Children's home run by Together For Children Sunderland

Inspection report children’s home: 1254837 1 Registered provider: Together for Children Sunderland Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to six children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a limited company. The manager was registered in April 2019.

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Inspection date: 14 January 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1254837 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection in May 2019. One requirement and two recommendations were made at that inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that this home has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people continue to make progress in all areas of their lives. Since the last inspection, this has been most evidenced in their education attendance and attainment. Some children and young people have received additional awards recognising their achievements and the good progress that they make. This gives them a sense of pride and helps them to recognise their own progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In recent months, maintenance work has been completed in the home. Cosmetic changes have taken place, with the addition of new furniture, a fitted kitchen, carpets and flooring providing a fresh and homely environment. Children and young people have selected new furniture for their bedrooms and personalised their own private space with pictures, photographs and soft furnishings. Children and young people are taking pride in their home. A significant reduction in damage to the home reflects this. This helps children and young people to feel valued.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk management processes are good. Risk assessments are regularly updated to ensure that strategies remain appropriate to keep children and young people protected. There is good management oversight to ensure that carers provide consistency of safe care in line with the assessed needs of children and young people. This means that children and young people learn that their carers strive to keep them safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When children and young people go missing from home, the appropriate protocols are followed by carers to aid their safe return. Children and young people are offered and engage in return home interviews by an independent visitor. This ensures that children and young people have someone from outside the home they can talk to about any concerns they may have that have led to the missing from home episode. Recordings include an evaluation of learning from those visits. This information strengthens strategies in risk assessments, and this is reflected in the significant reduction in missing episodes since the full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager recognises the benefits of having a trained and skilled staff team. Since the full inspection, training and learning opportunities, particularly around trauma-informed practice, have featured in team meetings and development days. This has helped to strengthen relationships that children and young people have Inspection report children’s home: 1254837 3 with their carers. There has been a reduction in critical incidents as a result.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is clear about the home’s strengths as well as areas he intends to develop. Improvements already made to team meetings and staff supervisions encourage reflective practice by carers. A professional commented, ‘I really think that their reflection and understanding of trauma-informed practice is improving children’s experiences and helping them make real change for the better.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvements have been made to the quality of recordings. They now read in a way that is helpful for children and young people to see how they are being helped and protected by their carers. Inspection report children’s home: 1254837 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2019 Full Good 04/12/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/10/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 19/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 1254837 5

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: 1254837 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Together for Children Sunderland Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Stanfield Business Centre, Addison Street, Sunderland SR2 8SZ

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Inspector

Jacqueline Tate, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1254837 7 to 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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