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 . The registered manager and other members of the senior leadership team have addressed all the statutory requirements and recommendations made at the previous inspection. Risk assessments on young people have been re-formatted, ensuring that all potential hazards are identified and management strategies are set out. Assessments of young people who are referred for placement have also been improved, meaning that risks they may present to existing young people or vice versa can be evaluated. The blanket policy of turning off all bedroom power sockets at night has been replaced with individual arrangements for each young person. These are based on behaviour and risk factors, and reviewed each evening. This is a welcome reduction in unnecessary institutional practice. In addition, the home’s decor, particularly in the bedroom corridor, has been

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

greatly improved. The attractive colour scheme, together with additional artwork chosen by young people, makes it a much more welcoming and homely environment. Staff respond to young people’s requests regarding their bedrooms. For example, one wanted to move to a larger room and have a new carpet fitted, and this was agreed. Managers have also taken action to address the home’s recording practice. The size of files, making them unwieldy and less accessible to staff and young people, has been reduced by eliminating duplication of documents. New formats for documents, including placement plans, are also being piloted. These are more child-friendly and are clearer in setting out objectives and targets. Since the last inspection, the population of young people has been largely stable. This provides them with consistency and demonstrates the commitment of the staff in maintaining placements even in the face of difficulties. Some young people have

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

expressed dissatisfaction with staying here and presented extremely challenging and hurtful behaviour to staff. It is to the credit of staff that they continue to be focused on the welfare, safety and happiness of young people even when subject to personal abuse. The good partnership working with other professionals, and parents, ensures that young people make steady progress. All young people have excellent school attendance, most at the on-site school but others in mainstream provision. Some are doing exceptionally well in terms of attainment. One young person is expecting to get good GCSE grades against the background of extremely poor school attendance in their earlier life. In terms of meeting health needs, staff implement the advice of relevant professionals. This, together with the skilled support of staff, has enabled one young person to make significant progress in dealing with a chronic health condition and so improving their social relationships. Older young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people are acquiring the skills that they will need as adults through structured independence programmes. Collaboration between staff and others also contributes to the safety of young people. For example, the worrying level of one young person’s missing-from-home behaviour has been greatly reduced by careful planning of family contact with parents and social worker. Staff have also responded promptly to separate incidents where young people have been placed at risk through social media activity, and indicated intentions to self-harm. This rapid intervention in conjunction with other agencies ensured that the young people were safeguarded. The registered manager’s development plan demonstrates ambition for further improvement, with clear actions and timescales. Additional online training for staff has been commissioned, which will provide them with in-depth knowledge about issues such as attachment and bereavement and loss. This will enable staff to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

support young people’s emotional well-being. Formal accreditation for good practice in anti-bullying is being sought, as is recognition for the home’s work in promoting, and listening to, the voice of young people. One recommendation has been made as a result of this inspection. It is laudable that young people have free access to the kitchen, fridges and freezers. However, some opened packets of food are not being labelled with the date of opening and when they should be used by. The registered manager should implement robust daily monitoring to ensure that food hygiene practice meets accepted standards.

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Information about this children’s home

The home accommodates up to eight 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

22/12/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

18/03/2015 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 recommendation:  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene, etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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’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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