Children's home run by North East Autism Society in County Durham

Inspection report children’s home: SC416136 1 SC416136 Registered provider: North East Autism Society Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to five children or young people who have learning disabilities. The staff specialise in looking after children and young people who have autism spectrum disorder. A private provider operates this service.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2012.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 5 February 2019

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: Outstanding

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None. Inspection report children’s home: SC416136 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/02/2019 Full Outstanding 14/08/2017 Full Outstanding 22/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/12/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC416136 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children and young people are very settled and happy. They receive exceptional care that meets their complex needs. This high-quality care is very nurturing and responsive to individual needs. As a result, children and young people thrive in a warm, homely and supportive environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff work consistently and proactively with a range of professionals and the children and young people’s families. The highly professional and well-organised placement plans are exceptionally detailed, and are personalised to each child or young person. Staff analyse and evaluate any changes in the presenting behaviour of children and young people, and share them with the wider support team around the child. This collaborative way of working ensures that children and young people make progress from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff use a research-based approach in their practice. The provider’s statement of purpose states, ‘The framework recognises the unique needs of each young person with autism.’ This ensures that children and young people are supported by skilled professionals who provide consistently high-quality care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children and young people’s health needs are comprehensively met. The staff recognise the subtle changes in the behaviour of children and young people which prompt medication reviews with medical professionals. This level of knowledge and information sharing helps to keep children and young people fit and well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children and young people are supported to maintain excellent attendance at school. Good inter-agency working enhances the positive experiences for children and young people while they are in education. An educational professional said:

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

We have seen a real change in behaviours, he has settled a lot. His independence skills have massively improved. There is so much they work on through his life skills. He really does have the best life accessing lots of activities. His mother is thrilled. The home is a very nurturing, welcoming environment. The staff are very open, honest and very approachable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff are considerate and spoke very highly of the children and young people and their individual qualities. Children and young people explore their individual interests and take part in a range of leisure activities. For example, children and young people attend musical instrument classes, dine out with staff and their peers and engage in more robust activities, such as basketball, trampolining and walking. These positive experiences develop the children and young people’s confidence and sense of family living, which ensures that they feel valued.

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

The management of risk is supported through the well-written risk assessments. These in turn link to positive, proactive support plans. The provider’s behavioural experts assist Inspection report children’s home: SC416136 4 the staff in identifying and reducing triggers for behaviour. This approach helps to ensure that children and young people continue to be protected while learning about their own behaviour.

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

Children and young people are supported through good staffing levels as detailed in their care plans. This ensures that they are supervised and safely observed without being deprived of their liberty.

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

Child protection training and associated safeguarding training assist staff in recognising and responding to incidents of concern. The managers’ oversight ensures that practice is thorough and staff are confident. This leads to children and young people being well protected.

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

Children and young people do not go missing from the home. There is no bullying and they are encouraged, guided and educated on acceptable behaviours towards staff and their peers in the home. The positive, trusting relationships between children, young people and staff encourage reductions in potentially harmful behaviours. This leads to children and young people developing an understanding of socially acceptable behaviour and supports their well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is appropriately qualified and is very knowledgeable. She is supported by a very able deputy who shares her passion and commitment to achieving positive outcomes for children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager leads a well-established team of staff who show dedication and commitment to providing the best possible care for children and young people. Staff retention remains excellent and morale is high. This ensures that children and young people are provided with a positive and homely environment in which they can flourish.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and her deputy provide effective and regular supervision, team meetings and yearly performance appraisals. The staff spoke positively about the support they receive from management and each other. All staff are appropriately qualified and training needs are identified and maintained to meet the needs of children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager reports regularly to the trustees and senior management. The monitoring activities in place are thorough. They, alongside the independent visitor’s scrutiny, support the manager in completing her regulation 45 report. The overall monitoring and audit process ensures that the standard of practice is good, and that children and young people are provided with the best possible care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A range of professionals spoke positively about the relationships the manager and her staff team build with everyone involved in the lives of the children and young people. Parents and families are supported to have quality family time. This often takes place in the home, which provides immediate support from staff if required and is homelier for the family. Inspection report children’s home: SC416136 5 The manager promotes an effective safeguarding culture in the home and serious safeguarding incidents are notified to Ofsted. However, one incident of concern was not reported. Children and young people were not harmed and staff acted appropriately. However, this was a serious incident and should have been notified to Ofsted so that the regulator could be sure that all necessary actions had been taken to protect children and young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC416136 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, the 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(e)) 13/02/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC416136 7

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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: SC416136 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North East Autism Society

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 15 Lumley Court, Drum Industrial Estate, Chester-le- Street, County Durham DH2 1AN

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Inspector

Michael Dack, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC416136 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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