Children's Home run by Evolution Children Services Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

Inspection report children’s home: SC382595 1 SC382595 Registered provider: Evolution Childrens Services Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned and operated by a limited company.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: Improved effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC382595 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Children and young people make exceptional and continuous progress from their starting points, due to the staff team’s consistent care, boundaries and routines.  The manager and staff are highly committed, and the quality of relationships with children and young people is excellent.  Children’s and young people’s education is a priority, and all have a full-time college or school placement. As a result, educational outcomes dramatically improve.  Staff are proactive and make important links with children’s and young people’s family members. This leads to increased contact, and family members take more of an active role in their children’s lives.  Children and young people engage in good-quality direct work to help them understand the dangers from their risk-taking behaviours.  Missing from home episodes have significantly reduced, children and young people are not engaging in criminal activities and there is no substance misuse.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager’s robust and continuous attention to risk management helps to protect children and young people from harm. There are excellent links with safeguarding professionals.  The child-focused manager maintains a thorough oversight of children’s and young people’s behaviour, needs and progress.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager needs to ensure that all staff have the appropriate qualification to work at the home, especially those who have had the relevant date to complete the Level 3 Diploma deferred.  A system is needed to collate feedback from stakeholders and young people to inform the quality of care review.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 13/12/2016 Full Outstanding 17/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 21/07/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC382595 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

An individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. (Regulation 32 (4)(5))

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Requirement Due date

This is in respect of one staff member who has had the date deferred, due to not working at the home for a prolonged period, and needs to complete the training by the end of the year. 31/12/2017

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Recommendations

 The processes the registered person puts in place to enable such a review to take place, should allow for a report to be generated at least once every six months. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.3) Specifically in respect of collating the feedback obtained from stakeholders and young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children and young people make exceptional and continuous progress from their starting points, in all aspects of their development. They benefit from consistent care, boundaries and routines from a staff team whose members are highly committed and determined to help them succeed. This results in a significant improvement in areas such as their personal hygiene and appearance, leading to raised self-esteem. A professional said: ‘[Name of young person] has made major steps. He didn’t engage in education and would isolate himself. Staff have been proactive and encouraged him to try new things.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff instil the value of education from the time that children and young people move Inspection report children’s home: SC382595 4 into the home. Staff prioritise children’s and young people’s education and, consequently, they all have a full-time place in college or school. The manager has developed excellent links with the virtual school and a range of different provisions that offer alternative placements. Staff knowledge and understanding of children and young people’s interests, abilities and background helps professionals find the right resources to meet their needs. Staff strive to make sure that children and young people have a positive experience in education. One young person received numerous certificates from his school for his achievements, and another has re-engaged in education after many years of disrupted schooling. This focus has resulted in educational outcomes dramatically mproving and promoting future aspirations and goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The nurturing staff team invests considerable time with children and young people, listening to their views. Trusting relationships develop; children and young people enjoy spending time with staff, and receive high levels of emotional support. Consequently, children and young people develop a sense of belonging and stability. Participation in events, such as a charity fun run with staff, strengthens these relationships and leads to enhanced community spirit. Children and young people are settled and want to remain living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A variety of social and recreational activities promote children’s and young people’s good physical health and social skills. Positive opportunities and experiences help them build on their existing talents and interests. One child enjoys going horse riding, and helping to clean out the animals gives him a sense of responsibility. Children and young people have structure to their day to stop boredom. The purchase of a pool table has led to group activities, such as a pool tournament. This encourages peer friendships and reduces the risk of bullying and negative behaviours.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are proactive and highly committed to promoting contact and maintaining important links with family members. This perseverance has had significant implications for one young person who has rebuilt his relationship with his parent. It also leads to children and young people spending holidays and important celebrations, such as Christmas, with family members who take more of an active role in their lives. This gives children and young people a strong sense of identity and belonging. Consequently, opportunities to return home significantly increase. A parent said: ‘I am very happy how things are working. If there are issues, staff stay in touch, and contact is going well.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Independence work is encouraged, and young people develop practical and do-it- yourself skills. This includes young people decorating their bedroom and using recycled materials to build seating and a shelter in the garden. One child built a bicycle from scratch. Such activities promote a sense of pride at their achievements, and respect for their home and belongings. Transition planning is comprehensive and highly child- centred, and staff work in partnership with families and other services to provide a cohesive plan. Some young people have moved to the company’s supported lodgings home. This offers the reassurance of a high level of emotional and practical support and continued relationships with the staff team. Inspection report children’s home: SC382595 5

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

Staff understand how children and young people’s experiences of neglect and trauma affect their emotional responses and behaviour. Highly effective planning and regularly updated individualised risk assessments, with clear strategies that staff follow, keep children and young people safe. Children and young people have a clear message that their safety and well-being is important. Engagement in good-quality direct work helps children and young people understand the dangers from their risk-taking behaviours. Consequently, they are educated about keeping safe. A staff member said: ‘We all work together. We have key-working sessions but on a day-to-day basis we have conversations with them, as something on TV may spark the conversation.’

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

Missing from home episodes have significantly reduced, although on some occasions children and young people push the boundaries and return home late. However, risks associated with unauthorised absences are low.

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

Behaviour management is effective. Staff are consistent in their response to negative behaviour and help children and young people manage their frustrations and emotions. Restraints are rare, with only one episode of a young person needing to be briefly held. This is because of the effective de-escalation strategies and good relationships between staff and children and young people. Restorative and reflective practice following incidents, combined with positive incentives, has led to a significant reduction of negative behaviours. Children and young people learn about consequences. They are not engaging in criminal activities and do not have any substance misuse issues. To make further improvements, one young person has been empowered to ask for external support in anger management work.

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

The manager’s robust and continuous attention to risk management helps to protect children and young people from harm. The staff team is proactive in working with partner agencies and has excellent links with safeguarding professionals such as police and the local authority designated officer. This leads to the implementation of individual protocols to ensure a well-coordinated response to risk management. A professional said: ‘The manager goes over and beyond to protect the children and young people. He arranges strategy meetings and has a good safeguarding process.’ Participation in locality safeguarding meetings keeps the manager and staff informed about current risks in the vicinity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has significant experience in residential care, including in managerial roles, and has the required leadership qualification. He provides effective leadership and oversight and makes continuous improvements to the running of the home. A professional described the manager as ‘child focused and transparent, promoting good working relationships with others’. Inspection report children’s home: SC382595 6 The manager knows the children and young people in his care very well. He maintains a thorough oversight of their behaviour, needs and progress. Children and young people talk of having an excellent relationship with the manager. One said he is ‘sound’. Consequently, they feel confident to raise any issues with him about staff practice so that he can address their concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Systems are easy to follow, and link together to enable an evaluation of children and young people’s progress. Staff’s recording is comprehensive and detailed. The manager is meticulous, and his monitoring and auditing is robust. Excellent leadership from the responsible individual provides further reliable oversight. The manager challenges staff, to ensure that they provide a consistently high level of care and supervision to the children and young people. This attitude extends to the staff team members, who also challenge each other’s practice. One staff member said: ‘[Name of manager] is firm but fair. He is amazing and has given me the opportunity of learning things that aren’t mandatory.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Robust recruitment procedures ensure that staff are carefully selected to provide an eclectic staff mix for the benefit of children and young people. A staff member said: ‘We are different but we all work well together. There are different opinions at team meetings but we take on board what people say.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from a thorough induction, regular supervision, training and support enabling their personal and professional development. This includes in-house training to ensure a consistent team approach. The manager is determined to ensure that staff have the necessary residential care qualification. For one staff member, the manager has set a deadline to ensure the completion of their work. Staff are encouraged to research and disseminate information to the staff team, such as about domestic violence. Children’s and young people’s experiences are used to personalise the training. The manager uses supervision and team meetings to ensure an effective level of reflective practice that relates directly to the needs of children and young people. This helps staff develop and ensures that they remain child focused in their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A thorough and comprehensive evaluation of the service is insightful, and the manager has a clear vision for the future. He obtains feedback from stakeholders and young people. However, this is not easily accessible. The manager is proactive in engaging other agencies and professionals to ensure that children and young people receive excellent, holistic care. A monthly visitor also provides a robust opinion about the home, providing the regulator with an independent safeguarding and welfare opinion.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC382595 7 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.

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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: SC382595 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Evolution Childrens Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Coburg House, 1 Coburg Street, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE8 1NS

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Inspector

Tina Ruffles, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC382595 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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