Children's home run by North Tyneside Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2602142 1 Registered provider: North Tyneside Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is a solo provision. It is operated and managed by a local authority. The home provides care for one child who may have a sensory impairment, learning disability, mental disorders and physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

During this inspection, the inspector spoke to the child living at the home and observed staff supporting the child.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager. There is an interim manager in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2602142 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/08/2022 Full Good 30/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2602142 3

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improvement to be good

High staff turnover has changed the core team of staff providing care to the child currently living in the home. This minimises the child’s ability to form trusting and predictable relationships with staff. It also has a detrimental impact on structure and routines for the child.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not have a consistent approach to communicating with the child. At the time of the inspection, staff and the interim manager were uncertain about which communication methods should be used. Actions from the child’s education, health and care plan are not followed. This significantly impacts on how the child can actively participate in day-to-day decisions.

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improvement to be good

Education provision has decreased for the child living at the home. A lack of formal and informal education activities affects the child’s ability to learn and develop. When informal education opportunities are provided, they are not routinely captured by staff to track the child’s progress. This is also a missed opportunity to capture achievements and changes in the child’s likes and interests.

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improvement to be good

Consistent communication between staff at the home and the child’s family is beneficial for the child. This provides a continuity of care that the child is familiar with. Staff encourage and facilitate family visits to the home, which has allowed the child to build and maintain family relationships. This promotes the child’s sense of identity and increases the likelihood of meaningful relationships continuing.

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improvement to be good

The child’s health needs are promoted by staff. Staff develop effective relationships with health professionals for the child. This helps staff to understand and meet the complex needs of the child. Effective communication between staff, a network of professionals and family means that there is a collective understanding of the child’s needs. This helps the child transition between this home and his family home.

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improvement to be good

Social activities and opportunities enhance the child’s life experiences. The child enjoys activities that promote their social and communication needs. Staff capture these events in photos that are proudly displayed in the home. This gives the child a sense of belonging in the home and that their experiences are important.

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improvement to be good

Guidance on the use of specialist equipment is not consistently followed to keep the child safe. This specifically relates to a safety bed. The child suffered significant harm in the home that was painful and traumatic for them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2602142 4 Information in the child’s plans regarding safe sleep arrangements is not consistent. This increases the risk that actions to keep the child safe will not always be followed by staff. As a result, the child is placed at risk of further harm.

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improvement to be good

The design and decor of the home do not always support the child’s assessed needs. Potential risks in the home are not always mitigated. For example, there are some inappropriate radiator covers that are also missing protective equipment. Repairs, such as reinstalling equipment in the child’s bedroom, do not happen promptly. The home is not set up with resources that could facilitate the child’s education at home.

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improvement to be good

Records of medication are ambiguous, with no satisfactory improvement since the last inspection. Staff do not always accurately record when new medication is opened. Records are not clear about when medication is transferred to be administered at the child’s family home or how much is returned. This increases the likelihood of medication errors that could pose a risk of harm to the child.

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improvement to be good

Investigations into allegations or suspicions of harm are shared with appropriate agencies. The senior leadership team takes action to ensure that external investigations take place when a child has suffered harm.

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good

The home does not have a registered manager. The interim manager is the second interim manager the home has had since the registered manager left. This has resulted in low staff morale, staff changes and instability within the home. Some staff do not feel they are adequately supported to fulfil their role.

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good

The home is not functioning in accordance with its statement of purpose. Due to insufficient staff numbers, the child is unable to stay at this home overnight. Additionally, staff shortages have resulted in the interim manager and deputy manager covering for staff shortages. This has been to the detriment of management oversight of the home, including recording, supervision and inductions.

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good

Leaders and managers do not have effective systems in place to monitor the quality of care the child receives. Processes to record incidents that happen in the home are insufficient. This is further compounded by the ambiguity around what constitutes as a recordable incident. Consequently, significant information is not recorded and reviewed by the leadership team. This means that staff do not have opportunities to learn from incidents.

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good

There are insufficient processes in place to record complaints made on behalf of the child. This means that the leaders and managers do not demonstrate how complaints are responded to or resolved. This undermines the context of the complaint and prevents leaders and managers from being accountable.

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good

Leaders and managers do not follow procedures to escalate poor outcomes on behalf of the child. This has resulted in the child missing out on structured education Inspection report for children’s home: 2602142 5 opportunities for a significant length of time. Additionally, the home does not have up-to-date records from statutory meetings. This increases the risk that the child’s plans are not accurately followed.

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good

Leaders and managers do not ensure that all staff receive a thorough induction. Some staff complete their probationary period without completing mandatory training. Not all staff members have sufficient records of their performance and practice during their probationary period. This means that leaders and managers miss opportunities to address practice issues and provide support to staff.

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good

Some staff have not achieved the required residential qualification in the required timescales. This compromises the quality of care that is provided to the child. Additionally, only one member of staff is trained in a specific medical procedure that the child occasionally requires. The interim manager has not challenged the decision that only one member of staff is trained in this procedure for the benefit of the child.

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good

Staff do not receive regular practice-related supervision. Staff also say that they do not feel they receive adequate levels of supervision, team meetings and training opportunities. Consequently, staff do not feel valued or listened to. The established members of staff and new members of staff have not been afforded the opportunity to work cohesively as a team. This has created disharmony and lack of trust in the home.

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good

The senior leadership team recognises the deficits in the home and the areas for improvement. Recruitment of suitable staff members is a challenge. However, the leadership is committed to recruiting capable staff through recruitment drives. This includes the appointment of a new manager. Inspection report for children’s home: 2602142 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b)(d)) 31 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2602142 7 ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the systems for recording medication checked into and out of the home clearly and easily account for the stock of medication in the home. 31 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a disabled child accommodated in the home is provided with access to such aids and equipment as the child may require as a result of the child’s disability in order to facilitate the child’s communication with other persons. (Regulation 22 (4)) 31 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2602142 8 promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(x)(b))

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of this regulation, “the appropriate person” is the registered person, an officer of HMCI, an officer of the local authority in whose area the home is located or a police officer.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b)) 31 July 2023

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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;

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfied the requirements in paragraph (3). 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2602142 9 The requirements are that—

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (c)(d)) 31 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the procedure must provide that no person who is the subject of a complaint takes any part in its 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2602142 10 consideration or investigation, except at the informal resolution stage if the registered person considers it appropriate.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. (Regulation 39 (1) (2) (3) (5))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the design of the home includes any necessary adaptation to meet the needs of children with disabilities or specific health issues. This specifically relates to ensuring that items in the home are in line with the child’s needs and plan. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.24)

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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: 2602142 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North Tyneside Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Quadrant, Cobalt Business Park, Wallsend, Tyne and Wear NE27 0BY

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Inspector

Cat Makel, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2602142 12 and inspects 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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