Children's home run by North East Autism Society in County Durham

Inspection report children’s home: SC416136 1 SC416136 Registered provider: North East Autism Society

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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 children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to five children or young people who have a learning disability. The staff specialise in looking after children and young people with an autism spectrum disorder. A private provider operates this service.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since 2012.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC416136 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/08/2017 Full Outstanding 22/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/12/2016 Full Good 09/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC416136 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive excellent support and a high quality of care from staff, who are very nurturing and responsive to the children’s individual complex needs. The progress that children make is outstanding.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Exceptional individualised care ensures that each child has clear targets and goals to strengthen their independence skills. Children are consulted and listened to when deciding with staff which skills they would like to learn. Children who are unable to express their views verbally are supported with pictures and symbols. A social worker commented, ‘The development of [name of child’s] independence skills since being placed – wow – he has made lots of improvement. The staff have been phenomenal.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children develop excellent relationships with all the staff, who know them well and are attentive to their individual needs. High-quality communication with a range of professionals and parents supports outstanding outcomes for children. A parent said, ‘The staff and management team feel like part of the family. There is nothing that they could improve on in meeting [name of the child]’s needs.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s emotional health and well-being improve significantly through conversations with, and guidance from, staff. Good physical health is promoted through participating in healthy activities. For example, children often choose to power walk to and from school, as well as taking part in a range of outdoor activities. This improves their physical well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education outcomes are good. Staff in the home and at school work together to help children learn and achieve. They provide consistent messages around expectations and boundaries at school and at home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children flourish in an environment that is both welcoming and positive. A professional commented, ‘I could not speak highly enough of them. It is an excellent provision.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Transition arrangements for children moving into and leaving the home are excellent. Precise planning that focuses on needs helps children to understand and cope with the change. Children, parents, carers and social workers visit the home often to ensure that it is right for the child before they start a placement. Staff also carry out observations at children’s schools and colleges. This careful preparation leads to highly successful individual care planning. As a result, children settle quickly into their new placements.

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

Innovative behaviour management is significantly improving outcomes for children. Specialist support from behavioural experts enables highly skilled staff to identify and reduce triggers that lead to outbursts. The staff team uses extensive knowledge of each child to ensure that they are safe. Inspection report children’s home: SC416136 4 No children have gone missing from the homeor are subject to exploitation or radicalisation. Good staffing levels and close supervision support children’s safety inside and outside the home.

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

Clear and consistent boundaries are explained to children, and often re-enforced through individual key-work sessions. Children with autism spectrum disorder need structure and clear messages to make sense of the world. The staff use their knowledge and experience of autism and learning disabilities to keep children safe.

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

The staff are highly trained in child protection and know what to do if they are concerned about a child’s safe care. Risk assessments are thorough and well written, enhancing risk management.

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

The standard of accommodation is excellent. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and reflect their interests and personalities. Parents and siblings often help in preparing a bedroom. This supports children’s identity and a sense of belonging.

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

Staff use pictures and symbols to help children with communication difficulties to understand potential dangers, for example around fire procedures and health and safety. These are on display and are shared with children. In addition to this, guidance on how to make a complaint is available in different communication formats. This supports safe care and children’s rights .

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has a wealth of experience, having worked with children with autism spectrum disorder for over 30 years. She is suitably qualified and supported by a committed deputy manager, providing strong leadership and a commitment to achieving positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager leads a well-established team that shares her enthusiasm and nurturing qualities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff retention is excellent, and it provides consistency and stability. Staff development is promoted and encouraged. For example, a member of the team has taken up a development role as a team leader. This supports career development and strengthens management and leadership from within.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager provides staff with regular and effective supervision. Staff attend monthly team meetings. The agenda represents staff and management contributions. Staff feel supported, valued and motivated as a result.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager monitors training to ensure that it is meaningful and meets the needs of children with an autism spectrum disorder. Staff are qualified to at least level 3 diploma in caring for children and young people. Additional training enhances their performance and development. Inspection report children’s home: SC416136 5 Professional relationships are based on trust and respect. A local authority commissioning officer said, ‘The management and staff are so knowledgeable, and communication is very good. We have an extremely positive relationship.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Highly effective monitoring systems are used to check the quality of care and standard of reporting on children’s files. The registered manager’s six-monthly monitoring report identifies strengths and areas for development. Consultation with children, parents and professionals supports the manager’s evaluation and planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and her staff spoke highly of each child, respecting their unique individual qualities. They embrace and support their continuous progress and celebrate their achievements daily.

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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: SC416136 6

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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: 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: SC416136 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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