Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes North East Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

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 . Children and young people experience stability and security while living in this home, continuing for one young person beyond their 18th birthday. This is helping appropriate transition plans to be implemented, while providing the young person with consistent support from staff. However, the manager needs to ensure that the young person’s plan is updated to reflect the fact that they are now 18 years of age and the challenges and the risks that this may present. Children and young people live in a home that has a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. However, to maintain this pleasant environment the integrated window between the downstairs bathroom and the office needs to be removed or securely boarded to ensure the privacy and dignity of those who use the bathroom.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Children and young people are making continuous progress and gaining positive experiences. These are captured within their own individual memory books. For example, children and young people have enjoyed a break away at a theme park. They have also visited the cinema and tried quad biking. Children and young people have strong relationships with the staff. Some young people have expressed their feelings about staff in poetry. One young person wrote: ‘I would not be who I am today without X. He has been a great inspiration and helps me mentally and physically.’ When it is identified that children and young people need to move on from the home, the staff ensure that they experience a planned transition. The staff work with all who are involved so that children and young people settle in well to their new placements. When children and young people are admitted to the home, clear consideration is given to the impact that this will have on children and young people already living

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

there. This assessment process incorporates planned visits not only for the child or young person, but also for their allocated social worker, to ensure that the placement is right. Children and young people already living at the home are also consulted during any new admission process, as well as about other aspects of the running of the home. This demonstrates that their views are respected and used to influence practice and bring about change. For example, the manager has devised a children and young people’s development plan for the home, enabling them to shape improvements within the home. This has included saving for computer equipment. Children and young people are achieving well and staff provide strong support to help them to sustain their academic progress. For example, on admission to the home, one child was not in education. He is now doing well in mainstream school. Another young person has progressed to a full timetable, when previously they

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

could only sustain 45 minutes per day in education. Children and young people have opportunities to develop independence skills in line with their capabilities. One young person is now able to use public transport independently, and another spent four weeks in a ‘taster flat’. This helped to identify the strategies that needed to be implemented to enable his progression towards independent living. Children and young people are kept safe by staff who understand their needs and who can manage their complex behaviours. As a result staff do not need to use physical restraint. There have been few episodes of being missing from home. If this happens, staff take the steps required to protect children and young people and ensure their safe return home. Strong partnership working is a key feature of this home, particularly with the families of children and young people. This helps to provide good modelling and

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

helps to improve the quality and frequency of contact between children and young people and their families. For one young person this has enabled contact with his mother to progress from one night a weekend to a longer weekend and school holidays. The manager has built on the strengths identified at the last inspection and has addressed all the recommendations set. This demonstrates capacity for further improvement.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides accommodation for up to five children 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

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Recent inspection history

17/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

24/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 Children in residential care usually live in a group environment, and so it is particularly important that they can spend time away from other group members. Staff should respect children’s privacy and support the other children living in the home to do so. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.17) This is with particular reference to the manager removing or boarding up the window between the downstairs bathroom and the office.  Children’s homes staff should take reasonable precautions and make informed professional judgements based on each individual child’s needs and developmental-stage about when to allow a child to take a particular risk or follow a particular course of action. Staff should discuss the decision with the child’s placing authority where appropriate. If a child makes a choice that would place them or another person at significant risk of harm, staff should assist them

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Recommendations

to understand the risks and manage their risk-taking behaviour to keep themselves and others safe. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.17) This is with particular reference to staff updating care plans when young people reach the age of 18 years, to reflect the challenges and the risks that this may present.

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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 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 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. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the

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Information about this inspection

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

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