Children's home run by Outdoor Care Limited Assurance visit report: 2587132 4

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A private company operates the home. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: Not previously inspected

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Not previously inspected

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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. 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 did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: 2587132 2

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The care of children

Young people said that they have good and trusting relationships with members of staff and they are happy living at the home.

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The care of children

Staff support young people to spend time with their families. During the period when COVID-19 restrictions eased, young people enjoyed overnight stays. This important family time supports young people’s well-being.

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The care of children

Staff spend time with young people discussing their understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic. Young people have not always followed the guidelines in place. However, staff continue to provide advice and support to help them make informed choices.

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The care of children

Young people are offered specialist help and support from a range of professionals, such as substance misuse workers. Staff are proactive in supporting young people to reduce their drug use.

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The care of children

Staff advise and support young people to attend their educational settings and to achieve. Staff and educational professionals communicate well. This ensures that a consistent approach is maintained to enable young people to make progress.

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The safety of children

Risk assessments are well written and easy to follow. They are regularly reviewed and updated. Staff provide consistent advice to young people about how to protect themselves. This encourages young people to make informed decisions to keep themselves safe.

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The safety of children

Staff are proactive in their response to young people who go missing from the home. They make welfare calls to these young people while they are away and work together with the police, other relevant agencies and the families. This helps to reduce the time that young people are missing from the home. Young people are welcomed home on their return, and an independent person completes their return- home interviews in a timely manner.

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The safety of children

All staff receive training in safeguarding. Safeguarding is discussed in supervision with individual staff and in team meetings. However, staff have not completed training to support young people regarding potential safeguarding concerns such as those associated with county lines. This does not help staff to be aware of triggers and changes in young people’s behaviours that may indicate they are potentially at risk.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager is supported by a stable and experienced staff team. They are able to deal effectively with challenging behaviour and work as a team. They work long shifts, which provides young people with continuity of care. Assurance visit report: 2587132 3 The manager reviews and monitors the effectiveness of young people’s placement plans. Internal monitoring systems are in place and the manager welcomes monthly independent external scrutiny.

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Leaders and managers

External professionals speak positively about the management and staff, especially regarding their good communication and attendance at care team meetings. Management and staff work in collaboration with multi-agencies. This helps to improve outcomes for young people.

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Leaders and managers

During the COVID-19 pandemic, staff have received regular supervision. This supports their understanding of COVID-19 government restrictions and allows them to share their insight into the care of the young people during difficult times. However, a senior member of staff has not received formal supervision and does not have any recordings. This does not support personal development and team leadership.

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Leaders and managers

A notification of a serious incident was not sent to Ofsted within the required timescales. This limits the effectiveness of external scrutiny and could leave young people at risk of further harm.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should ensure that a note of the content and/or outcomes of supervision sessions is kept and ensure that both the person giving the supervision and staff member have a copy of the record. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4)  The registered person should have a system in place 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

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Recommendations

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: Outdoor Care Limited Assurance visit report: 2587132 4 Registered provider address: 16 Bondgate Without, Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 1PP

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Inspector

Michael Dack, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2587132 5 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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