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

Inspection report children’s home: 2530086 1 Registered provider: Newcastle City Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated and managed by a local authority and provides care for up to three children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector spoke to all three children during this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2021.

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Inspection date: 23 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit was carried out on 16 June 2021, which identified failings in respect to the protection of children and the quality of leadership and management. Ofsted issued the provider with two compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13 to address the failures with a focus on safeguarding children, staff supervision and training and the quality of management oversight in the home.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit was carried out on 27 July 2021. The inspector found that the provider had taken effective action and had completed all the steps in the compliance notices. The three requirements that were raised at the last monitoring visit, under regulations 5, 36 and 40, were not considered as part of this visit. For this reason, they were reissued. Inspection report children’s home: 2530086 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children living at the home were consulted by the staff prior to their bedrooms being redecorated and stocked with new furnishings. The children say that the refurbishments make their experiences of living at the home much more enjoyable.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff complete detailed work with the children before they move into the home. This includes explaining the rules and boundaries to the children. This preparation helps the children to know what to expect and supports them to adjust to the changes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager retains oversight of the children’s case records and has effective processes to help to ensure that these are current. Occasionally, written entries are added to documents that do not identify the author. This means that sometimes there is a lack of accountability for changes made to the children’s records.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When safeguarding concerns occur, the manager acts promptly to put measures in place to protect the children. The manager shares information with relevant professionals to support a multi-agency approach to keeping the children safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children identify the staff as trusted adults who keep them safe. One child said: ‘I am safe here because the staff are here to help. They always try and don’t give up. I am happy here.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has developed the staff’s understanding of the protocol to follow when children go missing from the home. When such incidents occur, the staff swiftly instigate this protocol and persistently try to find the children themselves. This sends a powerful message to the children that their safety is important. One child said: ‘Our safety is the most important thing to the staff.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager does not provide consistently effective oversight of behaviour management. Sanctions are used to help the children to understand that there are consequences for their actions. However, the manager does not always evaluate whether sanctions are effective. Additionally, the manager has not considered the effectiveness of the two restraints that have occurred. These are missed opportunities to ensure that behaviour management practice is fair and proportionate, and that the use of restraint is safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safer recruitment processes are followed when staff are recruited. This gives assurances that the adults are suitably vetted prior to caring for the children. Inspection report children’s home: 2530086 3 The previously issued requirements are judged to have been met. Inspection report children’s home: 2530086 4

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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 children’s home: 2530086 5

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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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the effectiveness of restraints and sanctions is recorded. 23 April 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all the children’s case records are kept up to date and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. This specifically relates to ensuring that written entries to records and amendments include the accountability of the author. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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: 2530086 6

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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, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE1 8QH

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Inspector

Paula Kelly, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2530086 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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