Children's home run by St Cuthbert’s Care in Newcastle upon Tyne

Inspection report children’s home: SC359465 1 SC359465 Registered provider: St Cuthbert’s Care Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a charitable organisation and is registered to provide short- break care and accommodation for up to 14 children or young people who have sensory impairments, learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. This accommodation must be provided within a separate area of the home from the care and accommodation for adults. The manager has extensive experience of working in a short-break setting and is suitably qualified for the position held and has been registered since 2014.

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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 good

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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: SC359465 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/08/2017 Full Good 24/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/09/2016 Full Good 22/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC359465 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; help each child to understand how to keep safe; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi) and (vii)) 08/04/2019

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is situated in a large centre that has a wide range of on-site facilities that are also accessible to the public during the day. The facilities comprise of themed sensory rooms, ball pools and a large hydrotherapy pool which has been finished to a very high standard. The outside area is equally impressive with well-maintained gardens and lawns. There is a woodland walking path where wildlife, including squirrels, can be seen.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people benefit from accessing the activities inside the home as well as planned activities out in the community, including day trips, museum and cinema visits and much more. Activities are planned in consultation with children and young Inspection report children’s home: SC359465 4 people. The manager has invited guest speakers, including the police and fire brigade, to visit the children and young people. Interactive sessions have been fun and informative for children and young people. This enhances their experiences during their stay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people have individual set targets that are considered in line with their education, health and care plans and consultations with parents and carers. The manager has devised an effective system to measure the progress made by each child and young person. Children and young people are praised and rewarded for the progress that they make. Rewards include an activity of choice or a treat such as purchasing a magazine. There are examples of photographs capturing progress that can be shared with children, young people and their parents and carers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from a range of professionals, parents and carers was very positive. Comments such as ‘excellent service’, ‘my child loves it’ and ‘fantastic staff’ were phrases commonly used. One parent commented, ‘This is a lifeline for us. The centre doesn’t just help [Name] but us as a family. I have peace of mind that when I leave [Name], he is extremely well cared for. He has made friends and they are meaningful relationships to him.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children and young people have complex health needs that require a bespoke package of care. The staff have received a wide range of training relevant to the needs of the children and young people. Staff are confident to holistically meet the individual care needs of the children and young people who attend for short breaks. This supports progress and good outcomes for children and young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team develops positive working relationships with parents, carers and a range of healthcare, social care and educational professionals. Collaborative working as part of a wider care team means that children and young people receive a consistent approach to how they are cared for during their short-break stay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Pre-admission processes are good and are well considered. This helps children and young people to be sensitively welcomed into the home ahead of their short-break stay. Communication books inform parents and carers of how their child or young person has spent their time in the home.

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

Since the last inspection, the manager has improved the safeguarding culture within the home. Safeguarding has been added as a stand-alone agenda item in staff supervisions and team meetings. This helps to promote safeguarding to be at the forefront of practice and thinking. Additionally, the manager has introduced a range of champion roles ranging from safeguarding, autism and diversity. This promotes opportunities for professional development. The effectiveness of strengthening safeguarding practice further with the use of a safeguarding champion is not yet known due to this being a recent development.

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

Going missing from care, child exploitation and bullying have not been issues of concern. Inspection report children’s home: SC359465 5 The manager ensures that the staff do not become complacent. Training and refresher training are attended to ensure that practice is relevant. Children and young people are well supervised, with staffing levels reflecting what is in each child’s and young person’s risk assessment. This helps to manage risks effectively.

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

Physical interventions are rarely used. There is good evidence of management oversight to monitor practice in this area.

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

There is a good response to health and safety within the home and regular fire drills, and safety testing is completed in a timely manner.

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

Mostly, risk assessments are individualised and identify strategies to manage risks effectively. The inspector found one example where there are ongoing concerns relating to medication for one young person. This was not reflected in his risk assessment. Body maps are completed where appropriate. However, they do not evidence the steps taken to ascertain the origin of injury or provide an evaluation to assess the level of risk. There was evidence that the appropriate agencies are notified regarding potential safeguarding concerns. No serious widespread failings were identified, but a requirement has been made to address shortfalls in safeguarding practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is very experienced and appropriately qualified for the position held. She is supported in her role by a skilled and nurturing staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is well established, with many staff being in post since the service was registered. They are suitably qualified to work with children, young people and adults in line with their dual registration. There are two newly recruited staff members who are currently receiving an appropriate induction to the service. Staff members spoken to say that they feel supported by the manager and can approach her with any concerns without having to wait for their monthly supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Mandatory training has been completed. Staff members enrolled on to the NVQ level 3 health and social care with children and young people have successfully completed the course. Additionally, the manager has ensured that the staff team received training specific to the children and young people who they care for, including emergency first aid, infection control, equality and diversity and control of substances hazardous to health regulations. The staff team feels valued and confident as a result.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Good monitoring systems are in place. The manager reviews the quality of care monthly. This means that children and young people accessing short breaks receive safe and consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is very present within the home and has a hands-on approach. This means that she can monitor practice as well as maintain positive relationships with the children and young people. Where there have been shortfalls in practice, the manager has taken decisive action to ensure practice is safe. Inspection report children’s home: SC359465 6 The manager knows the home’s strengths as well as areas for development. She can accept constructive feedback from her independent visitor as well as the inspector. She is very reflective in her thinking and this helps to drive improvements forward. She continues to ensure that the home meets the aims and objectives as stated in the statement of purpose, which is regularly reviewed and updated.

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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: SC359465 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: St Cuthbert’s House, West Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE15 7PY

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Sheila Errington

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Inspector

Jacqueline Tate: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC359465 8 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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