Children's home run by Howard House Care Limited in Northumberland

Inspection report children’s home: SC479281 1 SC479281 Registered provider: Howard House Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private organisation and is registered for the care and accommodation of up to two children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager was registered in February 2017 and is appropriately qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 29 January to 30 January 2020

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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 outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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: 15 January 2019

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC479281 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/01/2019 Full Outstanding 19/09/2017 Full Good 14/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/10/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC479281 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home provides a warm and nurturing environment for the young people to thrive. The young people have complex and challenging needs requiring consistent and high levels of supervision and support. Young people do well because of the commitment and aspirations of the management and staff team in supporting them. The relationships between staff and young people are strong because there are good levels of trust. The inspector observed very positive interactions between young people and staff. The excellent relationships between young people, staff and other professionals have resulted in some exceptional outcomes for the young people sustained throughout the year. Professionals and parents commented on how well staff have engaged with young people and how this is commendable given the young people’s complex needs and behaviour. In particular, positive work with child and adolescent mental health services to address the young people’s emotional health needs is working well, and

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

the progress of the young people in developing skills and strategies to manage feelings and behaviour has been considerable. One of the most positive achievements for the young people has been their return to mainstream education with 100% attendance. The young people are achieving well, in line with their peers, and have already made significant progress towards their GCSCEs. Education is well supported in the home and young people have been encouraged to undertake online courses which underpin schoolwork. Young people are also actively involved in a national award for environmental awareness which focuses on building skills and resilience through outdoor education. Young people have made significant progress from low starting points, especially in self-care skills and improvements in behaviour. Staff use a wide range of social activities to help the young people develop self-esteem and self-awareness, but

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

importantly to help them build relationships with others. A major achievement for the young people this year has been going on holiday abroad to Gran Canaria, as well as attendance at air cadets, tennis coaching and rugby sessions.

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

Young people are helped to stay safe. The complex behavioural needs and risks of young people are well addressed through training, risk assessment and continual reflection. Staff are particularly good at identifying changes in behaviour patterns and communicate this information back to other professionals to assist in planning effective interventions. In addition, work with the young people is increasingly effective in helping the young people learn to keep themselves safe. Behaviour management programmes including restorative justice, sanctions and rewards are all used very well to reinforce expected behaviour. Staff ensure that boundaries are clear, and that the young people can reflect on their behaviour, develop resilience and build self-esteem. The staff are incredibly child centred and Inspection report children’s home: SC479281 4 skilled. Staff communicate well with education settings. This ensures that key

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

strategies are consistently applied in the home setting and at school. As a result, risk- taking behaviour by the young people has significantly reduced. There have been no incidents of the young people going missing from the home and no measures of restraint required during the past year. The registered manager and staff have developed clear and robust plans for supporting the young people. Staff work extremely well with other professionals to ensure that care planning is personalised, well informed by assessments and underpinned by up-to-date research and good practice. Direct work with the young people is focused and constructive. As a result, the young people’s behaviour consistently improves and, importantly, improvements are sustained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is highly aspirational for the young people and an exemplary role model for staff. He is passionate about developing services and practice at the home to improve outcomes for the young people. Staff all said that he is a highly supportive manager with very high expectations. Staff development and learning is prioritised by the registered manager to ensure that best practice, current research and knowledge is embedded in staff’s work with young people. In addition, professionals and parents commented on the registered manager’s highly effective inclusive leadership and management. The staff team is committed to the ethos of the home. The team communicates effectively with professionals, ensuring that consistent care is being provided to young people. Staff training is a prominent feature in the home, underpinning practices to ensure good outcomes for the young people. Team meetings are used very well to

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

consider the needs of the young people and to discuss research and good practice to inform ongoing work. Staff are actively consulted in all aspects of development of services, including the new dynamic workforce development plan and review of the home’s statement of purpose. Staff supervision is regular. It is very thorough and clearly focused on learning, development and reflective practice, ensuring that staff have the necessary skills to support the young people. Staff feel well supported and appreciative of the training that they receive to help them in providing a high level of care to the young people. Quality assurance processes are very strong and drive service development. The quality assurance report is very comprehensive and well written. Progress of the young people is clearly illustrated and areas for development identified. Consultation, including online surveys by professionals, staff, parents and the young people, is used

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

well to inform quality assurance processes. Inspection report children’s home: SC479281 5

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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: SC479281 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Howard House Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Netherton Colliery, Bedlington, Northumberland NE22 6BB

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Inspector

Fiona Millns, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC479281 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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