Children's Home run by Evolution Children Services Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

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 progress and experience of children and young people who live in this home continues to be excellent, with good attendance at education and improved outcomes. Children and young people are in good health and are supported to improve their independence in all aspects of their lives.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Planning for children and young people who move in or move out of the home is very good. The manager is careful to ensure that the matching process is carried out with precision, including visits to the young person prior to them coming to the home. This results in careful consideration of whether the home can meet the needs of the new young person, and, equally important, that the risks posed as a result of a new person moving into the home do not impact adversely on the young people who are already living there. This does not mean making choices so that only those who come to the home have low-level risk, but a genuine understanding of what the home can support. As a result, children and young people in the home engage well with each other. There are some exceptions, but when there are incidents, they are few and far between. As a result, children and young people learn how to interact with each other in a positive way. This supports the other

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

independence skills that young people learn while in this home.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has temporarily moved in to a different home. This is so that they are appropriately supported to manage behaviours that have put them at unnecessary risk. Despite the young person moving, the provider and the manager have engaged with the local authority to agree the necessary resources to continue to support the young person and prepare them to return home. The manager has attended hearings and meetings, and has continued to reassure the young person that all the staff at the home want to work with her and support her to return to them. This home has been a very stable environment for the young person who has made some significant improvements while she has lived there.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The monitoring of the quality of care that the home provides is excellent. The manager has developed a system which ensures that information is available at any time. He uses this system to record incidents and interrogate the data produced. What makes the system particularly effective is that it is used to identify trends and concerns. This means the manager can identify triggers which may result in incidents in the home or periods of missing from the home. Analysis is then used to identify whether staff or children and young people may benefit from additional coaching and support to deal with particular incidents, or to manage better relationships between children and young people or between children and young people and particular members of staff.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is an effective people manager and works with the responsible individuals to reduce negative behaviour in the staff team. This has improved the morale and effectiveness of the staff team. In addition, the manager has promoted learning and development by encouraging people in the staff team to take responsibility for tasks in the home. Although still in its infancy, a development tool for all the staff is being developed by a competent member of the staff team using a restricted webpage. This will pull together learning from research, presenting it in an easily accessible area. This is indicative of the ethos of the home, which is to constantly strive for the best outcome for young people and to proactively take steps to achieve this. The manager ensures that skills and experience required for some behaviours or traits which have been identified in referrals are considered and included in the home’s training plan such as, for example, foetal alcohol

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met the previous recommendation relating to ensuring that the safeguarding policy now includes female genital mutilation. Additionally, he has ensured that the training plan also includes learning on this subject for all staff. The previous recommendation relating to encouraging young people to individualise their personal space is also met. Young people have given some thought to what they want, and rooms are being prepared for changes. Overall, the home has undergone redecoration and it feels warm and inviting. The outdoor space has improved and now provides a nice small space for young people.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The responsible individual and the manager work together to ensure that they take advantage of opportunities to acquire goods or services that enhance the home or the facilities for children and young people. A development charity supporting young people and youth organisations has gifted a number of things to the home. These include a football table, a course on computer coding and an opportunity to take part in a sailing trip.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people are safer while living in this home. Only one notifiable incident has taken place since the last inspection. The action taken by the staff at the home before and during the incident was appropriate. As a result, the young person has received personalised support and will continue to be supported by staff at the home.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are no requirements or recommendations raised at this inspection.

p.3

Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is registered to care for up to five children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The registered provider of the home is a limited company.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 13/12/2016 Full Outstanding 17/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 21/07/2015 Full Outstanding 26/01/2015 Full Good

p.4

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.5

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.

p.5

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.5

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.6

Information about this inspection

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

p.6

Information about this inspection

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

p.6

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

p.6