Children's home run by Compass Children’s Homes Northeast Limited 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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has fully addressed all the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. Care plans are more explicitly linked to key-working sessions, ensuring that meaningful work with the young people takes place on a regular basis. Important records, including those relating to administration of medication, physical restraints, and missing-from-home incidents, are more accurate and detailed. The independent visitor now seeks the opinions of parents in relation to how well they feel the home is supporting their children. This provides greater assurance as to the quality of the work the staff team is doing. One parent commented in an Ofsted survey: ‘The staff are trained and experienced, they keep me updated, communication has been excellent, my child’s progress socially and emotionally has been very good, it is a very positive place.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, a number of young people have had to be moved on, contrary to their placement plan. This is because they have displayed particularly challenging behaviour which has presented unmanageable risks to themselves or others. The extent of the difficulties experienced by the staff is indicated by the number of significant events which have been notified to Ofsted (33 in the last 10 months). However, a requirement made at the last inspection to improve planning for young people who are being considered for admission has been fully addressed. Information provided by placing authorities is used to draw up a highly detailed and individualised assessment of how well the home could meet the young person’s needs. This should enable the registered manager to be more confident that a placement will succeed in its objectives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is having success with the majority of young people currently living here. All are engaged in some form of educational activity, a major improvement for some in relation to their starting point. The staff are effective in involving the young people with their care plans. They hold monthly reviews of their plans and record the discussions with the young people. These records show that the young people like the home and the staff, and that young people are fully aware of the objectives which have been set for them. Group meetings enable the young people to voice their opinions, for example, about menu choice or how their rooms are decorated. The staff are safeguarding young people effectively. Skilled behaviour management ensures that the use of physical restraint is low. The number of times that the young people go missing has reduced. Staff are open to any concerns expressed by the young people. The registered manager responds promptly to any complaints,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

taking assertive action to investigate and involve other agencies as appropriate. Staff manage e-safety well. Detailed risk assessments identify any other concerns about each young person’s particular needs and vulnerabilities, and set out the strategies in place to manage them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff are fully supportive of ongoing programmes of work between the young people and other professionals. One young person is having weekly consultations with a psychologist, which is proving helpful in addressing his identified needs. Another psychologist provides support to the staff in helping them understand young people’s issues and anxieties. This enables the staff to make their interventions more effective.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is good at monitoring the impact of the home’s work on young people. Regular reports make good use of consultation with the young people, their parents, social workers and staff. The home’s records, including young people’s case files, have been largely computerised. This makes recording more accurate and consistent, while ensuring that the young people continue to have access to information about themselves.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is in the process of being redecorated. Plans are in hand to develop the home’s substantial grounds, and to involve young people in creating an allotment area to grow vegetables. Although the registered provider commits substantial resources to ensure that the communal areas are welcoming and homely, young people’s bedrooms are somewhat sparsely furnished.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides accommodation for up to five children or 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 20/04/2016 Full Good 03/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/07/2015 Full Good 11/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person meets 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

6. In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, with particular reference to maintaining bedroom furniture in good condition, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(c)(i) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. 14/04/2017

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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 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 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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