Children's Home run by Right-Trak Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

Inspection report children’s home: SC394909 1 SC394909 Registered provider: Right-Trak Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home accommodates up to four children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private provider. There is a qualified manager who was registered in March 2019.

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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

Date of last inspection: 17 January 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC394909 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/01/2019 Interim improved effectiveness 07/08/2018 Full requires improvement to be good 06/02/2018 Interim improved effectiveness 20/06/2017 Full good Inspection report children’s home: SC394909 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people make progress from their starting points. They make good relationships with their carers and view this as their home. The children and young people feel settled and secure. They trust the members of staff who look after them. As a result, they respond well to the positive care they receive and want to remain living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people generally move into and from this home in a positive way. Members of staff provide emotional and practical support to young people who move to independent accommodation. Young people often stay in touch with members of staff after they have left the home. They value this support as they begin their independent lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people generally have good attendance at school and they make progress as a result. If children and young people cannot attend school for a short period, members of staff help them to study every day. This supports their reintegration into the classroom when they return to school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Members of staff have regular meetings with a professional who has a clinical overview of the service and who helps staff to understand the issues that children and young people experience. As a result, children and young people are looked after by members of staff who have the skills and knowledge to provide individualised, responsive care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s home was refurbished following the last full inspection. The provider has plans for further changes, including in the kitchen. Members of staff consult with the children and young people and ensure that their views are considered in any changes. The children and young people feel that their opinions are valued. They respect the fabric of the home as a result.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Members of staff support children and young people to see members of their family. This is particularly important for children and young people whose families live far away, as informal links with their home area are difficult. When children and young people are from a different cultural background, maintaining relationships with members of their family helps with their sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people are encouraged to take part in a range of activities inside and out of the home. Children and young people are developing their social skills as well as enjoying themselves. This is beneficial to their overall development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children and young people must move from the home in an unplanned way, they should be able to say goodbye to their carers and the other children and young people. On one occasion this did not happen. Members of staff should make significant efforts to ensure that endings are as positive as possible. They should escalate their views where professionals are slow to respond to requests. Inspection report children’s home: SC394909 4

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

Children and young people are safe in this home. They do not misuse substances or go missing from the home. They are not sexually or criminally exploited. Members of staff talk to children and young people about these and other risks to help them to make safe decisions. When there is an issue, members of staff help children and young people to engage with appropriate support. For some, this is significant progress from their starting points.

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

Members of staff use the good relationships that they have with children and young people to encourage positive behaviour. Children and young people understand what is expected of them and boundaries are generally respected. Members of staff speak with any child or young person when there has been an incident. This means that children and young people learn that their carers are concerned about their welfare and want them to be safe.

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

Members of staff use risk management plans to identify risks and strategies to safeguard children and young people. On one occasion, a member of staff failed to follow a plan. This meant that a child became unnecessarily distressed and was subsequently moved to another placement. The staff team undertakes learning on the importance of knowing and following all plans for children and young people and this issue has not been repeated.

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

Members of staff undertake training on a range of safeguarding topics. However, there has been no structured input on the risks of self-harming behaviour or involvement in county lines. Although there are no current significant concerns about either issue, staff must be able to recognise signs at an early stage to safeguard the children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership team has ensured that the progress made following the full inspection in August 2018 has been sustained. Feedback at this inspection emphasised the improvements that have been made and the high quality of care now provided to children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is a supportive leader, who has high expectations for the children and young people and the staff team. The manager leads by example and is an effective role model. Because of this approach, members of staff provide good-quality care to the children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager understands what the home does well and is committed to improving outcomes for children and young people. Because of this approach, the progress they make is clear, including to the children and young people themselves.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All members of the team are supervised by an experienced member of staff. Supervision sessions are regular and structured. Staff members have access to their own supervision Inspection report children’s home: SC394909 5 records, so they can easily refer to discussions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The provider ensures safe recruitment in this home. All references are verified to ensure that new members of staff have the skills and/or experience required. However, the turnover of staff has been considerable since the last full inspection. The registered manager is working to address the barriers to staff retention.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that the care provided to children and young people is scrutinised by an independent person each month. Although this person takes into account the views of the children and young people, there is no feedback from members of the professional network or family members. Evidence from a wider selection of people would add rigour to these reports. Inspection report children’s home: SC394909 6

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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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i) and (ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, members of staff must ensure that they respond to children and young people in line with the guidance contained in care plans and risk management plans. 31/08/2019

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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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a) and (iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, members of staff, including leaders and managers, must undertake training about the risks posed by self-harming behaviour and also exploitation associated with county lines. 31/08/2019

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Recommendations

 Any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person must make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to Inspection report children’s home: SC394909 7 the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5) In particular, the independent person should seek feedback from a range of professionals involved with the home, in order to provide rigour to the assessment being undertaken.  Where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home or in preparation for leaving the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs (see regulations 5(c)). Staff should act as champions for their children, expecting nothing less than a good parent would. The registered person should

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Recommendations

consider the use of an independent advocate (see paragraph 4.16) if the child’s needs are not being met. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8) In particular, when children and young people must leave the home in an unplanned way, they should be able to say goodbye to the other children and young people and to members of staff.

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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: SC394909 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Right-Trak Ltd, Wingrove House, Ponteland Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 3DE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Melanie Spriddell

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Inspector

Jane Titley, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC394909 9 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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