The City of Sunderland College

Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: The City of Sunderland College 1 The City of Sunderland College The City of Sunderland College, Kirkley Hall, Kirkley, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE20 0AQ Inspection of residential provision Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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residential accommodation

The College of Northumberland merged with the City of Sunderland College in March 2019. The Kirkley Hall campus is where the residential service is situated. This site offers a variety of land-based courses, including animal management, equine, agriculture and horticulture.

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residential accommodation

There is a new leadership team in place over the college and the residential service, and there has been a change in residential staff. A new residential provision has been created in four houses in the heart of the college site. Currently, three of the houses have young people of 18 years and under living in them. The houses have been completely refurbished.

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residential accommodation

The leader of the residential service has been in post since January 2021. He has been in the college since 2014 in a variety of other roles. The principal of the college has been in post since March 2019.

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residential accommodation

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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good

How well 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 college provides effective services that meet the requirements for good. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: The City of Sunderland College 2 Date of last inspection: 23 January 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: The City of Sunderland College 3

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

The educational side of the college remained open for those who needed to attend during the most restrictive periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. The college staff provided regular telephone support to young people not in college. The residential service reopened in September 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

The young people enjoy living in the residential accommodation. They make the most of the communal kitchens and living areas and these provide them with opportunities to cook and socialise. The young people have individual bedrooms which give them their own space to study and relax. As a result of their time in residency, their social skills improve and their self-confidence grows .

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

The young people’s independence skills significantly improve as a result of the residential service. The skills they learn include time management and budgeting. One parent said, ‘She is loving it there. She has to go and do her own shopping and budgeting. She is really maturing and getting life skills.’ This view is supported by all of the young people that the inspectors spoke to, who report that learning independence skills is one of the best aspects of being a residential student. For those planning to go to university, they recognise they are at a significant advantage to others, because of these experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Relationships between the young people and staff are exceptionally positive. Young people know that staff are there to help them and they are comfortable and confident to ask for support. The staff value young people’s opinions and they talk to them about their experience in the residential provision, at least once per half term. This allows young people to raise issues and provides opportunity for staff to help resolve concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Young people’s access to activities outside of the college has been significantly affected by restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff have helped the young people to make use of the good range of on-site facilities, including the climbing wall and indoor archery. On occasions, young people enjoy expert-led workshops which they find enjoyable and informative. Young people have planned a range of activities outside college now that restrictions are lifted. Activities include bowling, paintball and inflate space.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

The young people receive good emotional support through the college counsellors. They can access support in a variety of ways, such as face-to-face therapy sessions, telephone support, help through email and online meetings. This blended approach to support encourages wider attendance for those who may not want to meet in person.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

The staff make the young people aware of other services outside of the college where they can access help. The staff advertise these services well throughout the Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: The City of Sunderland College 4 college. The young people learn how to look after their own physical health. There are sessions and information provided on healthy eating, promoting exercise and sexual health well-being. When the young people require medical attention, the staff help them arrange this where needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Young people’s education is well supported by the pastoral support team. Young people attend regular reviews of their academic progress. This provides opportunities to identify young people’s individual strengths and arrange for additional support if required. They are helped to think about their aspirations and staff ensure that young people’s studies will help them to achieve their goals.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

The staff understand risks to young people. Young people have individual risk assessments that outline how risks should be managed. The risk assessments are in line with individual support plans. Young people, staff, and outside support agencies, where appropriate, contribute to individuals’ plans. This collaborative approach helps to keep young people safe.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

There has been no incidents when young people have gone missing from residency although there are clear procedures in place should this occur. Young people are well supported by staff who are trained to identify signs of risk. The training that staff complete includes exploitation, abuse, self-harm, bullying and radicalisation.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

The young people undertake an in-depth induction when they move into the residential provision. The induction outlines from the start the clear expectations around behaviour and respect for others. Senior leaders talk to new students about relevant topics including health and safety. The young people also complete an interactive course about this to make sure they understand the information they are given.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

The young people learn how to keep themselves safe. They learn about risks such as online safety, exploitation, gambling, bullying, and everyday risks such as fire and personal safety. This learning helps them to stay safe in college and at home. It also prepares them well for later life.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

Safeguarding arrangements are effective. Staff understand their duties to keep the young people safe. The staff are quick to take action to prevent harm. They report any issues on the college’s safeguarding system. Concerns are picked up by a safeguarding lead and action is taken to help the young people.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

Recruitment checks for new staff are carried out before they start work. These checks ensure they are safe to work with the young people. In one recruitment file, a minor discrepancy in information was not recorded as being fully explored. This was completed during the inspection and had no impact on the safety of the young people. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: The City of Sunderland College 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders are proud of the young people, and the changes made to the college and the residential provision since it merged. Leaders have high aspirations and expectations for the young people. As a result, they provide a range of additional support where needed to make sure they reach the best outcomes they can.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders monitor young people’s progress through an online system. All staff, including residential staff, add to the young people’s records. This provides a rounded view of how young people are doing. Staff evaluate the progress that young people make with their academic work, and their pastoral and support needs. Targets are set and they review actions to ensure young people are on track to reach their potential. This means that young people continue to make progress with their studies and their overall development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff report feeling supported by their leaders. Staff receive supervision to talk about their role. For wardens this is not always regular. The recording of supervision varies in quality. Recordings do not always demonstrate a focus on young people’s experiences, needs, plans or feedback. Regular team meetings are not yet taking place. This is a missed opportunity to develop staff practice. Leaders recognise this shortfall and they have actions in place for meetings to start, and plans to further develop the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff undertake a range of training courses to help them to perform well. The leaders also provide access to a wide selection of resources to help the staff understand young people’s needs. For example, they have access to information around supporting young people with mental health issues. This means that staff are equipped with the knowledge they need to provide appropriate support to young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders understand the strengths of the service. They are motivated to continue to develop the provision for the young people. They have quality improvement plans which gives them clear focus on areas they wish to develop. The leaders have good daily oversight of the residential provision at different levels. This oversight helps them to build on strengths, quickly identify issues and address these.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The college is supported by a skilled and knowledgeable governing body. They are ambitious for the residential provision. Governors have had training to understand the national minimum standards. This training helps the lead governor to scrutinise and evaluate the impact of the service for the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leaders have good relationships with other professionals. The positive relationships they have with other services include, health professionals, specialist mental health workers and social workers. These relationships ensure the young people get the support they need. Leaders advocate for the young people to make sure they have the best opportunities possible. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: The City of Sunderland College 6 Leaders actively promote tolerance, equality and diversity. The leaders ensure the staff support young people’s identity preferences. They make sure they source external support, find out more information and provide as much help as they can for those who need it. The leaders set a positive example, helping young people to accept their friends for who they are without discrimination. This approach is a key strength of this provision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The service is meeting the statement of principles and practice. Young people’s life experience improves, they gain independence, make friends on campus and succeed with their educational goals . Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: The City of Sunderland College 7

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Recommendations

 For staff and wardens to meet regularly to review issues, concerns and reflect on their practice. There is a focus on young people’s experiences, needs, plans and feedback. Staff to receive opportunities for training and continual professional development in relation to residence through team meetings. (Further education residential accommodation: national minimum standards, 15.1)

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Recommendations

 Colleges operate safe recruitment policies and adopt recruitment procedures in line with any regulatory requirements, having due regard to any relevant guidance issued by the Secretary of State. (Further education residential accommodation: national minimum standards, 14.1)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Children Act 1989 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 national minimum standards. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: The City of Sunderland College 8

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accommodation details

Social care unique reference number: SC046042

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Inspectors

Jamie Richardson, Social Care Inspector (lead) Jane Titley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: The City of Sunderland College 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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