Children's Home run by North East Autism Society in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC458415 1 SC458415 Registered provider: North East Autism Society Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides short-break stays for up to six children with a learning disability. The home specialises in looking after children who have an autism spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were three children staying in the home.

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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: 9 November 2021

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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: SC458415 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/11/2021 Full Good 08/10/2019 Full Good 22/01/2019 Full Outstanding 18/07/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC458415 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspector spoke to one of the three children who were using the short-break service during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy coming for their stay in this short-break service. Staff welcome the children and settle them into their personalised bedrooms so that they can enjoy their favourite activities. Relationships between the children and the staff are very positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are passionate about the children who they care for. They take time to get to know the children so that they have a good understanding of the children’s complex needs and vulnerabilities. Staff carefully consider the children’s individual needs, and they are skilled at matching groups of children for their short-stay break. This careful matching of children provides them with opportunities to develop friendships and enjoy activities with other children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities and experiences that they may not ordinarily be able to engage in due to their complex needs. Children have participated in activities in the community, such as attending festivals, which were positive experiences. The staff work with external agencies to secure extra funding and resources for the children to improve their everyday life experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence, social skills and communication. Staff work well with the children’s parents and other professionals to set realistic and achievable goals for the children. Children’s progress is recognised, celebrated and captured in their individual achievement book.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are actively involved in the personalisation of their care. Staff use social stories to involve the children in the planning of their stays. Children have choices in their food and activities. For children with additional communication needs, staff look at a range of alternative communication methods to ensure that the children’s views are captured and responded to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

While parents are responsible for their children’s education and health, the staff play an important role in ensuring that the children’s education and health needs are being met during their short-break stays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from staying in a homely and pleasant environment that is maintained to a high standard. There are photos of the children displayed throughout the home. This creates a welcoming and warm atmosphere for the children when they arrive at the home.

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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC458415 4 Children’s plans are clear and detailed. They provide the staff with the necessary guidance and understanding of the children’s needs. Plans set out how the children should be supported during their stay. There is a strong emphasis on working with children’s parents and involved professionals to inform care plans that are consistent and reflect parents’ and children’s views. One parent said, ‘The staff are amazing with [the child], he loves going there and would love going there every day if he could.’

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

Staff understand the children’s behaviours and vulnerabilities, and they use this knowledge to manage the children’s risks well. The staff understand the triggers that result in the children feeling anxious or distressed, and they take sensitive and supportive action promptly to help children. As a result, significant incidents in the home are minimal.

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

Staff use a wide and varied range of verbal and non-verbal communication methods, including pictures, visual aids and sign language, to seek children’s views, opinions and wishes. This practice ensures that the children are involved in decisions about their stays and their overall care and support.

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

Any concerning incidents involving children are well managed. When children display behaviour that places them and others at risk, the staff intervene appropriately. Children are physically held by the staff as a last resort. Following any incidents, the manager ensures that the staff have reflective debriefs, which allow them an opportunity to discuss their practice and identify any learning. As a result, some children’s support plans have been reviewed and updated to reflect this learning. Children, depending on their understanding, are also given the opportunity to talk about incidents. This enables them to understand the actions taken by staff to keep them safe.

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

There have been no complaints since the last inspection. However, the staff carry out regular key-work sessions with the children to help them to understand their right to complain and the complaint process.

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

The manager understands the importance of implementing safer recruitment procedures. However, the inspector found that one recruitment file did not include a thorough exploration of the staff member’s employment history. This oversight prevents the manager from being assured that all staff are safe and suitable to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is skilled and experienced in supporting children with complex needs and their families. The registered manager works with a motivated and skilled assistant manager. Together, they provide a strong management team that promotes a positive culture. Their visible approach leads the staff by example and keeps the best interests of children and families central to their practice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458415 5 Senior management and the managers have clear and effective monitoring systems in place. The managers frequently monitor and review the children’s plans, and any learning from practice is shared with the staff in supervision sessions and team meetings. This ensures that the managers have good oversight of the home so that they can monitor the quality of care provided for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers ensure that the staff receive training to meet the children’s individual needs. Since the last inspection, staff have completed a good variety of training, including autism spectrum awareness, alternative communication methods and learning disabilities. As a result, staff have a good knowledge and skill base to care for the children. Staff have either achieved the required childcare qualification or they are currently undertaking this. The provider plans to enrol the new staff onto the relevant course once they have passed their probation. This means that the children receive support from suitably qualified staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision. Supervisions are structured and give the staff the opportunity to reflect on their practice. The staff’s training needs are regularly discussed in their supervision sessions, which enables them to fulfil their roles. As a result, the staff feel supported, and the managers have a good oversight of staff’s strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that there are arrangements in place for independent external monitoring. The independent person visits the home and completes a report, which provides a robust analysis of the home. However, the registered manager has not ensured that all of these reports are provided to Ofsted in a timely manner. This shortfall prevents Ofsted from having oversight of the children’s experiences and progress. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458415 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, 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 recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that a satisfactory written explanation of any gaps in employment are provided by an applicant before commencing employment. 31 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (7)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that independent person reports reach the provider and Ofsted within the required time frame. 30 November Inspection report for children’s home: SC458415 7

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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: SC458415 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North East Autism Society

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Inspector

Cherie Chen, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC458415 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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