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

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

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates and manages this home. The home provides care for up to three children with emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were registered as living in the home at the time of the inspection. However, one child was temporarily staying elsewhere. The inspector spoke to all three children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 17 August 2021.

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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: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2530086 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 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: 2530086 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and senior leaders recognised that one child’s needs could not be met while living in this home. Therefore, the child has moved out. The child continues to receive day-to-day care and support from familiar staff on a one-to-one basis while the child’s next home is sourced.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop trusting relationships with the staff, particularly with their key workers. These relationships are established when children move into the home and are long-lasting. This is particularly beneficial when children have unsettled periods because they trust the staff to help them. Children say that they are attached to the staff and describe them as ‘like a mam and a dad’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children speak positively about the home and describe it as a nice place to live. The home environment is clean and comfortable. Children like their bedrooms, which are personalised and well-maintained. The small outdoor area offers the children a safe space to enjoy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress in education and employment. Some children have exceeded educational targets, and others have achieved qualifications while managing difficult circumstances. The staff understand that some children find education a challenge, so they provide help according to the child’s individual needs. For example, they support them to attend exams, job interviews and to find work experience. In addition, the manager advocates well to ensure that the children receive educational assessments so they can access the support they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged by staff to improve their physical health. The staff ensure that the children attend their health appointments, and they confidently manage sensitive discussions with the children on matters such as sexual health and puberty. A nurse visits the home regularly to provide the staff with advice and information, which helps the staff to meet the children’s health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s relationships with their families improve as they spend good-quality time with them. The staff tailor their support according to the child’s family time plan. For example, the staff advocate for family time to take place and, when necessary, accompany children on these visits. Sometimes, family members are invited to visit their child in the home and join in with special events.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s self-confidence improves as the staff involve them in positive activities, which helps the children to feel good about themselves. Children contribute to fundraising activities and interviews for new staff and join in activities in community clubs. In addition, children also try new experiences, such as fishing and camping. Inspection report for children’s home: 2530086 4 The staff prepare children well for moving on from the home. This includes supporting the children to develop later-life skills and engaging with services such as housing. The staff listen to the children’s views, and they use this information to advocate on the child’s behalf. The staff accompany children to visit new homes, help them to settle in and provide them with emotional support.

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

There is a good safeguarding culture in this home. The children’s safety is the staff’s priority. Risks are well managed and understood by staff. The manager carefully tracks the changes in the children’s behaviour. She ensures that the children’s individual risk assessments and strategies to reduce risk are up to date and effective. When there is a concern about a child’s safety, the manager and staff provide a coordinated response to intervene and protect the child.

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

When children move into the home, the manager considers their needs and vulnerabilities alongside those of the children who already live there. She also reviews the location risk assessment and what this means for each child. This information informs the children’s care and the strategies that staff use to keep the children safe.

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

The staff carefully monitor the risks to children from radicalisation and, when necessary, involve other agencies to address concerns. The staff help the children to learn about cultural differences and the benefits of tolerance. The staff appropriately challenge statements by children that are derogatory towards others and could cause offence.

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

The staff spend time talking to the children about their behaviour and needs. However, the quality of these sessions varies. Some staff use resources, for example videos and written work, to help the children to understand the information. However, other staff do not fully complete the written records, and do not evaluate the session. The manager has this identified as an area for further improvement.

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

The children receive consequences and rewards from the staff, to encourage good behaviour and to help the children think and reflect on how their behaviour affects themselves and others. Most consequences are well documented. However, the consequences policy is not clear or well understood by the manager. In addition, the use of consequences is not included in the children’s guide.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is well managed by the manager, who is highly motivated and focused on achieving good outcomes for all of the children. She is ambitious and leads by example, setting high standards for the staff to follow. She has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and where improvements are needed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2530086 5 The stable staff team is committed to providing good quality care to the children. Most of the staff have worked in the home since it opened, so they work well together as a team. They share information with each other and, with the oversight of the manager, use agreed strategies to provide the children with consistent care. The staff are not deterred when a child experiences unsettled periods; they persevere to help the child. One member of staff said, ‘We ride the storm together.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff are well supported to carry out their roles and they say that they like working in the home. The staff receive good-quality supervision, which is regular and includes discussion about the children’s needs and any safeguarding concerns. Staff receive clear guidance to ensure that they understand their roles and responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager quickly addresses any shortfalls in the staff’s practice. The monitoring systems help her to identify any areas for improvement. When issues emerge, the manager takes prompt and appropriate action, which includes making a clear record of discussions and the agreed tasks. Staff are encouraged to reflect on their work and make improvements when necessary. This ensures that children receive a good level of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager carefully carries out the necessary safer recruitment checks on all staff, including agency staff. These checks prevent those who are unsuitable to work with the children from working in the home. A recruitment campaign is underway to recruit more permanent staff so that the children receive consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have good relationships with professionals and the children’s families. This helps them to work together to meet the children’s needs. Feedback from other agencies is very positive and professionals praise the manager and staff for the good quality of risk management, relationships with the children, advocacy, and information-sharing. Similarly, the children’s parents trust the staff to meet the children’s needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2530086 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the behaviour management strategy is understood and consistently applied at all times by all staff and is kept under review and revised where appropriate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34)

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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 for children’s home: 2530086 7

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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 NE1 8QH

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Inspector

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