Children's home run by North Tyneside Council in North Tyneside

Inspection report children’s home: SC068243 1 SC068243 Registered provider: North Tyneside 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 home is approved for five placements of young people between the ages of 14 and 17 who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The young people have an assessed need to be looked after long term in a children’s home, and this is their plan for permanence until they achieve independence. There is a Staying Close project within the same grounds where young people will move on to as the first step in their independence training, when they are ready. The manager has been registered since 2007.

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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: SC068243 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/07/2018 Full Good 31/01/2018 Full Good 20/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/10/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC068243 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have mixed outcomes. Staff advocate well on behalf of the young people. The staff maintain well-written care plans, recording and monitoring daily events to ensure that plans are dynamic in nature. The staff are good role models for the young people. Young people develop positive attachments with staff. This enables them to grow in confidence and develop positive self- esteem. Equally, staff relationships with families are exceptional. One grandparent said, ‘I could not fault them, they have been brilliant, every time I have needed them to speak to they have always been there.’ At the point of admission, young people often have poor school attendance. However, staff support young people’s engagement and advocate strongly on their behalf by liaising with schools, virtual headteachers and alternative education providers. This support has led to young people taking part in GCSE examinations. The staff also undertake ‘outreach’ work

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

with young people who have gone home to maintain their attendance and achievement. This promotes and prepares young people for their futures. A social work professional stated, ‘Staff are very proactive in encouraging young people in education, they rally round all professionals to gain appropriate education.’ The staff are consistent in working collaboratively with generic and specialist health providers. This ensures that the young people’s emotional and physical health needs are met. The staff understand the importance of contact with family. They promote and support contact well, either via transport or through positive communication. Family members and professionals are welcomed into the home. Privacy is provided if requested; however, this is normally in the under-utilised main lounge which is often locked. This does not allow young people access to all areas of the home, thus limiting young people’s well-being and sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Activities are encouraged, and young people’s views and interests are explored and promoted. Young people sporadically engage in activities available, which are many and varied. The staff often utilise planned and organised outdoor activities, such as camping and fishing as well as visits to the home’s caravan. This provides opportunities for young people to enjoy positive time away from daily pressures with trusted adults. The result is that the self-esteem and resilience of young people are promoted.

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

The staff have embedded the local authority preferred care planning approach. Well- written risk assessments and safety plans are followed by staff and support the safe care of young people. Staff are proactive in reducing the length of time that young people who go missing from the home are away. They actively search the local area and contact known Inspection report children’s home: SC068243 4 addresses in the community to locate young people and encourage them to return safely. Well-developed relationships with the local police, social care professionals and families help to reduce the potential for harm. As a result, the young people feel cared for and develop trusting relationships with staff. There has been some inconsistency in notifying HMCI of significant events. However, all other relevant agencies were contacted, and thorough coordinated responses took place. This has not left young people at significant risk.

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

Physical intervention has not been required since the last inspection. However, staff are trained in the agreed methodology, but use positive communication and de-escalation strategies to manage any negative behaviour safely. A social worker said, ‘The home has a very nurturing environment. The staff have a good balance between nurture and boundaries with playful relationships.’ This enables young people to develop socially acceptable behaviours and promotes their sense of well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced and suitably qualified. She is supported by an able senior team. They strive, alongside an experienced staff team, to support and educate young people to achieve their potential. The manager has developed good internal monitoring systems. This has led to a thorough approach to the evaluation and analysis of data in respect of young people’s stay in the home. For example, the manager completes an individual assessment of risk and safety planning that is shared with relevant social work professionals. This is a detailed report on the progress being made by young people and highlights areas requiring further work. The living environment is identified as an area for improvement. It is looking particularly tired and in need of decoration and refurbishment. This does not provide young people with a ‘homely’ and comfortable environment in which to develop a sense of pride and

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

help young people feel valued. The manager and her team leaders provide regular individual and group supervision. This highly supportive working environment promotes positivity and staff development. Team meetings are constructive, reflective in discussion and regularly enable a comprehensive overview of the progress of young people to be discussed. This enables key workers to share young people’s plans and generate ideas, task allocation and a consistent approach to the care provided. The staff receive appropriate training in respect of young people’s vulnerability to exploitation, and the result is that staff recognise the behaviours that can indicate concerns. This level of awareness is documented in young people’s care plans. The manager is proactive in calling for strategy meetings with relevant professionals to support the overall care of young people. Professionals and family members commented positively throughout inspection about

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

relationships and standard of communication between all relevant parties. Inspection report children’s home: SC068243 5

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6(1)(2)(c)(i)) 18/07/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(b)(e)) 20/06/2019

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Recommendations

 Just as in a family home, children should be able to access all shared areas of their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child’s needs. Limits on privacy and access may only be put in place to safeguard each child in the home (regulation 21(c)(i). Any decisions to limit a child’s access to any area of the home, and any modifications to the environment of the home, must only be made where this is intended to safeguard the child’s welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, be properly recorded and be kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10) Inspection report children’s home: SC068243 6

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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: SC068243 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North Tyneside Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 16 The Silverlink North, Newcastle upon Tyne NE27 0BY

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Inspector

Michael Dack, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC068243 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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