Children's Home run by North East Autism Society in Durham

Inspection report children’s home: SC458754 1 SC458754 Registered provider: North East Autism Society Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care and accommodation for up to eight children and young people who have a learning disability and/or an autism spectrum disorder. The manager has been registered since 2015.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that the home has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children continue to make excellent progress. The staff provide high-quality care and support, ensuring that children have outstanding outcomes. Since the full inspection, two children have moved into the home in a planned way. Transitional planning is meticulous. The manager ensures that detailed pre-admission assessments of children are carried out and received before a placement starts. Placement plans, including individual risk assessments, ensure that the home environment is suitable for the child and that the staff can meet their, often complex, needs. The management team has introduced children’s meetings to discuss new admissions. This enables children living at the home to directly contribute to the planning and introduction of Inspection report children’s home: SC458754 2 new residents. The manager and her team listen to children’s views and opinions to reduce any anxieties that may exist about having a new child coming to live in their home. This

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

promotes trust and respect in relationships between children and staff. There has been a significant and thorough recruitment drive since the last inspection, and seven new members of staff have joined the team. Induction processes are in-depth, and staff are well trained in the specific needs of children who are placed. The manager has identified and sourced further training in autism awareness. This ensures that staff knowledge and skills are relevant and current, thus promoting positive outcomes for children. Since the last inspection, the manager has implemented a ‘skills for life’ programme for each child. Children choose individual targets with support from their staff team. These programmes take a step-by-step approach to achieving independent living skills. For example, children plan shopping trips, with support from staff, to buy ingredients from supermarkets. A parent said, ‘We feel that his independence skills have massively

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

improved. He can use the scanner at the shops and plans his shopping with minimal support from staff close by.’ Staff plan for the children’s return from school each day. Social stories that incorporate pictures and symbols help to reduce anxieties. Effective communication between school and the home enables the support to be dynamic and tailored to the needs of each child. Children spend time in their individual apartments in order to regulate their emotions. They then choose when they wish to spend time with their peers in the communal lounges. Friendships between peers develop and children take part in activities together, for example going for meals and attending a youth club. This helps children develop their self- esteem and confidence in and out of the home. The manager has an effective monitoring system for evaluating and mapping potential trends associated with behavioural occurrences. This supports the reduction of physical

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

intervention by identifying triggers for behavioural outbursts and enables staff to manage risk and the environment. This promotes children’s well-being and safeguards them from potential harm. Behavioural incidents are recorded efficiently, and notifiable events are completed in a timely manner. This demonstrates that the home operates in an open and transparent way. The quality of care is exceptional and is promoted through positive and respectful communication with professionals and parents. A social worker commented, ‘I am always made welcome. I complete announced and unannounced visits. I can only sing the home’s praises.’ A previous requirement to ensure that fire drills are practised at suitable intervals and that children are aware of the procedures to be followed has been fully adhered to. This helps children to be safe from potential harm. Inspection report children’s home: SC458754 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/04/2018 Full Good 21/11/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/09/2016 Full Outstanding

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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

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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: SC458754 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North East Autism Society

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: North East Autism Society, 15 Lumley Court, Drum Industrial Estate, Chester Le Street, County Durham DH2 1AN

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Inspector

Michael Dack, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC458754 5 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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