Children's Home run by Northumberland County Council in Northumberland

Inspection report children's home: SC486604 1 SC486604 Registered provider: Northumberland County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is managed by a local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2016 and is appropriately qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC486604 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/01/2020 Full Outstanding 26/02/2019 Full Outstanding 21/03/2018 Full Outstanding 28/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC486604 3

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outstanding

Children have excellent relationships with the staff, who provide a nurturing and warm environment in which children can learn, play and make progress. As a result, children develop trust in their carers and a sense of permanence and belonging.

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outstanding

Children enjoy a range of activities. These have continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Children and staff have explored the local outdoors. Staff put together a video compilation of children and staff enjoying a range of activities, including wild camping, beach trips, bike rides and adventurous walks. These positive experiences provide memories and show the progress children are making with their confidence and resilience.

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outstanding

Children’s interests are encouraged with personalised rewards given to celebrate and recognise their achievements. A range of creative ideas are explored and delivered by the staff, who know the children well. This enables children to explore their interests, build their confidence and boost their self-esteem.

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outstanding

The staff understand the home’s model of care, which is based on therapeutic parenting. As a result, staff can help children to develop skills, manage their emotions and respect one another. A child commented, ‘The best thing about the home is everything, and the staff are mint.’

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outstanding

All children are attending education. Staff work with education professionals to support children’s attendance and attainment. Staff have high aspirations for children and support them to achieve through praise and guidance. Professionals from other agencies speak highly of the staff and the manager.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children are increasingly safe. Staff have a good understanding of children’s vulnerabilities, their risky behaviours and support them in managing their emotions. Children are helped to explore their feelings and reflect on their decision-making with staff following any incident of concern. This process helps children to recognise danger and explore socially acceptable behaviour. This supports children to make choices in a safe manner that is consistent with their age and understanding.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children develop friendships inside and outside of the home. Staff help children to understand relationships that are safe and are based on respect and mutual trust. However, risky peer relationships that are known are not always supported by a specific risk assessment with clearly thought out strategies to support safe care. This potentially leaves children at risk. Inspection report children's home: SC486604 4 The therapeutic model of care supports safe care through its approach to positive parenting. Staff, with the support and guidance from the educational psychologist, ensure that children are provided with a consistent approach to their behaviour. The staff focus on restorative practice and the use of sanctions to enable children to learn. This, and recognition of positive behaviour, helps children to recognise the impact their behaviour has on others.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Safeguarding concerns are responded to quickly, and subsequent investigations are thorough and involve all relevant professionals. Professionals spoken to throughout the inspection were complimentary about the communication between all parties and the prompt sharing of information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is an exceptional role model for staff. She is motivated and highly skilled in her understanding of the therapeutic model of care. She has a stable staff team that shares her passion for improving children’s lives. As a result, staff are confident and are supported to recognise and build on their own strengths in a positive working environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

This dynamic and creative learning environment enables children to make significant progress from their starting points. Staff are given opportunities to reflect on their working practices in regular supervisions and purposeful staff meetings. Team leaders support the manager in ensuring that practice is maintained to a high level.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s care plans and case records are well written. The standard of recording is consistently high, and children’s views are recorded throughout.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly valued by her staff. She is forward-thinking in the development of the service and is using research effectively to consider the complex needs of the children. She works together with professionals and embraces the knowledge and expertise provided by the educational psychologist. This supports the understanding and further development of the model of practice. This means that children make continuous progress and are supported by a team of skilled and knowledgeable carers. Inspection report children's home: SC486604 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff encourage children to develop positive relationships with others, both inside and outside the home. However, staff should be alert to the possibility that children may be at risk from such relationships, including other children in the home and friends. Staff should ensure that risk assessments detail specific strategies to reduce the risk of harm where there are concerns for a child’s safety. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.13)

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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: SC486604 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northumberland County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 2EF

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Inspector

Michael Dack, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC486604 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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Inspector

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