Children's Home run by Northumberland County Council in Northumberland

Inspection report children’s home: SC486604 1 SC486604 Registered provider: Northumberland County Council

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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, which is operated by the local authority, is registered to provide long-term care for four children and young people who experience behavioural and/or emotional difficulties.

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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 outstanding

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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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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because: Inspection report children’s home: SC486604 2  Care planning is based on children and young people’s needs and is underpinned by a child-centred model that is well researched and understood, and is applied by the staff team.  Individual care plans are of a high standard. Targets for children and young people are highly effective, helping them to make continuous progress in their overall development.  The leadership and management are excellent. The registered manager is dedicated, and is highly competent in the delivery of the theoretical model of practice. The home is an excellent learning environment that continually improves the children and young people’s experience of being looked after.  The children and young people are supported exceptionally well in their educational settings, maintaining attendance and making progress.  The staff are skilled in developing positive relationships with children and young

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Key findings from this inspection

people. These relationships are based on trust and respect. Boundaries and expectations are discussed thoroughly from day one, and children and young people are listened to.  Children and young people are provided with exceptional experiences. The planning and execution of these memorable activities help to develop their confidence and self-esteem. Details of these events are collected and maintained in individual memory books.  Comprehensive records are kept to support the consistent delivery of individualised care plans.  Purposeful monitoring systems enable senior staff to identify where children and young people may require additional support. The staff are well supported to have reflective discussions at all times. This enables them to develop dynamic risk assessments and clear protocols of practice to manage behaviours.  No children and young people have gone missing from care or education since

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Key findings from this inspection

the last inspection.  The staff are well trained and qualified to do their job.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/11/2016 Full Outstanding 29/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/10/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC486604 3

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(b)) 20/04/2018

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Recommendations

 Case records must be kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3) In particular, ensuring that the sanction log is completed in full, with children and young people’s comments completed, dated and signed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The quality of care provided to children and young people is exceptional. Placement plans are meticulously prepared, maintained and reviewed. These are linked to the theoretical model which is applied throughout the home. The children and young people are routinely consulted on all aspects of their care, and are highly involved from day one. This approach ensures that they are listened to and valued as individuals, developing confidence and resilience while they are being looked after.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The learning ethos in the home promotes constant analysis and evaluation of behaviours demonstrated by children and young people. The staff have embraced the specific model of care and use their understanding to improve outcomes for children and young people. This model has also been shared and adopted by other homes in the local authority. Such is the commitment that is demonstrated by the staff team and their leaders an invitation was accepted by the author of the model, who provided a presentation to the home. The staff team and the other local authority homes have continued this learning by holding a training day at which staff shared their knowledge and understanding, linked to individual areas of practice. This demonstrates a continuous learning culture that is a positive influence on children and young people’s lives. Inspection report children’s home: SC486604 4 The staff support children and young people to record their memories in files and a

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

personalised book. These are full of positive photographs capturing wonderful memories of experiences shared with their peers and staff at the home. Many different activities are undertaken, which shows the staff team’s commitment to providing social opportunities that are above and beyond what would be expected. The children and young people are currently planning a walking trip to Ben Nevis. This will be an exceptionally rewarding experience and very memorable for all. One young person said, ‘It will be challenging beyond anything I have done so far.’ Another young person was eager to say he did the ‘coast-to-coast’ bike ride with staff over two days. Children and young people presented as polite and articulate, and engaged confidently during the inspection visit.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There were many occasions during the inspection when a warm and nurturing approach was demonstrated from the manager, team leaders and staff to children and young people. Relationships were very positive and familiar, some having developed over time and others very new. One member of staff was seen playing chess, then the next minute he was organising and entertaining two enthusiastic and energetic young children at the front of the building, playing football. Praise and positive comments were heard throughout these interactions. The children and young people were happy and engaged throughout these sessions, showing confidence and trust in the adults around them. Another young person was engaged in a telephone conversation with the manager. This young person had recently left the home and was living and working close by. It was clear that the relationship was strong and ongoing, with reassurance and guidance

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

provided during the conversation. An important aspect of the care provided to young people is that they have continued support from known caregivers once they leave. This ensures a sense of belonging and prompts resilience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is furnished to a high standard, and children and young people’s bedrooms are individualised. There are plenty of spaces for social events and playing internal and external games. The kitchen dining area is large and well resourced. The entire premises were exceptionally clean and tidy. The confidence that has been developed and nurtured in each child and young person was evident in that they were very comfortable in showing the inspector their bedrooms. Some were tidy, some less so, but all were undoubtedly individual.

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

There have been no incidents where children or young people have gone missing since the last inspection. However, individual care plans outline protocols to follow if such an incident were to occur. Information gathered at the point of placement is extensive, and the continued professional relationships with health, educational and social care professionals ensure that children and young people are safeguarded. The staff ensure that children and young people are made aware of the home’s expectations and rules in terms of online safety and use of mobile devices, through the contract signed by them at the point of placement. Where incidents of inappropriate behaviour have resulted in police action, children and young people are supported, and through positive one-to-one work they earnestly respond and apologise for their actions. Such incidents are notably Inspection report children’s home: SC486604 5

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

rare and are recorded in their care plans and analysis of risk. Sanctions are used occasionally and always involve payment for any damage caused. Once again records are detailed when this has occurred, and children and young people’s comments and opinions are always recorded.

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

A recent increase in the number of physical interventions and violent incidents has been identified and analysed. At every opportunity the manager and her team discuss protocols that have been implemented. This change in the way information is shared has resulted in an energetic and thoughtful response. During the inspection, this was observed during the staff meeting and during shift handovers. Also, support is readily available from an educational psychologist, whom the staff see as very much a team member. The psychologist was observed discussing each individual child with staff during the inspection. The sharing of experience and informed knowledge creates a solution-focused approach. The educational psychologist stated, ‘I have worked with the home for four years and it has been an absolute pleasure. Staff are so responsive. When we carry out a consultation, they problem solve and they are always keen to put

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

strategies in place to move children on in their progress.’

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

Risk assessments in place are dynamic in nature and are consistently updated in line with emerging risks. They are easily accessible and understood by all. Further in-depth analysis of risk, detailed in comprehensive notes, is signposted to if required. This working model enables the staff team to identify the main current factors that are evident in behaviours demonstrated, making them ‘live’ documents. This ensures that safe care is promoted at all times.

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

The staff are proactive in the evaluation and analysis of behaviours and current emotional responses from children and young people. They agree plans of intervention and are more than willing to adapt current practice and adopt subtle changes in protocol to reach a positive outcome. Consistency in their practice enables positive change to be identified, and plans are adapted accordingly. The staff take on challenges enthusiastically, using skills developed through their desire to learn and to keep children and young people safe. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘They [staff] try and find out what works for each child. They use flexible rules and use incentives. They manage individual needs of each child and young person well. Their real strength is that they are open to challenge and make suggestions. They go away and think about it, which is really positive.’

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

Excellent, purposeful one-to-one sessions help children and young people understand the consequences of their actions. An example was recorded in a one-to-one session following a young person causing a mess around the home which affected his peers. The young person subsequently apologised to his peers and to staff. This was evidenced in his own handwriting on the back of his one-to-one record. Every session that is carried out is linked to the model of practice and explained to children and young people to aid their understanding and their ability to make changes to their behaviour. A member of staff designed a framework that acknowledged where an individual was in terms of anger and aggression. This was based on a young person’s interests in a game, using known animated figures. However, further analysis and evaluation with the young Inspection report children’s home: SC486604 6 person deemed that this was a little too technical, so a simpler model was made using a

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

numbered piece of board with a moveable arrow to raise and lower accordingly. The staff member used this in his one-to-one sessions with the young person to engage visually, and this was seen as an innovative approach. Not only did this help the young person to express himself, it also enabled the staff member to indicate how he felt during the incident. The young person learned quite creatively the impact his behaviour had on others, and staff were able to discuss what support would have helped the young person to quickly recover or perhaps to avoid conflicts altogether. This is excellent practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is very experienced and is passionate about the children and young people in her care. She is supported by a talented and very knowledgeable staff team. The team leaders and assistant manager show a commitment that is motivated by a desire to improve outcomes for children and young people. The staff team is longstanding, and this leads to consistency in practice, and stability in a well-supported, highly efficient workforce. In a recent report, the independent visitor said, ‘Overall, I think all the staff and management at [Name] do an amazing job, but they do not rest on their laurels and are constantly trying to improve. It is an absolute pleasure to work alongside them.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Records and plans are meticulously maintained. All aspects of care are reviewed, and care and attention is taken to ensure that children and young people have a positive experience of living at the home. The monitoring systems are excellent. Monthly reports completed by the management and leadership team inform the home’s six-monthly reports, which are sent to Ofsted. These are comprehensive in detail and contain a wealth of analysis and evaluation. Action plans are purposeful and inventive. Storyboards are used to visually capture the progress that children and young people make. One demonstrates a young person’s journey from being provided with support in her transition by developing a curriculum vitae, to gaining employment with an apprenticeship, and to the current ongoing support received through outreach. There are also plans in place to take a more in-depth look at children and young people’s progress,

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

using the current theoretical model and considering different theories through work with psychological services and subsequent training for staff. The registered manager and team leader were invited to a theoretical model conference by the author of the model. At this conference, the work that has been carried out by the team was commented on positively by the author.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff are provided with regular supervision, and staff are well trained and suitably qualified. The statement of purpose is up to date, as are a suite of policies and procedures. New staff have been recruited successfully and are awaiting start dates, subject to all checks being completed. A social work student is currently working alongside staff, and was very confident and settled in the workplace. The manager spoke positively about the benefits to the team of having a social work student on board who is very up to date in current theories of social care practice. One member of staff said, ‘[Name] is a brilliant manager. People’s skills are her strength; she has an answer Inspection report children’s home: SC486604 7 for everything. She is good at recognising individual staff skills and using them to develop others to reach their potential.’ One such example is mentoring, which enables more experienced staff to offer support and guidance to other less experienced

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

members. This approach is consistent with the learning ethos in the home. Children and young people are supported by a professional team that delivers quality care that promotes their independence. This helps children and young people to learn to accept and respect each other in a homely environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A team leader and assistant manager were observed during the inspection working earnestly to ensure that a young person was able to go on a school residential trip. There was some doubt about the trip, as a medication issue had to be resolved. Their efforts were relentless in taking every action they could to ensure that the young person had this opportunity, which he was enthusiastically looking forward to. This approach is consistent with the commitment shown by the staff team and its leaders The children and young people develop confidence, self-esteem and resilience by living at this home.

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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 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: SC486604 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northumberland County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 2EF

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Inspector

Michael Dack, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC486604 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 children looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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