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

Inspection report children’s home: SC068243 1 SC068243 Registered provider: North Tyneside 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

The home is approved for five placements of young people between the ages of 14 and 17 who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The young people have an assessed need to be looked after long-term in a children’s home, and this is their plan for permanence until they achieve independence. There is a ‘staying close’ project within the same grounds where young people will move on to as the first step in their independence training, when they are ready.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been registered since 2007

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 31 January 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC068243 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/01/2018 Full Good 20/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/10/2016 Full Good 31/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC068243 3

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Recommendations

 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. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, this refers to the overall appearance of the home in terms of decoration maintenance and unsightly fire safety devices.  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of the information from independent monitoring. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, 10.24) In particular, the registered manager should ensure that independent scrutiny

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Recommendations

(under regulation 44) is carried out monthly and reports are completed in a timely manner to ensure that any recommendations are then addressed swiftly.  Children should be encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’ supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)  All children’s case records (regulation 36) must be kept up-to-date. Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraphs 14.3 and 14.4)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are comfortable in their living environment. However, the home has suffered from physical damage, and as a result maintenance in terms of decoration and repairs is not always responded to quickly. This has a negative effect upon the quality of the physical environment and the homely environment which young people should be provided with.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team develops trusting relationships with young people. This approach is consistently applied and enables young people to identify key supportive adults in their lives, which continues during transitions from the home to independent living. The staff work closely in partnership with a ‘staying close’ project adjacent to the home. This enables young people to be able to access a supportive environment as a stepping stone to independence with known care-givers close by if needed. A separate team staffs this Inspection report children’s home: SC068243 4 service.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team recognises the importance of contact with family and friends. Support is provided to young people and their families through the provision of transport and supervision where necessary. Families and friends are welcomed into the home and included in activities when able. A parent commented, ‘Since being here everything is fantastic, the home is very supportive, and I can come down regularly to see [name]. I could not ask for any more, they try their best.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team and young people recognise the importance of education, and when necessary staff work proactively in ensuring that young people are encouraged to attend. While awaiting the identification of a school, a college or an apprenticeship, the staff work in partnership with educational professionals and potential employers to ensure that progress is maintained. Incentives are provided to young people to help develop daily routines, and assistance is given to develop CVs when needed. This direct support and proactive approach helps each young person to feel valued and accepted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are healthy, and all are supported to attend appointments and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The staff ensure that opportunities are provided to engage in sporting activities and individual interests, such as football, horse-riding and keeping fit. Good health plans are electronically held and are regularly updated and evaluated. This enables progress to be identified for each young person from their starting points. All young people are registered with local services. Steps are taken to enable young people to take responsibility for their health needs, encouraging independence safely, with support from staff if required. This supports individual confidence and builds resilience that will help them in their transitions to adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Electronic records and a preferred care planning approach have been implemented by the local authority. These systems and approach are still bedding in. However, young people’s records are not always consistently updated or completed accurately, in particular daily logs and timelines. This leaves gaps in any information that could be important when identifying a young person’s whereabouts on any given day. Additionally, young people are not consistently encouraged to view and contribute to their records as living documents. This results in young people viewing decisions as being made for them and not with them, reducing their confidence and overall development.

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

The staff team helps young people to understand risk and how to stay safe. It helps young people to take appropriate risks and provides them with guidance and strategies to manage their behaviours in the community. This helps young people to feel safe; risk assessments are individualised and are enhanced by the sharing of known risks prior to admission from previous placements.

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

Episodes of absence or going missing from the home fluctuate but are generally low. Staff follow agreed protocols in place. They are proactive in searching the local area and Inspection report children’s home: SC068243 5 contacting known addresses in the community to locate young people and encourage them to return safely. As a result, the young people feel cared for and this builds resilience.

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

The staff team is knowledgeable about young people’s behaviours and develops strong, open relationships with young people that are built on trust and respect. The staff ensure that each young person is fully aware of the boundaries and expectations that are required by all in the home and out in the community.

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

Physical intervention is rarely needed, but staff are trained in the agreed discipline and records are thorough and well written when incidents occur. Communication with those professionals involved in the care of young people is consistently good. Community police officers and young people’s social workers commented that the home was ‘spot on’, ‘our work is based on ensuring we are working together, keeping each other up to date’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced and is supported by a strong senior team, including a deputy. The staff team is appropriately qualified and has a vast array of previous and relevant experience that supports the overall care of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The internal monitoring systems are good and are a testament to the registered manager’s response to previous inspection requirements and recommendations. However, external monitoring provided is not sufficiently robust in terms of timeliness of reports being completed. This does not support the manager to address recommendations in a robust manner and diminishes the effectiveness of the overall monthly analysis and evaluation of the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive highly effective supervisions from a member of the management team, and their training needs are considered and met appropriately. The supervision recognises the emotional and well-being needs of staff and offers reflection on personal and professional needs, always maintaining a focus on young people and their development. Team meetings are professionally planned and enable all staff to be involved in discussions and decision-making processes. This supports confidence and recognises individual strengths in the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and her team promote and practise positive communication with all professionals and parents to ensure that everyone is focused on working together to improve the lives of young people in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Young people’s views and participation in all areas of their lives and that of their peers in care are being promoted through the identification of a named member of staff who is actively engaged in developing this area of practice. A senior member of the team has also attended a ‘leaving care’ event out of the region. This is a proactive step in ensuring that the home is up to speed with key changes and approaches to supporting young people in care. Inspection report children’s home: SC068243 6

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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: SC068243 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North Tyneside Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Michael Dack, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC068243 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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