Children's Home run by Newcastle City Council in Newcastle upon Tyne

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2530086 1

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Newcastle City Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by the local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation to three children with emotional and/or social difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2019 and is suitably qualified. She is responsible for two children’s homes operated by the local authority.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was undertaken to investigate potential breaches of regulations, following information being shared with Ofsted that indicated a potential risk of harm to children. The visit included a review of documents, a tour of the building and discussions with children, staff and professionals.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector found serious concerns in respect to the care and protection of children.

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This monitoring visit

When children are at risk of exploitation, the manager does not take effective action. Despite known risks to a child, the manager did not develop a plan for staff to follow to help them to protect the child. In addition, the manager did not consult other agencies who could use their powers to protect the child. This failure to safeguard children means they are at risk of significant harm.

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This monitoring visit

Children do not receive the help that they need to manage some of their behaviour involving drug misuse. For example, when children’s misuse of drugs increases, the manager and staff do not take effective action. When children decline the offer of support, the manager and staff do not persist. They do not seek expert intervention from other services to support the child. This means that the risks to children from misusing drugs increases, affecting their lives now and in their future. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2530086 2 The manager has failed to ensure effective monitoring of the home environment. The inspector found that one child’s bedroom was in a poor condition. For example, floors were dirty with used cigarettes and a broken mirror was a hazard to the child. Staff carried out checks of children’s bedrooms, but these are not consistent and are not reviewed by the manager. This was a concern in the last inspection, but the provider

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This monitoring visit

has failed to address this shortfall. This means some children have continued to live in poor living conditions.

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This monitoring visit

The manager spends little time at the home. Despite recent staffing pressures and newly appointed staff, the manager has visited the home on only five occasions in a six-week period. This impacts on the quality of management oversight in the home and the manager’s understanding of the care children receive.

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This monitoring visit

Staff say that they receive supervision. However, there are no formal records of these discussions or any reflection on the children’s individual needs. The lack of records does not assure the regulator that the manager is reviewing staff practice and the care that children receive. Poor supervision arrangements for staff was also raised as a shortfall in the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Following this visit, two compliance notices were issued under regulation 12 and 13. The previously issued requirements under regulations 5, 36 and 40 were not reviewed during this visit. For this reason, they are reissued.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2530086 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, 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c)) This specifically relates to keeping accurate and up-to-date records of challenge to the placing authority. Not addressed as part of this monitoring visit. 22 October 2021

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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; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)) 25 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

*The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. 25 July 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2530086 4 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f)(h)) The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 22 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which— include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; and are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) This was not considered as part of this inspection. 22 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) This was not considered as part of this inspection. 22 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2530086 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Newcastle City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Newcastle Civic Centre, Barras Bridge, Tyne and Wear NE1 8QH

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Inspector

Catherine Heron, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2530086 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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