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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488112 1 SC488112

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North East Specialist Therapeutic Services CIC

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to four children who may have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties as a result of trauma in their early years. The home uses a therapeutic approach to care based on understanding children’s attachments. The children are aged between seven and 14 years old. A private provider owns and operates this home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2015.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to consider concerns raised in the independent visitor’s reports about the use of physical restraint. This visit took place during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and was completed remotely. The inspector reviewed the children’s records, spoke with children and their parents, and held discussions with the registered manager, children’s social workers and staff.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted last visited the home in May 2019 and completed a full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The use of physical restraint is not always proportionate or appropriate. Staff are permitted to use some bespoke support strategies to help some children to settle and regain control of their emotions. These strategies include providing children with comfort through sensory pressure aids, including weighted blankets. However, there are occasions when staff have used their own body weight to apply sensory pressure. This is unlawful and potentially places children at risk of harm. Furthermore, records of physical restraint do not always include children’s views or opinions. As a result, children’s feedback isn’t considered within the registered manager’s review of the use of physical restraint.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager does not consistently update children’s risk assessments following all incidents that impact on their safety. This prevents staff from identifying patterns in children’s behaviours and from reviewing the frequency of incidents. This Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488112 2 means that staff do not have all of the information that they need to fully understand how to manage and reduce risks to children’s safety.

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This monitoring visit

External monitoring by the independent visitor is not in line with regulation. These reports do not consistently include feedback from children’s families. Consequently, the independent visitor is not able to fully determine if children are appropriately safeguarded.

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This monitoring visit

Staff training is up to date and incudes mandatory safeguarding and child protection refresher training. The registered manager ensures that staff complete specialist training courses that reflect children’s individual needs. For example, staff complete courses about how to meet children’s sensory needs. As a result, the staff have the skills they need to care for and support the children.

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This monitoring visit

Children take part in life story work arranged by the organisation’s psychotherapist. This work helps children to express and explore their feelings. This helps children to reflect on their past trauma and to move forward with their life. One parent commented, ‘There’s a lot of progress with his emotional well-being and learning his own emotions.’

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This monitoring visit

Children’s social workers speak positively about the home. They said that the children are safeguarded and that the children have a good routine and are settled at the home. This supports children’s development and progress.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 29/05/2019 Full Good 05/07/2018 Full Good 06/02/2018 Full Good 10/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488112 3

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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, 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 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 staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)) 1 May 2021

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (2)) 1 May 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 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)(c)) 1 May 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person— if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)) In particular, seek the views and opinions of children’s families and relatives when appropriate to do so. 1 May 2021

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488112 4

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jason Darbyshire

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Inspectors

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Jane Titley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488112 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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