Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes North East Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

Inspection report children’s home: SC472795 1 SC472795 Registered provider: Artemis Support Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It provides care and accommodation for up to five children and young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The suitably qualified and experienced manager registered with Ofsted in 2013.

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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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/08/2018 Full Good 25/07/2017 Full Good 15/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/07/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC472795 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of relationships between staff and children and young people is a key strength of this home. Children and young people trust their carers and know they want the best for them. They respond positively to the care they receive and make progress from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people are happy living here and see this as their home. They get on well with each other and enjoy spending time together. They have a sense of identity as members of this home, which helps them to feel settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Members of staff support children and young people to attend school, college or work- based training. Members of staff work with professionals to ensure that gaps in provision or support are resolved. Because of this consistent approach, children and young people make progress. For some, this progress is significant.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people are healthy. Members of staff encourage them to attend routine medical appointments and to have an active lifestyle. Members of staff talk to children and young people about the harm from issues such as smoking and substance misuse. Children and young people are learning the importance of being healthy for their overall well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A suitably qualified professional helps members of staff to meet the emotional needs of children and young people. This support is flexible and available when needed. As a result, children and young people make good progress with their emotional well-being from when they arrive at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people keep in touch with family members, including when they are placed some distance from their home area. Members of staff know that these links are important to children and young people, even when family relationships are complex.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people are actively involved in the running of the home. As well as attending regular meetings, they contribute to the home’s development plan. They work together to decide on what they want to happen in their home. Children and young people are learning that their views matter, which is good for their self-esteem .

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

Children and young people are safe when they are in the home. Very few incidents take place. Aggressive behaviour between or from children and young people is rare. This means that when children and young people are in the home, they feel safe and are safe.

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

Boundaries and expectations are clear and consistent. Members of staff present as being competent and confident. They use their positive relationships with children and young Inspection report children’s home: SC472795 3 people to encourage good behaviour. Bullying is not tolerated. The approach of staff to managing behaviour helps children and young people to feel that their carers will keep them safe.

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

If children and young people are missing from the home, members of staff follow statutory and local guidance. This includes going out to look for them. Members of staff talk to children and young people about the risks of going missing. However, this does not always bring about sustained improvements for those most at risk. Members of staff should do more to help children and young people reduce how often they are missing.

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

There are no significant issues with substance misuse, self-harm or exploitation for children and young people in the home. Members of staff talk to children and young people about these and other issues. As a result, children and young people are generally safe and know they can talk to their carers about any worries.

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

Members of staff have not had training on the issue of ligatures, including potential risk factors within the home. This means that children and young people could be at risk of harm, regardless of the current levels of concern about this behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers in this home are passionate about a high standard of care to the children and young people. Feedback provided during the inspection was very positive about their knowledge. Members of staff are learning valuable skills from their managers. As a result, children and young people are looked after by carers who share a commitment to them and who perform their role well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager understands what the home does well and is dedicated to improving outcomes for children and young people. The registered manager responds well to the external monitoring of the home. Any recommendations are responded to quickly. The registered manager knows that this oversight helps to maintain progress and continue the development of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager supervises all members of staff. Any practice issues are addressed quickly so there is no negative effect on children and young people. Members of staff reported that supervision is effective and supportive. This adds to a feeling of high staff morale and commitment to ongoing development of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This provider ensures robust recruitment to safeguard children and young people. New members of staff start work after all checks are received and verified. Members of staff tend to remain working in this home for a long time, providing stability to children and young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC472795 4

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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, the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person 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. 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. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)) In particular, staff should undertake learning on the management and assessment of risk from ligatures. 31/10/2019

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Recommendations

 Children must feel safe and be safe. Staff should support children to be aware of and manage their own safety both inside and outside the home to the extent that any good parent would. Staff should help children to understand how to protect themselves, feel protected and be protected from significant harm. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9) In particular, staff should work creatively with children and young people at risk of going missing, to help them understand their risks and make safer choices.

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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. Inspection report children’s home: SC472795 5 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

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Information about this inspection

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: SC472795 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Artemis Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Coburg House, 1 Coburg Street, Gateshead NE8 1NS

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Inspector

Jane Titley, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC472795 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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