Children's home run by Right-Trak Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

Inspection report children's home: SC465475 1 SC465475 Registered provider: Right-Trak Limited Full inspection 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 six children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated and managed by a private company. The manager was registered by Ofsted in May 2019.

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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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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 27 October 2020 to carry out an assurance visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC465475 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/07/2019 Full Good 21/08/2018 Full Outstanding 12/07/2017 Full Outstanding 02/02/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC465475 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are four children living in the home and they have good relationships with the staff and with each other. Staff are knowledgeable and skilled in providing a nurturing and supportive environment. This is helped by their understanding of the provider’s preferred therapeutic model of care, which is embedded in practice. This enables children to develop a sense of belonging and acceptance. As a result, children make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s care plans are well written, reviewed and amended when necessary. They detail clear boundaries and routines for the children. There is a strong emphasis on family living. For example, staff and children sit down together at mealtimes and enjoy each other’s company. This is used as an opportunity for children to express their views on all aspects of their care and reflect on their individual day-to-day experiences. This helps children to develop confidence and to feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with their families. This can be a difficult time emotionally for all. However, the staff ensure that the welfare of the child is the focus of any arrangements. This helps to maintain key family relationships and supports children’s sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to attend education. When children have been unable to attend, for various reasons, staff have put together educational plans. Staff support children to carry out their learning at home. This was observed during the inspection visit. The staff were committed and focused on the task and ensured the child was encouraged and engaged in learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

On arrival back from school, children are instantly engaged by staff, who are keen to hear about their experiences and to keep them to routines. High staffing ratios and a planned approach to each child enable safe and effective care. Staff roles are identified at the beginning of the day. This supports consistency and continuity of care for each child.

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

Children’s risks are identified, understood and well managed. The management team and staff attend weekly consultations with the provider’s own clinical psychologist to help analyse and evaluate children’s often complex emotional behaviours. This has been maintained ‘virtually’ throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, via technology. This enables staff to reflect on practice, and to review strategies to safeguard and protect children from harm to themselves and to others. As a result, incidents that require physical intervention are reducing in intensity and number. This is helping children to develop trust in their caregivers and helps them regulate their own emotions. Inspection report children's home: SC465475 4 During the inspection visit, inspectors observed staff being attentive towards children at all times and everyone was involved and shared tasks. Children were given consistent messages to enable open discussions. Children’s questions were

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

answered appropriately and always with care. Close supervision in the kitchen area was adhered to during a cooking preparation activity. This enabled children to be closely monitored and educated while having fun and being kept safe.

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

Staff understand the needs of the children and ensure that progress is achieved. Incidents of concern, achievements and targets are monitored, and provide external professionals with an overview of children’s progress that can be evaluated on all aspects of their care. The staff use graphs and charts as well as a range of photographs. These not only show achievements in a child’s life but also provide for external scrutiny of incidents of concern. This supports the safe care of children.

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

Allegations against staff are reported immediately to the relevant agencies and investigated fully. The strong relationships between staff and children support safeguarding. This is enhanced through the knowledge and support provided by the clinical psychologist, who also offers sessions with the children. This ensures children are listened to and better protected from harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is knowledgeable about the children and is passionate about the therapeutic model of care that is practised. She is well supported by an able deputy manager who is being mentored with succession in mind. This combination of experience and knowledge provides for continuity of care. Children are aware of this forthcoming change and it has reduced any linked anxiety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have responded positively to the extra support the addition of the current deputy manager has brought to the service. A member of staff said, ‘In the last six months I have felt more supported in work. I always feel supported by management and I know the door is always open if I ever wish to discuss anything work related. I feel more supported with regular monthly supervision, consultations, incident debriefs and team meetings. This is because they are regular, and I know my viewpoint will be listened to and taken into account.’ Further staff comments received by the inspector were very positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The quality of decoration of the home has improved since the last visit and children’s living spaces, including their bedrooms, are child centred and age appropriate. There are lots of available toys inside and outside the home. There is additional work to be done in terms of improving the living spaces, but the manager has plans in place. This helps the children to have aspirations and take pride in their home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team has a good oversight of the home and its development. Children’s records are up to date and well recorded. Documentation throughout the service shows good monitoring and review. The independent visitor has a good relationship with the management team and his feedback is considered and acted on. The home’s recent development plan ensured that consultation took place with Inspection report children's home: SC465475 5 children, staff and professionals. This enabled external scrutiny and opinion to be heard and acted upon. This demonstrates an open and inclusive management style.

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Winovation, Houghtons Yard, Shields Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE6 2YP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Melanie Spriddell

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Inspector

Michael Dack, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC465475 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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