Children's Home run by Newcastle City Council in Newcastle upon Tyne

Inspection report children’s home: 2530086 1 Registered provider: Newcastle city council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by the local authority. It is registered to provide care to no more than three children or young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in June 2019 and is suitably qualified.

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Inspection date: 5 February 2020

Date of last inspection: 22 October 2019

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Inspection date: 5 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2530086 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. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children are making good progress from their starting points. They state that they feel safe in the home. Through positive relationships, staff work with the children to help them stay safe in the community. The staff work with the police and other services to help the children build trusting relationships with them. The children are able to recognise that they are making progress and the difference that living in the home makes to their lives. A child said their life has been ‘completely changed’ by living in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are supported to be healthy. The home has dedicated staff who lead on promoting good health. The children receive advice about enjoying a healthy lifestyle and are encouraged to attend appointments, for example visiting the dentist. Where children misuse drugs or alcohol, advice and support are provided to reduce harm and improve well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced at working in residential care. She is ambitious and committed. Professionals were positive about her contribution to the home and staff feel supported. They regard her as integral to creating a nurturing and caring environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager wants to improve the home in a way which makes a difference for the children living there. However, the monitoring and audit systems are not routinely completed. This means opportunities to review standards of care and identify shortfalls are missed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team is motivated and supported by the integrated service comprising of a clinical psychologist and occupational and mental health therapists. Together, they plan for children moving into the home. Investing time in understanding the children’s experiences helps them to provide good care. Training is provided to staff as required and is specific to the children’s needs. This means that care is individual, well thought through and aimed at improving the lives of children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are encouraged to build safe relationships with their families and friends. They receive help to get along with people and have positive role models in the home. Staff get to know who is important to each child and where they spend their time together. If children go missing from the home, staff know who to contact to help find the child and return them to the home. Children are supported to keep themselves safe and they feel valued.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff encourage the children to go to school and support them to follow their interests. Where children are excluded or not attending school, staff offer alternative Inspection report children’s home: 2530086 3 learning opportunities. However, their day is unstructured, and the children can choose to opt out. The manager’s monitoring and escalation processes are not effective. This means that children experience delays in returning to formal learning, which affects their chances of succeeding in education. Inspection report children’s home: 2530086 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2530086 5

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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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; and help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(iv) and (x)) 05/03/2020

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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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(2)(h)) 05/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(c)) 05/06/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 2530086 6

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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: 2530086 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Newcastle city council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Barras Bridge, Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8QH

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Inspector

Catherine Heron, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2530086 8 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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