Children's Home run by Talbot House Children’s Charity Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC432843 1 SC432843

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Talbot House School, Newcastle upon Tyne

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a charitable organisation and is registered for the care and accommodation of up to seven children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. There is no registered manager in post at present.

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This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit took place to monitor one compliance notice and seven requirements made following the monitoring visit of 18 September 2018. The visit was also to monitor the notice to restrict admissions which was still in place from the interim inspection of 14 August 2018.

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This monitoring visit

There is now a temporary manager in post. This means that the leadership and management team is now much stronger and risks have been significantly reduced. Together with the responsible individual, the manager has made further progress. However, some parts of the compliance and some of the requirements from the previous inspection have not been met, although progress is being made towards addressing all of the areas for improvement.

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This monitoring visit

One further member of staff has left employment at the home in the period since the previous visit. One young person has also left in a planned way. Two children remain in placement.

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This monitoring visit

The compliance notice around leadership and management has not been met in full. The first and most important step of appointing a suitable manager has been met, although this is a temporary appointment. A permanent manager has also been appointed and it is planned that they will take up post in January 2019. In the meantime, the temporary manager will apply for registration.

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This monitoring visit

The additional steps of ensuring that there are sufficient experienced and qualified Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC432843 2 senior staff in place, and ensuring that there is a development plan in place for them to gain the necessary skills and knowledge, have not been met. The temporary manager and the responsible individual are addressing these issues, and have advertised for suitable staff. They have appointed an acting deputy manager and acting senior staff. However, on three occasions during this inspection period there has not been an acting senior staff member on duty during the evening shift. These issues remain of significant concern.

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This monitoring visit

The step to ensure that all staff complete their mandatory qualifications within the time limit has not been met. Two of the acting senior staff have not completed their qualification within the time limit. All the other staff are within the timescale to complete their qualifications, but only two members of the current staff team are now qualified.

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This monitoring visit

The requirement to ensure that one child receives appropriate work around his particular needs and the requirement to ensure that one young person had a suitable moving on plan have been met.

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This monitoring visit

The requirement around the use of CCTV has not been met. The provider has not gained permission from all placing authorities to use this, and has continued to use it.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no admissions to the home so that the notice to restrict admissions has been complied with.

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This monitoring visit

Following this monitoring visit the following actions have been taken.

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This monitoring visit

A compliance notice around Regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, has been reissued to ensure that there are suitable senior staff in post.

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This monitoring visit

A requirement to ensure the appropriate use of CCTV and a requirement to ensure that all staff gain their mandatory qualifications within the appropriate time limit have also been reissued.

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This monitoring visit

The notice of restriction of admissions has been revoked and all other requirements have been met.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/08/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 01/05/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/06/2017 Full Good 07/12/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC432843 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‘s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13(2)(c)) In particular, to ensure that the home has suitable senior staff in place. 16/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if— the children‘s placing authorities consent in writing to the monitoring or surveillance. (Regulation 24(1)(b)) 16/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained— the Level 3 Diploma for residential Childcare (England) (―the level 3 diploma‖); or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. The relevant date is— in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. 16/12/2018 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC432843 4 (Regulation 32(4)(a)) and (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children‘s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC432843 5

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Inspector

Colin Imrie, social care inspector Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC432843 6 to 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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