Kyloe House

Inspection report children’s home: SC035409 1 SC035409 Registered provider: Northumberland County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority manages this secure children’s home. It is approved by the Department for Education to restrict young people’s liberty. The children’s home can accommodate up to 15 children and young people who are aged between 10 and 17 years. It provides for children and young people accommodated under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 who are placed by local authorities. Admission of any child under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 who is under 13 years of age requires the approval of the Secretary of State. Education is provided on-site in dedicated facilities. The manager has been registered since 2011.

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Judgement at this inspection: improved effectiveness

Date of last inspection: 11 December 2018

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Judgement at this inspection: improved effectiveness

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 it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met the requirement and two recommendations raised at the last interim inspection. This demonstrates the capacity to improve.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has reviewed and updated the location risk assessment to include all potential risks in the locality. The use of ligature cutters to keep the children safe has not been necessary. However, staff have now received training in this area. Inspection report children’s home: SC035409 2 Building work has been finalised to provide two additional en suite bedrooms with communal areas. These are used for children who require high-dependency support or are moving on. A new, welcoming and light library area that is accessible to all children has prompted a significant increase in children’s reading.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children live in a well-maintained home that they respect and care for. The staff carefully maintain equipment and resources. Damage is repaired without delay. The children personalise their rooms, and the communal living areas are welcoming. This results in a comfortable and relaxing home in which children can progress and thrive.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children spoke with overwhelming enthusiasm about the nurturing care that they receive. They develop warm relationships. They know the staff well and they feel listened to. Staff are efficient in meeting, and responding to, children’s needs. As a result, the children feel valued and respected.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have an in-depth understanding of the children’s backgrounds. They consistently deliver care and implement strategies that focus on identifying and meeting children’s individual needs. Therefore, children make good progress in all areas of their development. The children spoke passionately about how the staff spend quality time with them. Staff support them to understand the reasons for the placement and the changes that they can make to keep themselves safe. This approach gives children hope and aspiration for a positive future.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff motivate children to engage in individual programme sessions, which are focused appropriately on their identified needs. Children embrace their hobbies and interests, using the gym, the music room and hair and beauty facilities. This supports children to make positive choices about using their time and to continue with these new interests when they leave the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff understand how important children’s families are to them. The staff work with families and placing authorities to facilitate family visits. These interactions help children to maintain important relationships and ensure that they are not isolated from their families.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff are alert to any changes in children’s behaviours. Individual behaviour management plans, risk assessments and multi-disciplinary meetings enable children to manage their behaviour. Over time, the number of incidents reduces. Children spoke about how the staff have helped them to see that what they were doing before was placing themselves at risk. One child spoke about how angry he was before and how he now has strategies to help regulate his behaviour.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children receive support from a highly motivated, enthusiastic staff team that has a child-centred approach. This is because staff feel well supported and valued in their roles. Monthly reflection meetings with the on-site healthcare team provide the staff with an opportunity to discuss any concerns and to manage their own emotions that have arisen from incidents. Inspection report children’s home: SC035409 3 Physical interventions are appropriate to keep children and staff safe. However, the manager does not consistently identify learning and required improvements to records. The records of physical interventions lack detail of the incident. Therefore, staff continue to make errors in recording, which makes it difficult to monitor physical interventions effectively.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two previous recommendations relating to the education provision were not assessed at this inspection and will be reviewed at the next full inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/12/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 03/07/2018 Full Good 13/02/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/09/2017 Full Good

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(2)(h)) 02/09/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC035409 4

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Recommendations

 Ensure staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northumberland County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 2EF

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Inspectors

Natalie Burton, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC035409 5 Shaun Common, senior officer, secure estates Inspection report children’s home: SC035409 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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