Children's home run by Compass Children’s Homes Northeast Limited in North Tyneside

Inspection report children’s home: SC403472 1 SC403472 Registered provider: Artemis Support Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care for up to three children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties or learning difficulties. At the time of the inspection there were two children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in November 2019 and is working towards the appropriate qualification.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 15 September 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

Date of last inspection: 11 February 2020

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC403472 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 30/04/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/03/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC403472 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are settled and enjoy the positive relationships that they have with the staff and with each other. The staff provide a warm, nurturing and supportive environment in which the children flourish and develop a sense of permanence and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to move into the home following a well-thought-out multi- agency plan. Children are listened to and prepared at their own pace. The manager and her team spend time with the children prior to the children moving in. This often involves tea visits, overnight stays, spending time with their peers and visits to the home with their families and carers. This enables the relationships to develop and helps the children to gain as much information as possible to support their smooth transition into the home. This also helps the children to grow in confidence and develop trusting relationships with the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with an independent advocate and a key worker among the staff. The key worker is identified early on to support good communication and to ensure that the child’s voice is heard. To help the children, the provider also uses a communication tool which supports the children to express their views and opinions on their day-to-day experiences and care needs. This encourages their involvement in their plans and develops their confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff work closely with the provider’s in-house therapy team, education staff and health professionals to meet the complexities of the children’s learning disabilities and health conditions. As a result, the children’s school attendance and progress are excellent, and their health needs are met by appropriately trained staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s individual interests are supported and explored. The staff invest time in identifying leisure activities, sporting interests and exploring opportunities further afield. Children enjoy being part of community clubs and enjoy going horse-riding and cycling. They have enjoyed going on visits to safari parks and going for walks, as well as a few other less energetic activities. These activities are enjoyed individually, as well as with peers and staff who give support and share in the enjoyment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff help the children to keep memory books full of the positive experiences that they have enjoyed. These also capture the independence skills that the children have developed while they have been living at the home. This enables the children to reflect on their experiences and to grow and maximise their potential.

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

Children said that they feel safe. Their behaviours and vulnerabilities are known to the staff. All those working with the children ensure that the children’s risk Inspection report children’s home: SC403472 4 assessments and behaviour management plans are frequently reviewed and updated. This helps to promote the safety and well-being of the children.

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

Risk assessments completed prior to the children moving into the home are thorough. The staff ensure that all the children’s known triggers and behavioural traits are considered for each child living in the home. This helps to manage and reduce risk, enabling all the children to live together in a safe environment. The staff also ensure that the living spaces are safe from potential hazards and that they take into consideration the individual sensory needs of each child. This helps the children to manage their anxieties during times of crisis and emotional instability.

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

The staff provide high levels of supervision and support to the children. The staff follow well-written behavioural support plans that identify known triggers and complex health needs. Professional knowledge and expertise are provided by the therapy team, which supports a proactive and consistent response from a very capable staff team. Staff reinforce positive behaviours and help the children to follow routines and boundaries with consistent safe care.

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

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and respond in accordance with the statutory guidance. The staff follow the missing-from-care procedures on the rare occasion that children go missing, and they are suitably trained in physical intervention to prevent harm to a child or others. A well-coordinated and professional response ensures that the children are increasingly safe because of living at the home.

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

Investigations into allegations are reported immediately to the relevant professionals. These professionals spoke positively about the procedures being followed, and the open communication which keeps the child central during any safeguarding concerns.

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

The staff complete and record regular one-to-one discussions that they have with the children on a range of topics. However, these discussions are not always a reflection of the identifiable needs that are highlighted in the children’s individual risk assessments. Staff declare that these conversations have taken place, but that they have not been recorded. This inconsistency does not support the evaluation of targeted behavioural support for children.

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

Recruitment of staff has been necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic. The provider has ensured that safer recruitment processes are thorough. In addition, the manager has ensured that any agency staff are equally vetted and supported through an appropriate induction process. This ensures that the children receive consistent and safe care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands her role and consistently applies good leadership. She is supported by an experienced deputy in managing a confident staff team. A member of staff commented: ‘The management at the home create a warm, welcoming, Inspection report children’s home: SC403472 5 nurturing culture for both the staff and children, and the staff enjoy coming to work.’ Staff morale is high and, as a result, the children are making progress in a happy and positive environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff are provided with regular team meetings and comprehensive monthly supervisions. There is a strong emphasis on staff development and reflection on care practice. The staff are encouraged to look at their own behaviour and recognise the potential impact that this has on the children. This helps to ensure that the staff’s practice is always consistent and professional.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has clear and effective systems in place to record her monthly monitoring of the home. This helps her to reflect on the progression of the children, identify any shortfalls in practice and the training needs of the staff monthly. This also helps to capture the positive work, which is done in real time, as opposed to thinking back over a six-month period for her regulatory report. This ensures that the quality of care provided to the children and the physical environment are maintained to a high standard. This promotes positive outcomes for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When the children are struggling to settle into the home, the manager and her team advocate effectively for the children’s plans to be reviewed. The manager ensures that these plans are reviewed with the respective local authority and other relevant professionals, such as healthcare providers. This promotes positive communication between all agencies and ensures that the children receive the correct level of care and support to keep them safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has taken care of the previous requirements and recommendations that were made at the last inspection. The most notable difference is the presentation of the physical aspects of the home inside and outside. They are both homely and safe. The children’s bedrooms are exactly how they like them, and have been decorated to take into consideration their personal and sensory needs. This promotes the children’s comfort and well-being. Inspection report children’s home: SC403472 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the staff understand, and help the children to understand, what makes a healthy, nurturing relationship. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, Page 39, paragraph 8.10)

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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: SC403472 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Artemis Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 17 Queens Lane, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland NE1 1RN

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Inspector

Michael Dack, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC403472 8 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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