episodes of going missing, have significantly reduced. Medication records demonstrate that there is a consistent understanding of safe practice in relation to administering medication. Records were clear, up to date and regularly audited. The system would be improved if the known side effects of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

medications were added to the records. Since the last inspection, two young people have left the home. These transitions were well planned and well supported by the home. The staff continue to maintain contact with these young people. The planning for the transition of two young people into the home was also good. The staff liaised with other professionals to gather all the necessary information. This ensured that they were able to respond appropriately to the young people as they settled into the home. The young people visited the home prior to moving in and were able to develop a sense of ownership in terms of their bedroom and the home in general. One young person said: ‘It is good and I feel much more settled here.’ The staff team works in partnership with other services to ensure that the needs of the young people are met. A social worker commented: ‘The staff work well in partnership. They advocate well on behalf of young people.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is comfortable and welcoming. It has a good range of facilities and rooms, which enable the young people to spend time alone or in group activities. However, there was damage to the smoke seals on the fire door of one of the bedrooms. This needs to be addressed in order to ensure the safety of all the young people. The registered manager is an experienced leader who has addressed the requirements and recommendations of the last inspection effectively. In addition, she has further developed monitoring systems to ensure that the issues regarding care planning and records that were seen at the previous inspection are addressed quickly. In particular, the additions made to the supervision records of staff are a good tool for monitoring practice. This will enable more succinct oversight of the recording processes within the home.

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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 (EBD).

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/10/2016 Full Good 31/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 12/01/2016 Full Requires improvement 05/03/2015 Interim Improved 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, 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

12. In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to the maintenance of fire doors, is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

(d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. 31/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Records must be kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. Regulation 23 requires the registered person to ensure that they make suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. These are fundamentally the same sorts of arrangements as a good parent would make, but are subject to additional safeguards. In particular, add any known side effects of medication to the records.(‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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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 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.

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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, 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

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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

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