Children's Home run by Newcastle City Council in Newcastle upon Tyne

Inspection report children’s home: SC033642 1 SC033642 Registered provider: Newcastle City 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 local authority manages this home, which provides care and accommodation for up to six young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager has been registered since 2008.

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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: SC033642 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/08/2017 Full Good 01/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/05/2016 Full Good 05/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC033642 3

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Recommendations

 The registered person should build a strong safeguarding culture in the home where children are listened to, respected and involved in both the development of the home and decisions about the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.8) In particular, safeguarding should be a standard agenda item in team meetings.  Supervision of staff practice should ensure that individual adults in the home are engaged in the safeguarding culture of the home so they understand what they would need to do if they found other staff misusing or abusing their position to the detriment of the safety of a child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.14)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people living in the home receive a good standard of care that meets their individual needs. 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 spaces that they are proud of and reflect their individuality.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are skilled at helping the young people attend and achieve in education and training. A number of the young people had very poor school attendance when they came to live at the home. All now attend on a regular basis. This has given the young people confidence in their own abilities and helped them to understand the importance of education. Staff have developed close links with training providers and the local council. This has led to the young people being able to access apprenticeships. This helps them to have knowledge of the world of work and promoting independence skills.

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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 and well-planned activities. The home has a member of staff who has the responsibility for coordinating activities. This means that the young people are able to express their views on activities to him on an individual basis. One young person said, ‘If you like something, you can ask staff and they will help you do it. I wanted to get fit and go to the gym. I am over the moon – I am having a gym induction today.’

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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 confidence and self-care skills. Inspection report children’s home: SC033642 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 understand the need for the young people to become independent. They help them to understand risk and how to stay safe. Staff work hard to provide the young people with a safe place to live. They have a clear understanding of the young people’s needs. Comprehensive and well-written risk assessments support the young people to stay safe inside and outside of the home. Staff help the young people to manage and regulate their own behaviour. This gives the young people the ability 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 have a good understanding of the young people’s therapeutic needs. They work in collaboration with social workers and child and adolescent mental health services. This means that care and behaviour management plans are personalised to the needs of the young people. The use of young-people-friendly care plans ensures that they are able to clearly understand targets and set realistic goals. They are able to understand and participate in their plans, helping them to gain self-confidence and feel valued.

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

The young people rarely go missing. When episodes of going missing do occur, staff are proactive in their responses. They follow each of the young people’s missing-from-home protocols and relevant agencies are informed in a timely manner. Staff work very closely with social workers and the police when young people do go missing. Concerns around episodes of going missing and relevant intelligence are shared regularly. This is a protective factor for the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is passionate and inspirational. He knows the children and his staff team well. He has ambition for all of the young people. He is enthusiastic and this is transferred to the staff team whose members share his passion to achieve the best possible outcomes for the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is supported by a committed senior team. The staff team is knowledgeable and young-people-focused. The manager knows the strengths and weaknesses of the home. He has clear and achievable plans in place to meet any shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A number of ‘champions’ for specialist areas of practice, including safeguarding and drug and alcohol misuse, have been appointed by the manager. He has been innovative in creating these areas of responsibility. Staff take pride in developing in-depth knowledge and this is shared with other staff. This ensures collaborative and consistent practice, which means the young people receive high-quality, effective and well-planned care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager works with a care team of other professionals, including the police, health workers and social workers. A professional commented, ‘The staff are brilliant; I have confidence in them, they keep me well informed. They know the young people well and go the extra mile for them.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC033642 5 Staff are able to reflect on their practice during regular and effective supervision. Staff spoken to felt motivated, valued and supported. One member of staff said, ‘It’s grand working here: the managers are good, they listen to you and have an open-door policy, they always have time for you.’ To strengthen practice in the home, safeguarding should be added to the supervision agenda. This will enable staff to discuss safeguarding concerns regularly during supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Through implementing learning from a range of training, staff have gained the skills to meet the young people’s complex needs. Monthly meetings take place in which training and development are reflected upon and the manager recognises the positive work of the staff..

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff are constantly striving to promote positive outcomes for all of the young people. They understand the need to develop confidence and self-esteem, helping them to be more resilient in the future. They have created a nurturing environment in which the young people are able to flourish 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: SC033642 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Newcastle City Council, Barras Bridge, Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8QH

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Inspector

Dot McGough, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC033642 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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