Children's home run by North East Specialist Therapeutic Services CIC

Inspection report children’s home: 1278217 1 Registered provider: North East Specialist Therapeutic Services CIC Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and run by a private provider. The home offers care and accommodation for up to two children and young people who are between the ages of six and 17 years on admission and who have had considerable trauma in their early years which has led to them experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home was registered in December 2018, and the manager was registered with Ofsted at the same time.

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Inspection date: 19 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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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 home provides care for two young people, who receive individualised support and are making progress towards their goals. Education is promoted, and the young people regularly attend school or college and are encouraged to think about their future. Any issues arising at school or college are dealt with effectively by timely liaison between staff to ensure a consistency of response in both environments.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people are supported to engage in activities outside of the home to broaden their interests, promote independence and increase self-esteem. The young people are supported to widen their social networks and are helped to develop positive peer relationships. Where concerns arise over peer relationships, free time is managed effectively to ensure that any risks are minimised and the young people Inspection report children’s home: 1278217 2 are not drawn towards more negative behaviours. While some young people can perceive these as overly strict, they are designed to ensure that young people focus on more positive experiences.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people benefit from a consistent response from a small team of staff who understand their needs well. Individualised care and independence plans, developed by the home, clearly set out the targets to be achieved and the desired outcomes, which form the basis of key work with the young people. These are regularly reviewed to ensure that young people are making progress towards clearly defined outcomes. This practice developed since the last inspection could be further enhanced by ensuring that the plans link to the local authority care plans, which were absent from the case files.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff help and protect young people with issues such as bullying, online safety, peer relationships and potential for exploitation. Risks are clearly identified, and subsequent plans are reviewed and adapted to changing needs and circumstances.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Missing-from-home incidents are not regular, and there are effective measures to manage young people’s safety when in the community. If the young people do go missing, individual risk profiles and response flowcharts ensure that staff are able to take immediate action to try to locate the young person and ensure their safety. Detailed action logs show discussion with the relevant agencies when incidents occur, and requests are made for appropriate follow-up interviews. Practice in this area could be strengthened further by evidencing how return-home interviews have influenced the risk profiles.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The current young people have lived in the home since it opened and are benefiting from the stable living arrangements. This, coupled with a stable staff team, is enabling them to progress. The manager has sought the views of the young people in weekly discussions, and these have contributed to the development of the home. However, it is not always clear how the young people receive feedback on the suggestions and contributions that they have made.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff feel supported and have access to training and development. Weekly access to a consultant and psychotherapist facilitates an ongoing understanding of the therapeutic element of the work being provided, and guidance relating to the young people can be provided at this time. This, alongside reflective time, provides the opportunity for staff to consider their interactions with the young people and how they approach key-working sessions to promote positive outcomes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager was unfortunately unavailable at the time of the inspection; however, it is clear that she has been responsive to suggestions for improvement and is proactive in engaging with wider professionals. The manager has been effective in addressing all the recommendations set at the last inspection. Inspection report children’s home: 1278217 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/04/2019 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1278217 4

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Recommendations

 For looked-after children, the registered person should seek to ensure that the local authority regularly consults the child and the home about the child’s relevant plans. (Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 57, paragraph 11.11) In particular, ensure that the provider has a copy of the child’s local authority care plan on the child’s records and ensure that care at the home is aligned to this.  If there is a risk that a child may run away or go missing, staff should do their best to help them understand the risks and dangers involved and make them aware of how to seek help if they do run away. (Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 45, paragraph 9.27) In particular, evaluate the findings from the return-home interviews to ensure that the risk profile for the child is updated.

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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: 1278217 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North East Specialist Therapeutic Services CIC

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 34 Westbourne Road, Hartlepool TS25 5RE

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Inspector

Matt Reed, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1278217 6 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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