Children's Home run by Right-Trak Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC394909 1 SC394909 Registered provider: Right-Trak Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home accommodates up to six children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private provider.

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Judgement at last inspection: good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection two young people have left the home. One young person went to semi-independent accommodation and another was moved out of the area for safeguarding reasons. One of these young people had lived at the home for many years and remains in contact with the staff, who provide ongoing emotional and practical support.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Four young people have moved into the home. The manager obtains detailed information from placing authorities and completes a robust risk assessment prior to young people’s admittance. This makes sure that staff have the skills to meet young people’s identified needs. However, following input from the commissioned psychologist, the manager identified that two young people needed more specialist placements. Staff assisted these young people to move in a planned way to their new homes. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC394909 2 Currently there are three young people living at the home. The newly admitted young people have settled and present as a good match for each other, with the peer group mainly living harmoniously together.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people are making progress from their starting points, particularly in respect of reduced safeguarding concerns. Young people who absconded from previous placements are no longer going missing. This reduces their risk of exploitation and their involvement in criminal activity. Young people are not involved in drug or alcohol misuse. A social worker reported: ‘I was quite impressed with the progress [name of young person] has made so far. They look well and relaxed. I think this is down to the hard work and commitment of staff.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

On occasions when young people’s challenging behaviour results in minor damage to the home, staff use de-escalation techniques effectively. Physical intervention is rarely used. The manager does not want young people unnecessarily criminalised so staff use restorative practice techniques. They help young people to understand the impact their behaviour has had on others. Staff also keep young people busy to avoid boredom, with them benefiting from physical activities. They enjoy going to the gym or skate park, as well as having pampering nights and going to a nail bar for manicures. This supports positive relationships with staff and each other, as well as promoting young people’s health and well-being.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager challenges the placing authority about young people’s education, and his persistence has resulted in one young person’s enrolment in a mainstream school. Another young person enjoys tuition from a qualified tutor. This is significant progress for young people who have a history of non-school attendance. Another young person’s engagement in education has been mixed, but staff are persistent in maintaining motivation.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One of the home’s strengths is the introduction of topics for discussion in the young people’s meetings. Staff creatively help young people to address practical and emotional issues, such as bullying, internet safety and relationships. The young people take ownership of their meetings and choose which topics to discuss. This provides staff with an understanding of young people’s values and beliefs, which they can discuss further in individual key-working sessions. The young people are also educated about safeguarding matters so that they are empowered to keep themselves safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s computerised recording system is now also used for monitoring, producing easy-to-read graphs. This tool provides an effective method for identifying trends or changes in behaviour, as well as looking at young people’s measurable outcomes, such as engagement with education. The recording system charts young people’s progress against their targets and helps identify when young people need additional support.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has implemented the recommendation made at the last inspection, as well as incorporating a suggestion made to improve the young people’s meetings. The manager has a strong focus on monitoring the quality of care and outcomes for young people. To enhance his six-monthly review, staff use a Interim inspection report children’s home: SC394909 3 communication book to capture comments made by stakeholders, staff and parents. This improvement ensures that regular consultation with others is captured, to make sure that young people have a high quality service.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people’s participation and involvement at the home has improved. Staff have been creative and produced child-friendly documents such as a new welcome guide, safeguarding guide and an easy-to-understand Care Standards booklet. This makes sure that young people know the house rules and how to keep safe, and also what they should expect from the manager and staff. The young people are consulted with about the running of the home, and their views are acted on. The young people have many opportunities to be involved in highlighting areas for improvement around the home, for example with the décor. The young people know how to complain, and the manager fully investigates any complaints. However, a quicker response is needed to inform young people about the outcome of a complaint so they continue to feel listened to.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/06/2017 Full Good 12/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 09/08/2016 Full Requires improvement 23/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

 Staff should encourage children to share any concerns about their care or other matters as soon as they arise. Children must be able to take up issues or make a complaint with support and without any fear that this will result in any adverse consequences. Regulation 39 sets out the requirements on the registered person to have a complaints procedure. Children must be aware of this procedure and be reminded of it as necessary. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.13) Specifically, this relates to informing young people about the outcome of their complaint and ensuring that it is fed back in a timely fashion.

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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 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC394909 4 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.

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Information about this inspection

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.

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 104 1st Floor West, Wingrove House, Ponteland Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 3DE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Glynis Spriddell

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Inspector

Tina Ruffles, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC394909 5 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.

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Inspector

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