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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC488112 1 SC488112 Registered provider: North East Specialist Therapeutic Services CIC Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and who may have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2015. He holds suitable qualifications for this role.

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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

15/08/2022 Full Good 08/07/2021 Full Good 29/05/2019 Full Good 05/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC488112 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between the children and staff are warm and nurturing. The children are particularly fond of their key workers, who ensure that when they are not in work, this has a minimal impact on the children. They write cards that include kind words, jokes and individual comments to show the children that they are cared for. One child described that when staff leave to have a baby, it is ‘returnity leave’ because ‘staff always come back’. This helps the children build secure attachments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have individualised care plans that are reviewed by the staff team and therapeutic consultants on a fortnightly basis. This means that children are cared for by staff who know them well. This joined-up working and regularity drive the direct work with children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family and social relationships are promoted. Staff go to great lengths to maintain long-distance relationships. For example, staff have accompanied children when taking flights to see those who are important to them. Activities and venues are sought to promote positive experiences between the children and their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in school, and their attendance is excellent. They complete homework and receive support from staff when needed. Children’s achievements are recognised and celebrated. One child describes school as one of the best things in their life and is a house captain. Communication with, and support of, schools are good. This promotes children’s progression and prospects.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children enjoy regular activities, such as Scouts and Sea Cadets. If children show no interest in one activity, staff seek alternatives to engage and inspire the children. One child has recently sailed the North Sea as part of the Tall Ships Races, meeting challenges head on and showing the resilience to overcome them with minimal support. The child now has a desire to seek a career in the Royal Navy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager considers the children’s needs and previous experiences before they move into the home. Visual aids such as comic strips are developed to promote the child’s understanding of the home and reduce anxiety. Other children have benefited from good planning for future school transitions. Effective planning has promoted positive peer relationships being established for children. One child spoke fondly about their new group of friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children are happy living here. One child told a professional that even if they had a wish, they would not change anything. Staff engage regularly with children through meetings, direct work and discussions. However, another child told inspectors that they did not always feel included in important decisions about their life. Inspection report for children’s home: SC488112 4 Some internal doors in the home are locked for no safeguarding reason. One child told the inspector that they do not like asking the staff to unlock a door in the kitchen so they can access food. This practice has been in place for a long time and does not promote a homely environment.

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

Children’s risk assessments are clear, concise and individualised. They identify the actions that staff should take when children’s risks either increase or decrease. As a result, children are supported in line with their fluctuating needs. The report that staff complete before children’s six-monthly statutory review evidences their deep knowledge and understanding of the children. It also details the extensive help and support that children receive from staff.

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

Children receive one-to-one support from staff. The manager firmly believes that the children who live in this home benefit the most from having that level of availability. In addition, it means that direct work can take place when required. This prevents children from experiencing delay in receiving help.

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

When children go missing from home, staff respond swiftly and proactively. They search the local area and contact the child’s friends and family. Staff ensure that interviews take place when the child returns home. The manager has good oversight of all incidents. This means that any safeguarding concerns can be addressed and escalated if necessary.

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

Staff are skilled in de-escalating situations where children are angry or upset. As a result, physical interventions are rare and only take place as a last resort by staff who are suitably trained. During and after these incidents, children are reminded of how much they are cared for. The manager has oversight of this practice to ensure that it is proportionate and safe. The manager also evaluates all attempts at de- escalation to identify any learning for the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership and management of the home promote a stable environment and a consistent staff team. The children are supported by an experienced, skilled and stable staff team. Staff enjoy their work and are committed to the children. One staff member said, ‘I have worked here for just short of four years, and I have never had a more rewarding job.’ Another said, ‘I have worked at [name of home] for almost 10 years and have had the privilege to work as part of a highly skilled team.’ Staff rarely leave, which means children develop close, trusting relationships. This helps children recover from their experiences of trauma and attachment difficulties.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed several successful lines of communication with the staff team. As a result, important information is understood by all staff in a timely way. This helps children receive consistent care that meets their needs. Inspection report for children’s home: SC488112 5 Staff have completed all mandatory training. They also obtain additional knowledge and skills by attending training that is specific to the children’s known and emerging needs. This equips staff with the ability to respond more effectively to children. Staff benefit from the sessions provided by the therapeutic consultants. The consultants provide emotional support to staff, and additional advice and training related to the individual needs of children. This helps staff to continue to support the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers encourage, support and enable staff to develop their practice. This helps staff feel valued and progress in their career. It also benefits the children and the whole staff team. For example, one staff member has been trained to provide physical intervention training to the team. As a result, staff have on-site support and receive a swifter response to any concerns or queries regarding this practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has oversight of important documents. His audit tools ensure that he knows what takes place in the home involving the children and staff. They provide an opportunity for the manager to see any patterns in the children’s behaviours and therefore determine their progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision takes place with the managers on a regular basis. It provides an opportunity for staff to reflect on their practice and discuss any concerns they have, either within or outside of the workplace. Staff are supported with personal issues and provided with flexible working arrangements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The six-monthly reports undertaken by the manager are informative and well written. The manager reflects on the quality of care that the children have received. He identifies why safeguarding incidents have reduced and the role that the staff team has played in this. However, the actions for the following six months do not identify how the quality of care provided for children will improve or be maintained. 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

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 23 August 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the six-monthly report clearly identifies any actions required for the next six months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)  The registered person should ensure that children are consulted with regularly on their views about the home’s care to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child’s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted on. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children’s home: SC488112 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: SC488112 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northeast Specialist Therapeutic Services CIC

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jason Darbyshire

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Inspectors

Emma Ridley, Social Care Inspector Lee Riley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC488112 9 regulates 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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