Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes North East Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

Inspection report children‟s home: SC472795 1 SC472795 Registered provider: Artemis Support Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides accommodation for up to five children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private company.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been at the home for 18 months.

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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 outstanding

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good

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

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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: SC472795 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2017 Full Good 15/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/07/2016 Full Good 17/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children‟s home: SC472795 3

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Recommendations

 Staff skills for safeguarding should include being able to identify signs that children may be at risk, and support children in strategies to manage and reduce any risks. Staff should encourage children to express their views about whether they feel safe both within and outside the home. Staff should support children to understand how to ask for help to stay safe and that the home is an environment which supports this. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 43, paragraph 9.10) In particular, safeguarding should be a standing agenda item in staff meetings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained, warm and welcoming. Staff have worked closely with the young people in respect of furnishings and decor throughout the home. The young people‟s bedrooms are personalised, individual spaces that they are proud of and reflect their individuality.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people receive a good standard of care to meet their individual needs. Staff show genuine care and concern for the young people. Staff are very focused on ensuring that they achieve to the best of their ability. The young people enjoy spending time in the home. They like to watch TV and play board games with staff. This means that the young people are able to relax in a calm and homely atmosphere.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are making very good progress in developing independence skills. They are able to take responsibility for decisions that they make. This has helped to boost their confidence and self-care skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people attend school regularly and do very well. Staff promote and support learning. Staff have developed a young person‟s training programme, which provides many opportunities for the young people to learn and develop academic and social skills. This enables the young people to understand the importance of education in a supportive and personalised way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the young people well. They know their likes and with the young people they design structured, well-planned activities. The young people have opportunities on a day-to-day basis to meet friends and family, learn and have fun. One young person said, „There are loads of things to do, the staff are “mint”, I love spending time with them.‟ Inspection report children‟s home: SC472795 4

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

The young people say that they feel safe. Staff are able to help the young people to understand risk and how to keep themselves safe. Staff understand the need for the young people to become independent. They understand that the young people need to take appropriate risks. Staff help them to manage their behaviours and to regulate their responses. This gives the young people skills to manage their feelings and behaviour in a positive way.

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

Staff provide the young people with a safe place to live. They have a very good understanding of the young people‟s needs. Clear and comprehensive risk assessments support the young people‟s safety inside and outside of the home. Consistent boundaries in the home safeguard the young people effectively.

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

The young people rarely go missing from the home. When missing episodes occur, staff have followed relevant protocols. Staff have very good communication with police officers when young people go missing from the home. Concerns around missing episodes and relevant intelligence are shared on a regular basis. This acts as a protective factor for the young people.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the young people‟s therapeutic needs. They work closely with social workers and the company‟s clinical psychologist. This ensures that behaviour management and care plans are personalised to the needs of the young people. The use of young-people-friendly „my plans‟ means that they are able to understand and participate in their plans. This helps them to gain self-confidence and security.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is passionate and has ambition for all of the young people. She knows the young people and the staff team very well. She is enthusiastic and this transfers to the staff team, which shares her passion to achieve the best outcomes for the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Regular and effective supervision enables the staff to reflect on their practice. In addition to this, monthly meetings take place in which the manager recognises the positive work of the staff. Staff feel valued, supported and motivated. One member of staff said, „I couldn‟t ask for a better manager; she is always there for me, she gives me confidence to do my job well.‟ To strengthen practice in the home, safeguarding should be made a standing agenda item in staff team meetings. This will give staff the opportunity to discuss the safeguarding ethos of the home on a regular basis.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff undertake a range of training to give them the skills to meet the needs of the young people. They also have the opportunity to have regular training and consultation with the company‟s clinical psychologist. This gives them an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the young people‟s previous experiences of trauma. This enables them to help and support the young people in an informed and effective way. Inspection report children‟s home: SC472795 5 The manager works collaboratively with a care team of other professionals, including social workers, health workers and the police. One professional commented, „The staff keep me well informed and up to date. I have confidence in them. They go above and beyond to meet the needs of the young people; they really care.‟

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff work very hard to promote positive outcomes for all of the young people. They understand the value of developing the young people‟s confidence and self-esteem. They have created an environment in which the young people are able to thrive and achieve.

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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: SC472795 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Artemis Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 92 Whitton View, Rothbury, Morpeth NE65 7QN

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Inspector

Dot McGough, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC472795 7 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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