Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes North East Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC472795 1 SC472795

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Registered provider: Artemis Support Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. The home can provide care for up to five children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in January 2014. An acting manager has been in post since June 2023 and has submitted their application to be registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC472795 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

All of the requirements and recommendations made from the previous inspection have been met.

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The care of children

The children continue to enjoy their time in this home. They said that the positive relationships that they have with the staff team help them to feel safe. Children have noticed an improved atmosphere in the home under the new management structure. One child said that they like that the new manager spends time with them. This helps to build relationships and trust.

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The care of children

The home environment has improved. This is because the living room has been refurbished and redecorated and is no longer routinely locked. This creates a homely environment for the children, who are now spending more time in the home. The hygiene standards in the home have improved significantly. This helps to build the children’s self-esteem and provides good role modelling for those children who will be moving on to live independently.

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The care of children

The children recently went on a holiday together. The staff incorporated educational activities into this trip by supporting the children to visit historical monuments. The children said that this was something that they very much enjoyed, especially learning about history. The children have captured their experiences with photos and videos of themselves on this trip.

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The safety of children

The children’s risk assessments are regularly updated. Safety plans set out the actions that the staff must take. The staff take the steps required to help to keep the children safer. The staff search for the children when they are missing from the home and follow the instructions in the missing-from-home protocols. As a result, the frequency of children going missing has significantly reduced.

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The safety of children

The staff’s recording of incidents has notably improved. The children’s documents are now up to date. These include the medication records and the children’s education, health and care plans. The manager has an up-to-date and accurate record of the children’s consent forms.

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The safety of children

When the manager does not receive documents from a child’s placing local authority in a timely manner, she escalates her requests. This ensures that children’s needs can be legally met and assists the staff in understanding all aspects of the children’s needs. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC472795 3 The staff’s use of caring language has improved; however, the use of the word ‘site’ is regularly used when referring to the home. Additionally, the staff’s recording in the children’s files is not child friendly. The manager is aware of the need for the staff to improve the language used in the written records, which does not reflect the language used by staff within the home, which is more caring.

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The safety of children

The manager informs the regulator of notifications of significant events in a timely manner. These provide assurances that the manager and staff are taking the necessary steps to keep the children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

An acting manager and acting deputy manager have been appointed since the last inspection. They share a similar ambitious vision for the home. This united approach helps to improve the standards of care afforded to the children. The new managers are enthusiastic, dedicated, and have high aspirations for the children. They are supported well by the senior management team, who have equally contributed to and overseen the improved processes in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager uses monitoring and review systems effectively to improve the service, and to check that the staff are completing their necessary tasks in the home. This has resulted in all of the requirements and recommendations made at the previous inspection being met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff report feeling well supported by the new management team. Supervision sessions with the staff are reflective and take place in line with the provider’s policy. The manager creates opportunities for the staff to learn, develop and reflect on their practice. This helps to improve the level of care that the children receive. When a staff member’s practice falls short of the high standards expected, this is addressed promptly and effectively by the manager.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/05/2022 Full Good 02/11/2021 Full Good 04/09/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC472795 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Artemis Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 17 Queens Lane, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 1RN

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Inspector

Julia Hagan, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC472795 5 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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