Children's home run by St Cuthbert’s Care in Newcastle upon Tyne

Inspection report children's home: SC459244 1 SC459244 Registered provider: St Cuthbert’s Care

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a charitable organisation and is registered for the care and accommodation of up to six children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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 outstanding

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 Leadership and management are excellent. The registered manager is an exceptional manager. She is skilled and experienced, and has the respect of the staff team. She is highly motivated and remains confident, committed and enthusiastic about the work. She is caring, and places a high priority on the Inspection report children's home: SC459244 2 young people’s needs. The responsible individual and the provider organisation are also fully supportive.  The staff team is dedicated to its work. The staff have built very good relationships with the young people and this has helped to support them through some difficult times. The staff team is tenacious and persistent, as well as caring and enthusiastic. The staff are skilled and highly motivated and remain positive.  The young people are being supported to become safer. The staff team understands risks well and has worked hard with all the young people to reduce

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

and minimise these risks, and this has made a positive difference. The young people have at times put themselves in some risky situations, but the staff team has stuck with them and this hard work has been effective.  The young people are offered personalised work. The staff have referred most of the young people for outside specialist help of various kinds, and complement this with good quality, individualised work at the home. The young people have engaged with this work and this is having a positive effect on helping the young people to come to terms with their difficulties, and helping them to change their behaviours and to stay safer.  There is a strong emphasis on learning independence skills. The young people are supported and encouraged to practise the skills necessary for independent life and are prepared well for this. The young people are fully supported by the registered manager and the staff team during the moving-on process so that

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

they have the best possible chance of success.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 08/11/2016 Full Outstanding 08/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 11/08/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children's home: SC459244 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the previous full inspection, the progress and experience of the young people was judged to have been outstanding. This progress has stalled a little over this current inspection period as some of the young people have become disengaged to some extent, and have been rather unsettled. However, the staff have worked very hard and been very committed, and they have been able to protect the young people and support them to work through their difficulties. This hard work and dedication has enabled the young people to become increasingly safe and to become more settled again. Good progress now continues, and the experience of living at the home continues to be very good and very supportive.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have only been a few changes at the home since the previous full inspection. One young person left and one other has been recently admitted. The registered manager and the provider organisation have deliberately kept the changes in young people to a minimum as some of the young people living at the home have been unsettled for some time. This has provided good stability and is good management.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and the staff team continue to be highly motivated and to give the young people’s needs the highest priority. There have only been two staff changes, with one person starting back at work after a year’s absence and one new person starting. The stability of the staff team has been important in maintaining strong relationships between the young people and the staff. These excellent relationships are the basis for the good work carried out at the home, and have made a real difference in the young people’s experience of living at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a relaxed environment where the young people clearly feel safe and secure. The young people seek out staff and interact easily and comfortably with them. Staff give good advice and guidance, although this is not always heeded. However, the young people know that the staff care for them. The young people may choose to behave in ways which are challenging or risky, but they know they will always be welcomed back and given another chance. The staff provide this stable base for the young people extremely well and the young people clearly benefit from this security.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some of the young people have struggled to deal with past traumas and difficulties in their lives, although they have made progress with these issues. These young people have been well supported by external specialist workers and by skilled staff members to work through the difficult areas of their lives. One young person has made good progress around understanding relationships and understanding how to stay safe, and has become more resilient and confident. Consequently, their self-esteem has also improved. Another young person has started to understand more about their past life and about family relationships, and has been able to develop their identity and maintain better relationships both within their family and their friendship group. This is all very positive. However, these young people have been through difficult periods in their lives. They have been missing from the home frequently and have missed a good deal of

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

education because they have been unsettled. The staff’s caring and tenacious approach Inspection report children's home: SC459244 4 has kept them as safe as possible, and they are now starting to make better choices themselves.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One young person left the home when they turned 18 years old. They had a long placement at the home and made very good progress, from a low starting point, throughout their stay. A consultant psychiatrist said that they had ‘done remarkably well to achieve a foundation of safety’ at the home. They went on to say: ‘The staff there deserve a lot of credit in my opinion.’ This young person will need continued support, and staff were able to negotiate a supportive living situation which meets their needs well. This is an excellent outcome for a young person who had made sustained good progress, which included completing a level 2 vocational qualification and receiving an offer to start an apprenticeship in their chosen career of instructing outdoor sports.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A young person who was only recently admitted arrived with a substantial history of missing from home and of anti-social behaviour. They have settled well and early signs appear very positive, which suggests that they have begun to make significant changes to their behaviour.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are well supported to move to independence. There is a considerable emphasis on learning and practising the skills needed to survive independently, and there is also excellent support to ensure that the young people have the right living situation when they do leave the home. The registered manager has taken time and effort to ensure this happens so that young people have the best possible chance of success. The young people are encouraged to take part in the running of the home. They are consulted regularly about all the day-to-day issues. They are also encouraged to take a full part in planning their lives, and are totally involved in the decision-making processes. This is particularly evident where two of the young people have wished to try having increased contact with their families. Staff have planned this well with placing social workers and with the young people to allow extended contact in a safe way. This

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

has enabled the young people to work through these relationships, and to arrive at a better understanding of the relationships and the potential impact on their lives.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

While the young people are clearly making progress with their emotional well-being, they have not all made such good progress in other areas of their lives. Some of the young people have not made good progress with their education and training. However, all of the young people now have clear plans and aspirations for school, college and work, and this is positive. The young people’s health needs are also well looked after. Reports written by staff for recent reviews were well written and comprehensive, and detailed the progress young people had made. The content of the reports was realistic in stating the areas that required better progress, but was also positive in that the reports highlighted the achievements and areas of particularly good progress. This is good care planning in action.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are quick to refer young people for specialist guidance when required. Some of the young people have benefited from support from specialist domestic violence workers, youth offending workers and emotional health workers. This has all contributed to their continued good progress. Inspection report children's home: SC459244 5

p.4

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

The staff at the home have a good understanding of the risks to young people, and identify these well. They have been able to support and care for the young people so that they have become increasingly safe.

p.5

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

In the period since the previous full inspection, some of the young people have been missing from home frequently. At one stage, in early 2017, concerns were growing because of the risks facing these young people. The staff were working hard to minimise these risks, but the young people were not responding. However, over recent months the young people have started to change their behaviour. The number of missing episodes has begun to drop, the duration of the missing episodes has clearly decreased, and more importantly the risks around these incidents has decreased substantially. This progress is clearly linked to the skilful work, interventions and a tenacious approach by the staff.

p.5

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

Staff go to great lengths to locate any young people who are absent or missing from the home. This includes getting to know their friends and acquaintances, and getting to know where they live and where they congregate. This disruption work demonstrates considerable care and is also directly responsible for keeping the young people safer.

p.5

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

The staff have worked closely with the police, and the registered manager has challenged the police when they fail to give sufficient attention to these issues.

p.5

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

One young person, who has recently been admitted with a substantial history of going missing, has been worked with intensively and has already reduced the number of times they have gone missing.

p.5

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

This decrease in the amount of time missing from the home has also helped other risks decrease as well. The young people who were missing the most also had substantial concerns around the possibility of being sexually exploited, and these risks have decreased as well.

p.5

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

At present, if young people are late returning and require reporting as missing, staff usually know where to find them and are able to persuade them to return to the home. The staff are able to ensure return home interviews are always offered, and these often help elicit further information which is useful in the future. This is good work.

p.5

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

One of the young people has self-harmed on a number of occasions, but staff have supported this young person to reduce this behaviour and to keep themselves safer. Some of the young people have experimented with drugs and alcohol, and again as they spend less time missing from the home these concerns are lessening.

p.5

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

The staff offer clear boundaries and expectations. They try to keep the culture at the home as positive as they can and offer a good range of incentives and rewards for positive behaviour. There have always been clear consequences for young people who do not meet these expectations. The staff have used an increase in the number of sanctions to address any challenging behaviour, and this approach has been effective. As Inspection report children's home: SC459244 6 the young people in the home become more settled and engaged, the number of sanctions is decreasing and the number of positive rewards is rising again. Staff are always quick to praise, to offer encouragement and to offer further incentives for positive behaviour. The staff have not had to use any physical interventions at all during the period since the previous full inspection. The registered manager did tell the inspector that they had had to get ‘a bit firmer’ with one of the young people. This was

p.5

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

clearly a well-timed and needed intervention as some loss of daily routine had become concerning. There has been no bullying recorded at the home. There have been some safeguarding concerns around the missing-from-home incidents which have been dealt with well. In addition, staff appropriately managed one safeguarding incident involving concerns around the sexualised behaviour of one young person, and their potential risk to others. A specialist assessment was completed and work undertaken with this young person to lessen any possible risks.

p.6

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

The young people at the home clearly feel safe and secure in the home, and the good relationships they have with staff go a long way to helping this.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has considerable experience, having been in this post for over three years. She is also appropriately qualified. The registered manager leads her staff team with confidence, and is inspirational. She is ambitious for the young people she looks after and is clearly influential in changing their lives. She has a good understanding of the strengths of her team and is able to work on any areas that require improvement. Developments at the home are ongoing. The home has recently received the Investors in Children award, which demonstrates the commitment and skill of the staff and the good participation of the young people.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The young people living at the home are given the highest priority by the registered manager. Although she is skilled at management and monitors all the care practices really well, she is at heart a hands-on manager who enjoys excellent relationships with the young people. She spends plenty of time with the young people and works with them on all the important issues. Not only does she provide an excellent service for the young people, but she is also an excellent role model for all the staff. The registered manager tries to offer care that is as unconditional as possible, and this again is excellent.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager understands the good progress that the young people are making. She has taken the view that some young people need time and security to work through their difficulties, and she understands that this may mean that progress in other areas of their lives is perhaps not quite as positive as would be hoped.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has the respect of all her staff. The inspector was able to see the completed feedback forms anonymously filled in by all the staff, ready for the registered manager’s appraisal. They were full of supportive comments saying how she always took an interest in everyone and everything, how good a listener she was, how well she supported them and how well she took action when this was needed. They Inspection report children's home: SC459244 7 were all completely happy with the level of formal and informal supervision and appraisal, and were all complimentary about training opportunities. Training is tailored to meet individual needs and is all up to date.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The inspector was impressed with the commitment shown to the young people living at the home. Because some of the young people have been unsettled the registered manager had made the decision not to admit any other child or young person until they were more settled. One of the young people currently living at the home is perhaps easily led, and they did not need any further negative influences in their lives. This decision demonstrates strong, clear management, and was fully supported by the responsible individual and the provider organisation. When the young people living at the home were more settled the registered manager took great care to assess the impact of all possible admissions, and has taken care to select a young person who she feels will have the least impact on those already living in the home. This is excellent management. The registered manager recognises that the impact of admitting a child or

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

young person can have a major influence on others.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There has been a complaint that some of the young people had been involved in some anti-social behaviour that affected a nearby house and the family living there. This behaviour has clearly caused some anxiety in the neighbourhood. The registered manager has taken good steps to deal with this issue, and the inspector believes that the issue was resolved as well as it could have been.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is achieving its aims and objectives as set out in its statement of purpose.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is confident, and is very able to challenge others when required. On one occasion she challenged an education provider and was able to secure an increase in education hours for one young person. On another occasion she successfully challenged a local authority housing department to ensure that a care leaver was appropriately prioritised for a tenancy despite being placed from outside the area. There is no doubt that the registered manager is able to form appropriate professional relationships, and that she uses these well to ensure the best possible all round support for the young people living at the home. Referrals to specialist workers are routinely made, and any difficulties are sorted out quickly to avoid delay.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

At the previous inspection two requirements were made. One requirement was to ensure that Regulation 45 reports were completed and submitted on time. This has been met. There was also a requirement to ensure that children who go missing from the home were appropriately classified as missing by the police. The registered manager has done this. She has spoken in person to the missing-from-home coordinator, and has agreed an appropriate way forward so that this requirement has also been met.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made at this inspection. Inspection report children's home: SC459244 8

p.7

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 differences 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 whom 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: SC459244 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: St Cuthbert’s House, West Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE15 7PY

p.9

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Sheila Errington

p.9

Inspector

Colin Imrie, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC459244 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