Children's Home run by South Tyneside Council in South Tyneside

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC032701 1 SC032701

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South Tyneside Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care and accomodation for up to five children and/or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Ofsted last visited the children’s home on 22 October 2019, when a full inspection was carried out. The home was judged good.

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Information about this children’s home

There have been changes to management in the home since the last inspection. The current manager has been in post since June 2020, and was registered with Ofsted in November 2020.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out in response to safeguarding notifications received by Ofsted and information provided by the independent visitor.

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This monitoring visit

The inspection was carried out off site, and considered the following:

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This monitoring visit

 action taken by the provider in response to the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection;  the manager’s response to assessing and responding to the risks that children living in the home pose to each other;  help available for young people preparing to leave the home;  supervision and support for staff working in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Children and young people spoke positively about living in the home. They have good relationships with staff, and know who they can talk to if they need help. Children and young people said that they like their bedrooms, and one described Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC032701 2 their room as ‘nice and cosy’. Another child liked that their artwork is hanging on their wall.

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This monitoring visit

The quality of key-work records is improving. Staff write about individual children and young people in a sensitive and child-friendly way. They describe the mood of the child or young person, and include details of the conversations. Quotations from the child or young person help to explain how they feel. Detailed records enable the manager to review the quality of care. The records also support children and young people to remember events and recognise the progress they are making in their lives.

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This monitoring visit

The manager is innovative and has a clear vision for the home. She is creative and listens to children’s and young people’s ideas about improvements. For example, children and young people suggested starting a project to renovate a room for them to use as a peaceful and calming space. This helps the children and young people to have confidence in the manager and her ability to meet their needs.

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This monitoring visit

Staff feel supported and receive regular supervision. Pressures caused by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic mean that some records of supervision discussions are not complete. The manager is aware of this and has a plan to address it. Staff benefit from being able to reflect on the care provided for children and young people. One staff member said that supervision provides ‘clarity’, and they described the manager as a ‘breath of fresh air’.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has enhanced the training available to staff by linking with other agencies. She has selected training which focuses on the needs of children and young people who live in the home. This has helped to ensure that the staff have the right skills to provide the care necessary to meet the needs of children and young people placed. A psychologist who provided training said that the manager and staff have ‘embraced’ the service, adding that they are providing a ‘nurturing’ environment for each child and young person.

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This monitoring visit

The staff provide support for young people who are preparing to leave the home. They are guided by clear plans for delivering support, and keep clear records of the time they spend with young people and what support they have offered to the young people. When young people do not want to participate, staff are persistent. They continue to offer one-to-one sessions, showing young people that they care. This means that young people receive help to prepare for adult life.

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This monitoring visit

When children and young people move into the home, they receive a warm welcome. An introduction plan helps to prepare the child or young person, for example they are offered overnight stays and invited to join in a group meal. The manager involves other agencies in the process and consults the children and young people who already live in the home. However, the manager does not ensure that risk assessments consider the impact that each child or young person has upon the other children and young people. Therefore, the manager cannot be assured that Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC032701 3 the staff are able to meet the children’s and young people’s needs according to their plans.

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This monitoring visit

The manager uses a monitoring system to review serious incidents that involve a child or young person. This means that there is oversight of each event. However, the manager does not consistently inform Ofsted as required. This prevents independent scrutiny of the actions taken by staff in the home in order to ensure that children and young people are increasingly safe.

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This monitoring visit

Staff support children and young people to keep in touch with people who are important to them. The manager and staff recognise the value of children and young people spending time with their family members. However, on one occasion, an assessment for family time was delayed, and the manager did not escalate and challenge those responsible. This left the child wondering when they can see some family members, causing them unnecessary distress.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 22/10/2019 Full Good 22/01/2019 Full Outstanding 26/09/2017 Full Good 02/08/2017 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC032701 4

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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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that a group risk assessment is completed which identifies the risks that children and young people pose to each other and how they will be managed. 22 February 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

is instigated; or 22 February 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC032701 5 concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Recommendations

 The registered provider should ensure that where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home or in preparation for leaving the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs (see regulations 5(c)). Staff should act as champions for their children, expecting nothing less than a good parent would. The registered person should consider the use of an independent advocate (see paragraph 4.16) if the child’s needs are not being met. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: South Tyneside Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, Westoe Road, South Shields NE33 2RL

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Inspector

Catherine Heron, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC032701 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 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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