Children's home run by North Tyneside Council in North Tyneside

Inspection report children’s home: SC408072 1 SC408072 Registered provider: North Tyneside Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The children’s home provides care and accommodation for four children and young people who have a learning disability. A local authority operates the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 13/06/2017 to 14/06/2017

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

Good

How well children and young people are helped and protected Good

p.1

Good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers Requires improvement to be good

p.1

Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

Good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good

p.1

Good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 The staff provide good-quality support to children and young people. There are always sufficient staff to attend to their individual needs in order to keep them happy and safe from harm. Inspection report children’s home: SC408072 2  The children and young people have very good school attendance. They make good progress and are supported to achieve by a dedicated staff team.  The staff manage children and young people’s behaviour well and respect the rights of children and young people, as well as their equality and diversity.  The staff team works well with health and educational professionals to ensure that the children and young people receive a responsive and receptive level of care.  The management and staff team provide consistent care with clear communication. This ensures that the children and young people who have specific learning disabilities receive individualised care that meets their needs.

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 There are shortfalls in the home’s leadership and management. Monitoring arrangements are not robust. The development of the service and action planning require evaluation and structured planning to ensure that outcomes for children and young people are improved.  The children and young people’s care plans are not maintained consistently. A robust approach to timely and accurate recording requires improvement.  The home is in need of decoration and improvement to external play areas.  Managers and team leaders require regular supervision.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2017 Full Good 13/06/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/03/2016 Full Requires improvement 22/10/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC408072 3

p.2

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— the quality of care provided for children; the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report"). The registered person must— supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report

p.3

Requirement Due date

within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45) 06/07/2017 Inspection report children’s home: SC408072 4

p.3

Recommendations

 The statement of purpose is of particular importance to this standard (regulation 6(2)(a) and (b)(i)). Homes are required to develop and keep under review a "Statement of Purpose" (regulation 16 and schedule 1). This is with particular reference to ensuring the children’s Commissioner is correctly recorded. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)  The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager and senior members of staff, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of children assigned in their care. This supervision needs to be regular and a record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the children’s homes

p.4

Recommendations

regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraphs 13.2 and 13.3)  Regulation 45 sets out requirements for the registered person to have a system in place which allows them to monitor the matters set out in the regulation at least once every six months; also see regulation 13(2)(h) (the leadership and management standard). The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. Reviews should be underpinned by the quality standards as described in regulations 5 to 14. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64 to 65, paragraph 15.2)  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policy on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. All children’s records

p.4

Recommendations

must be kept up to date and kept under review. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraphs 14.3 and 14.4)  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. In particular, the home’s appearance and decoration inside and in play areas should be of a high standard and child friendly. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff respond to children and young people with care and compassion. Warmth is shown at all times in meeting their needs. There is a strong commitment to ensuring that the children and young people are provided with a range of activities in-house and Inspection report children’s home: SC408072 5 out in the community. Their views and opinions are obtained through knowledge gained from parents, families and social workers, but in the main through observation on a day- to-day basis. Improvements are required in ensuring that children and young people’s choices are heard and recorded to show how they impact on their care. One young person has recently accessed an ‘app’ on his iPad. This enables him, with support, to provide a visual display of all the things he likes doing and has experienced with staff during his time at the home. It also demonstrates the importance of technology to aid communication. Parents and extended families are able to rejoice and celebrate life

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

stories together, enhancing children’s and young people’s emotional well-being and assisting them to recognise familiar adults in their lives. Contact in the main is very positive and facilitated by a committed staff team that advocates strongly for family contact. Staff work with adult services to maintain contact during transitional periods to enable families and young people to familiarise themselves with new people in their homes. Good partnership work maintains positive relationships. This helps young adults to deal with anxieties at their own pace, ensuring that their well- being is at the forefront of practice. Educational needs are routinely met. The staff engage with teachers on a daily basis through home-school diaries and direct contact when escorting children to school and young people to college. Routines are shared to provide consistency across environments, which helps to relieve any stress or uncertainties that could lead to

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

behavioural issues. This is also evident when sharing information with parents. A parent said: ‘Communication is really good. We contact every morning and they always provide a full picture of his moods and activities.’ Independence skills are encouraged and aims or targets are set monthly, plotting progress. The staff team proudly announced during the visit that one young person routinely comes downstairs each morning with his washing and takes it directly to the laundry room, indicating a level of independence that has come about due to a consistent approach. Recognising achievements is made through a variety of communication aids and techniques with children and young people who find it difficult to express themselves and understand daily tasks. The children’s and young people’s bedrooms are individual to them and displays of family and staff photographs can be seen everywhere. The photographs show lots of

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

smiling faces while on positive activities and contact. Toys are available in their rooms and in appropriate safe areas in the home. The staff team is very good at using social stories to overcome barriers in relation to meeting the children’s and young people’s health and social needs. One staff member described how these are used to enable children and young people to go to the toilet, have their hair cut, visit the dentist and, in some cases, attempting to understand where it is appropriate and where not to take off clothes. A consistent approach helps children and young people who have learning disabilities to understand and to support them with social expectations. This not only keeps them safe but protects their dignity.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Inspection report children’s home: SC408072 6 The staff team knows the children and young people very well and is supported in this understanding by having very good pen pictures and positive behaviour support plans. They are individual to each child and young person, ensuring that details relating to their likes and dislikes are well known and documented. This provides a bespoke package of care that specifically helps to keep children and young people safe and reduces any potential harm that may come to them. Acknowledging difference, specifically in respect of autistic spectrum disorder behaviours, enables the team to identify obsessive behaviours and individual triggers that can impact on children and young people in the home. The staff team is skilled and appropriately trained to manage behaviours in the home and out on activities. Staff deal with incidents that occur with sensitivity and respect. Parents, families and, if required, Ofsted are notified in a timely fashion. This

p.6

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

primarily ensures that the monitoring and support to enable children and young people to live in a safe environment is maintained at all times. Although there has been an error in medication during this reporting period, in general the healthcare needs of the children and young people are met well. The management and staff team respond quickly with openness and honesty. This ensures that practice is constantly reflected on and improved. The children and young people who have complex needs, some requiring more medication than others, have made progress in their diets and in dental care. A dental technician attends the home and, when children and young people were previously very anxious about allowing their teeth to be checked, they are now more at ease with the process. This promotes their health and well-being and reduces anxieties linked to their individual needs. A family member said: ‘The staff are

p.6

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

very responsive to medical needs. They contact the doctor when required, who comes out to the home.’ This demonstrates good professional relationships with medical personnel and enables progress to be made in addressing individual anxieties. The young adults have been able to remain in the home until transition plans with target dates are in place. This has impacted on outcomes with regards to meeting their needs as young adults; however, experience, knowledge and management of risk has enabled the home to operate with minimal change and impact on the children and young people. Children and young people are well managed and staffing ratios are always adhered to and which are outlined in their individual care plans. The children and young people are rarely restrained. Restraint training ensures that the staff team carries out any physical intervention in a safe manner. Written records are regularly reviewed and have management oversight. When intervention has been

p.6

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

necessary, restraints are appropriate and completed with care and attention. Relevant risk assessments are in place and individual to each child and young person. Good awareness is demonstrated by staff through observation of emotions and body movements. These are indicators which enable dynamic risk assessments to be made by the staff to avoid or divert certain behaviours. This reduces anxiety and provides reassurance to the children and young people that they are cared for by trusted adults.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager has been supported by internal promotions in respect of a Inspection report children’s home: SC408072 7 deputy manager and senior residential workers. The registered manager has a relevant management certificate. The management team is currently going through a period of change that is supported by the responsible individual. Roles within the management structure are shared, ensuring that there is no impact on the emotional needs of the children and young people. Requirements made at the last full inspection have been completed. Individual transition plans and interim support plans are now in place for the children and young people. There are significant delays in terms of set dates, which continue to impact on the young adults, who remain in the children’s home. Clear dates have not yet been established, but there are signs of good progress being made to establish a team that will support

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

the young adults’ needs into adult care. Plans are being put together to ensure that staffing for the adult placement and the home will work together during the transition, to ensure that both young adults are supported. This will reduce any stress or anxiety that is increased through their respective learning disability. The children and young adults in place have very good relationships with the staff team and, through consistent staff presence, providing a consistent response to their needs, the impact has been minimal. All children and young people were observed to be happy in the home. A grandparent stated: ‘It has been a long rocky road, but I am thankful plans are moving forward. The home itself has been absolutely fine, staff are always responsive and receptive.’ Monitoring is not compliant with regulation. The registered manager’s six-monthly report has not been submitted within the timeframes specified and has detail missing. The

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

views of children and young people are not recorded and it is difficult to ascertain the involvement of others, which is crucial to the development of the service. Monthly monitoring reports have been introduced and this has improved the evaluation of progress being made for children and young people, which then enables aims and targets to be set for them individually in accordance with their level of ability. Improvements are required to ensure that these are completed on time and as set out in their guidance. Where evidenced, the children and young people were progressing and developing an understanding towards meeting personal care, such as toileting. The support to achieve such aims is provided sensitively, respecting their dignity at all times. A medication error was reported and comprehensively investigated. A number of actions were identified to improve practice and to reduce the likelihood of any errors in the

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

future. The registered manager took immediate action and a fact-finding investigation was conducted. The outcome resulted in notable improvements in administering and handling of medication. All staff are in the process of receiving training. Managers and team leaders have also completed competency training which is carried out with staff on a regular basis. The medication policy has been reviewed and new guidelines are robust. Steps taken ensure that children’s and young people’s healthcare continues to be met. Supervision arrangements for managers and team leaders are not completed on a regular basis and should be provided by someone with relevant experience and status. As a result, reflection on practice and support of others is not as good as it could be. Inspection report children’s home: SC408072 8 This impacts on overall performance of the home and also personal development. Relationships with other agencies and parents remain strong and ensure that the

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

children’s and young people’s needs and requirements are met. The home’s newsletter supports and delivers information to parents and families. Meetings with parents are facilitated by the home to ensure that the parent’s voice is heard and acted on. A social worker stated: ‘They work with families at all times. The home is fantastic, they know the children and young people really well, who absolutely trust them. I have nothing but praise for them.’

p.8

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

p.8

Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC408072 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: North Tyneside Council, 16 The Silverlink North, Newcastle upon Tyne NE27 0BY

p.9

Inspector

Michael Dack, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC408072 10 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10