Children's home run by North East Specialist Therapeutic Services CIC in Northumberland

Inspection report for children's home: SC488112 1 SC488112

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Registered provider: North East Specialist Therapeutic Services CIC

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home offers care and accommodation for up to four children who have been subject to childhood trauma, which has led to them experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home also provides care for children with autistic spectrum disorder and learning disabilities. The children are aged from five to 18 years old (but who are aged five to 12 years on admission). A private provider operates this home. The manager registered with Ofsted on 13 February 2015.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC488112 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/07/2021 Full Good 29/05/2019 Full Good 05/07/2018 Full Good 06/02/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC488112 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are four children living in the home. The children said they enjoy living here and all are making progress from their starting points. The children experience good- quality care by well-trained staff. Staff advocate and maintain effective partnerships with placing authorities and schools. This ensures that children receive the help they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children said that they look forward to weekly consultation sessions, which end with a fun game. They help staff to set the agenda and take turns in chairing. One child said, ‘I like these meetings, cos I can tell others what’s annoying me.’ The meetings help the children to speak up and they feel listened to. Staff encourage children to express themselves with confidence and, as a result, children make their views known.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spoke positively about the staff and about how proud they are of their home. As a result, they are happy and settled. Children and staff enjoy meals together. Staff encourage the children to talk about their day. The creates a sense of belonging and contributes to the children’s progress in their social development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a range of activities that they enjoy. These interests help the children to make friendships in age-appropriate settings. Leisure activities include ice skating, Cubs, aqua aerobics and football. Photographs capture these experiences in the children’s life-story journals. These opportunities help develop self-esteem and create lifelong memories for the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making substantial progress in school. Staff work with external agencies to address barriers to learning. One child is preparing for their exams and wants to be the first person in her family to have a job. With help from the staff, children are recognising the importance of education and how this can support their long-term goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff proactively support children to see their families. Some children have families who live a long way from the home. Staff arrange family time and transport them to visit their relatives. As a result, children keep lifelong relationships with the people important to them. This helps children to develop their identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Impact assessments help to identify risks and contribute to the decision-making prior to children moving into the home. The manager considers the needs of children already living in the home as part of this planning. As a result, children settle in well and build positive relationships with staff and other children. Inspection report for children's home: SC488112 4

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

Children said they feel safe. Staff include children in reviewing their risk management plans and encourage them to share any worries they may have. Staff review these documents in weekly reflective sessions with therapists. This helps staff to recognise how children’s experiences affect their behaviours and emotions. Subsequently, children become increasingly safe.

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

The home is well maintained and welcoming. All health and safety checks are up to date. The manager oversees these through monthly and quarterly internal audits. This ensures that the home is a safe environment for children to live in.

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

Staff recognise and understand each child’s risks and vulnerabilities. Incidents are well recorded. The manager ensures that he has oversight when incidents occur.

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

Staff use a therapeutic approach to help children manage their own behaviour. Positive relationships with staff mean the children feel they can talk about their feelings openly. Staff are helping children to develop strategies to learn to regulate their own behaviours and manage their emotions more effectively.

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

Children do not go missing from the home. However, an incident occurred where a vulnerable child went missing in a busy area while out with staff. The child was distressed, and his action was out of character. Staff called the police to help find him. This was not reported to Ofsted as required. This means that Ofsted could not be assured that all relevant steps were taken to safeguard the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced, and his commitment to the children filters down to the staff. The manager has high aspirations for the children, and staff spoke highly of his dedication to the home. This means that children receive help from a stable team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel valued and well supported. Regular supervision and reflective sessions help staff improve their practice. The therapeutic model of care used in the home is well understood by all the staff. This means staff have the knowledge and ability to provide quality care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager acts when shortfalls are found to support the home’s development. The independent person supports monthly monitoring, which helps the manager to identify areas of progress and shortfalls. As a result, staff are aware of children’s progress and all achievements are acknowledged and celebrated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective tools in place to review the quality of the care children receive. Although staff actively encourage children to share their views about the running of the home, these are not captured in the manager’s six-monthly review. Inspection report for children's home: SC488112 5 The statement of purpose does not reflect the range of needs of children who can be admitted to the home. This will prevent placing authorities from understanding which children can be referred and hamper good decision-making in relation to admissions to the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC488112 6

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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

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified;

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Requirement Due date

and any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 4 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(b)) 4 October 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC488112 7

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Recommendations

The registered person should revise the admission criteria in the Statement of Purpose. The home accepts children with learning disabilities, as well as autistic spectrum disorder, but this is not specified. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 14, paragraph 3.6)

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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: SC488112 8

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jason Darbyshire

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Inspectors

Ruth Jackson, Social Care Inspector Ricky D’Arcy, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children's home: SC488112 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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