Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes North East Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

Assurance visit report: SC472795 1 SC472795

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care and accommodation for up to five children and/or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 4 September 2019

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We identified the following serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit: Assurance visit report: SC472795 2  There are health and safety issues in some young people’s bedrooms that present a risk of harm.  Some young people experience poor living conditions.

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The care of children

At this visit, serious concerns have been identified relating to the care and protection of young people. The manager was not aware of serious health and safety issues in some young people’s bedrooms. This results in young people being exposed to the potential risk of harm. Staff do not take sufficient responsibility when young people are unable to maintain their bedroom. This means that some young people experience poor living conditions which can contribute to low self-esteem. The manager began to rectify this during the inspection.

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The care of children

Young people are involved in their care planning, including devising weekly menus and choosing activities to enjoy with staff. This involvement enables young people to make decisions about their care, which helps them to gain a sense of control over their lives.

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The care of children

Staff assist young people to follow the necessary measures to minimise the risk of contracting COVID-19. Changes to government restrictions are discussed in house meetings, to help young people understand the most current guidelines. Staff supported young people to complete an ‘Understanding Coronavirus’ course during the pandemic, to help young people explore their feelings and to support good health.

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The care of children

Young people who have experienced a significant period without a school placement are helped by staff to develop an understanding of the value of learning. One education professional said, ‘Staff have a high standard towards education and are persistent in their efforts to get young people to school.’ This approach contributes to young people developing the confidence to enrol and return to education, increasing their chance of gaining qualifications.

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The care of children

The manager understands the necessity for young people to be able to keep in touch with those who are important to them during the pandemic. Arrangements that respect government restrictions are put in place so that each young person can safely maintain contact, supporting their well-being.

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The safety of children

The manager takes a multi-agency approach to explore the risks posed to young people when they are out in the community. Staff follow safety plans to keep young people increasingly safe. Young people are praised when they follow the rules in place for their safety. This helps young people to understand the benefit of making safer choices. Assurance visit report: SC472795 3 There is a reduction of incidents of young people being missing from the home. Staff follow protocols when missing-from-home incidents occur, which includes making attempts to find young people. This shows young people that their safety is important. Return interviews are completed by staff who identify actions to help young people understand the risks associated with being missing. Return interviews offered by an independent person are not always recorded. Recording these would further strengthen the post-incident learning.

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The safety of children

Staff do not tolerate bullying. They use key-working sessions with young people to embed this message and promote harmonious group living. Young people are given sanctions to help them to develop responsibility for their behaviour. The manager does not always scrutinise sanctions to establish whether this practice is effective. This is a missed opportunity to develop the care that young people receive.

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The safety of children

Transitions into the home are risk assessed, and measures are in place to reduce the risks to young people already living there. Occasionally, generalised statements are included in these assessments that inaccurately identify all young people to be at risk. This has not negatively affected any young people, but risk assessments need to be accurate to enable staff to manage situations following admissions.

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The safety of children

Young people’s individual risk assessments clearly link to their care planning documents and provide staff with guidance to help them to meet young people’s needs. Occasionally, information in linked records did not match. This means that young people can experience inconsistent care.

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Leaders and managers

The suitably experienced manager is supported by a small team of staff who provide stability for the young people.

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Leaders and managers

Staff receive regular, reflective supervision. The manager identifies actions to develop the practice of staff. Induction for new staff joining the team is well planned to cover each area of the role, so that staff learn how to meet the needs of the young people in their care.

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Leaders and managers

The manager arranged for her staff to complete online training including self-harm and ligature training during the pandemic. When the restrictions eased, the manager ensured that face-to-face training was reinstated, supporting her team to develop its skills and ability to meet young people’s needs.

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Leaders and managers

The manager responds appropriately when safeguarding concerns arise, sharing information effectively with partner agencies. On two occasions, there has been a delay in notifying Ofsted. This has not affected young people, but swift notification to the regulator is necessary to ensure that there is sufficient oversight of safeguarding practice.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has systems in place to monitor and review the care that young people receive. During the pandemic, independent visits were adapted and took Assurance visit report: SC472795 4 place virtually so that this element of scrutiny was sustained. The manager invites the challenge and input of this resource, showing a desire to improve the quality of care that young people receive.

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Leaders and managers

The requirement and recommendation made at the last inspection have been met.

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff— protect and promote each child’s welfare; and provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(2)(b)(ii)(iv)) 06/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; and that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b)(d)) 06/12/2020 Assurance visit report: SC472795 5 The registered person must ensure that— within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— the name of the child; details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")— has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)) 06/12/2020

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Recommendations

 Children’s homes should work closely with the placing authority to understand the child’s relationship history and the impact that the child’s arrival may have on the group living in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.3) In particular, the impact risk assessments should clearly define which individuals are at risk.  When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an Assurance visit report: SC472795 6 opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Regulations 35-39 detail the records that must be kept in children’s homes. All

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Recommendations

children’s case records (regulation 36) must be kept up to date. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)  The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday. Notification must include details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Artemis Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 17 Queens Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland NE1 1RN

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Inspector

Paula Kelly, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC472795 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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