Children's Home run by South Tyneside Council in South Tyneside

Inspection report for children’s home: SC032697 1 SC032697 Registered provider: South Tyneside Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated and managed by a local authority. The home provides care for four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living at the home at the time of the inspection. Two more children moved in at the end of the inspection.

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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: SC032697 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/01/2023 Full Good 09/12/2021 Full Outstanding 19/11/2019 Full Outstanding 29/01/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC032697 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a pleasant atmosphere. It is calm and warm. This feeling filters throughout, and one child said that they like living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are well known in the local community. This helps staff to develop good relationships with children, lessening their anxieties about moving in. Staff want children to succeed and celebrate their achievements. This boosts their self-esteem and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff promote education and learning. When needed, there are alternatives to mainstream school. Children can gain some academic qualifications. Activities in the home, such as cooking, develop children’s independence and prepare them for independent living.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff make sure that the children’s health and well-being are a priority. Support provided by specialist services ensures that children have the emotional help they need. This helps to address their past experiences and trauma.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The long-term care planning for some children is unclear. This is due to a delay in decisions being made by senior managers about the future of the home. Not all children know what their long-term care plans are. This can cause instability and result in children not knowing what to expect in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a say when they see their family and friends. This can be at the home or in the community. Promoting positive relationships allows children to socialise, adding to their support system.

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

Children feel safe in the home. Risk assessments focus on issues relevant to each individual child. Updates provided after significant events ensure that staff have the most recent information. Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. This includes behaviours to look out for, triggers and actions to take. The staff’s knowledge of the children lessens the harm children experience during challenging times.

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

Staff help children recognise how they feel. This allows children to learn about their emotions and how to deal with them.

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

The home’s ethos is to use positive ways to manage behaviour. This includes building trusting relationships and using diversion, distraction or humour. This approach works most of the time. Since the last inspection, staff have used physical intervention during two incidents. This was to prevent children from hurting Inspection report for children’s home: SC032697 4 themselves or others. Using other methods to manage behaviour gives children a more positive experience.

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

The children sometimes go missing from the home. Staff know what to do if this happens. The missing-from-home procedure aims to reduce the time children are missing. Bringing the children home faster lessens the risk of harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Earlier this year, some children moved in and out of the home quickly. Despite the registered manager’s recommendation that the staff could not meet the children’s needs, senior leaders made the decision to move the children into the home. This resulted in instability for the children and the need for an additional move. This was not in the best interest of the children. The manager has worked hard to ensure the current mix of children works well together. This will help to prevent multiple moves for children from happening again.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is realistic. She knows the strengths of the staff team. She also acknowledges the areas that need improvement. However, none of the shortfalls impact on the safety or day-to-day experience of the children. Staff provide the children with the care they need and deserve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been fluctuations in the staff team. Regardless of this, staff are committed to the children. It has been necessary for agency staff to fill gaps in the rota. The manager has now developed a pool of occasional workers to cover shifts when needed. They have had the same induction training as permanent staff. This gives everyone the same knowledge and gives stability to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is good multi-agency working. For example, there have been some recent difficulties with the children’s induction to the home. A professionals’ meeting agreed the best way forward. This helps children to be well supported, and a consistent message is given to them. Children are helped to understand the plans in a child- friendly way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Equality and diversity are important in the home. Staff use activities or discussions to help children understand these issues. For example, staff made children aware of Mental Health Awareness Week and Pansexual Visibility Day. Discussions with the staff help children understand and celebrate differences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s opinions are important in the home. The children can say how they feel and what they want. They also know how to make a complaint if the need arises. This makes them feel listened to. Inspection report for children’s home: SC032697 5

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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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person needs to ensure that all the children in the home have an effective care plan with appropriate timescales identified. 29 June 2023

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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: SC032697 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: South Tyneside Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall & Civic Offices, Westoe Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear NE33 2RL

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Inspector

Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC032697 7 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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