Children's home run by Newcastle City Council

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 sustained effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people and their families benefit from a service in which staff strive to keep them together and resolve their relationship difficulties. Staff are successful in maintaining an excellent track record of family reunification when this is the local authority’s plan of care. Within the staff team, there are qualified family intervention workers to support this goal and more staff are undertaking this specialist training.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Whatever the future plans are for young people, staff endeavour to work closely with their relatives. This helps to promote positive contact, shared effective behaviour management strategies and safety plans. Partnership working is a real strength of the staff team. Desired outcomes of placements are thoroughly planned with the local authority in a way that reflects the short-term nature of what the service offers. Staff meet regularly with other professionals, such as social workers, mental health workers and the police, and with young people’s relatives. There is good sharing of information and mutual agreement about care plans for young people.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are very quick to arrange access to universal services, such as health and education, for young people. There is a strong expectation that all young people go to school and attendance frequently increases after admission. The staff team has strong links with specialist health services, the police and other agencies. This gives young people positive experiences of care, promotes their individual health needs and helps reduce risk-taking behaviour, such as crime and substance misuse.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The time-limited nature of placements only gives staff and other agencies a short timescale to make a positive impact on young people’s development and progress. The staff are committed and give all young people high levels of care. Despite this, not all young people engage positively to achieve positive outcomes.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The safety of young people is a priority for staff and is reflected in their proactive work with the local police and community support officers. This includes information-sharing about risks to young people, engaging young people in reducing criminal behaviour and protecting them when they are missing from the home. Safety plans include extra staffing and resources that provide young people with additional supervision, support and care. This helps reduce risks from self- harm and child sexual exploitation. Staff maintain robust practice in locating young people and ensuring that they are safe when they have been missing from the home.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people feel safe in the home and there are no reported incidents of bullying. Staff use incentives and positive rewards to encourage good behaviour and are proactive in discussions with young people about appropriate behaviour. Sanctions are infrequent and only once in the last six months have staff used physical intervention. This was imperative to prevent a young person from coming to harm. There is good management oversight of any such incidents, which ensures that young people and staff are fully supported.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team is motivated, experienced and qualified. Its members undertake a wide range of training and can meet the diverse needs of young people they support. Some of the staff have worked together for many years and they have developed a high degree of support for each other and have established very good working relationships. New staff feel welcome and receive an effective induction. Consequently, young people experience care that is stable, consistent and clear with regard to expectations about behaviour and daily routines.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality of internal monitoring and external scrutiny by an independent visitor is good. Consequently, young people benefit from high standards of care and they have a good say in their care and the running of the home.

p.3

Information about this children’s home

A local authority manages this home, which provides care and accommodation for up to seven young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home provides short-term placements in which young people generally stay for a maximum of 20 weeks. This time is used to support reunification with families or prepare for an alternative placement based on young people’s needs.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 23/01/2017 Full Outstanding 06/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/11/2015 Full Outstanding 30/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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 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.

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 0300123 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 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.6