Children's home run by Together For Children Sunderland

Inspection report for children’s home: 1254837 1 Registered provider: Together for Children Sunderland Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed under trust arrangements. The home provides care for up to six children who may have emotional and social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2019.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 24 January 2023

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1254837 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2023 Full Good 08/06/2021 Full Good 14/01/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1254837 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop trusting relationships with staff who know them well. They are supported to build relationships with staff at their own pace. Children are making progress, even when this is incremental due to past trauma.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are welcomed into the home after a planned transition. They can start to familiarise themselves with their new home, the staff and other children. This helps children to settle into their home and adjust to their new surroundings.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to develop new skills during regular discussions with staff. These are purposeful and targeted at the important subjects that are relevant to the children. Staff work with children to help them understand the impact of their behaviour and revisit this work when necessary.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independent living skills. They work through activity booklets that help them develop skills for life. The booklets provide a description of how children are being supported and are a helpful photographic record of children for them to keep.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work well with services to get children back into education when they are not attending. For example, a child who had not attended school before moving into the home has now been supported back into education. Professionals say that staff do all they can to support children back into education. This includes providing opportunities for children to learn while they are at home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child’s bedroom was not in a satisfactory condition. The room was very untidy, with stains on the floor and clothing strewn around the room. Staff have not supported the child to keep their room in a clean condition. This does not show children that they, and the space they live in, are valued.

p.3

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

Staff bring a range of experience and knowledge to their role in caring for the children. They demonstrate a deep understanding of the children and how their trauma impacts on their behaviour and presentation. This means that they are better placed to manage the complex issues that children have.

p.3

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

Staff use effective de-escalation techniques to support children during crisis. Therefore, instances where children are held are rare. When a hold takes place, the details are recorded well. Staff and children take part in reflective discussions after all incidents, helping to repair relationships. This helps to keep children safe and allows staff to reflect on what they can do to better support children.

p.3

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

Children’s risk assessments are reviewed so that there is an up-to-date Inspection report for children’s home: 1254837 4 understanding of safeguarding concerns. However, not all behaviour support plans are up to date. Important information is missing, which may mean that staff do not respond effectively to a child’s behaviour.

p.3

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

Staff respond effectively to incidents where children are missing from the home. They are proactive in looking for children when they go missing and follow their individual protocols. There is effective partnership working between staff and the police. This helps to ensure that children return home as quickly as possible.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced manager who is supported by a deputy manager and senior workers. There are established team members who have a wealth of experience and skills that enhance the team dynamics as well as new workers who have recently started working in the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that they follow safer recruitment procedures. This provides reassurance that the adults who are caring for children are safe to do so. New staff members are supported through an induction programme, and training is provided. This gives them the skills to meet the needs of the children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision provides staff with an opportunity to reflect on their practice. Supervision is child-focused, and the manager and staff explore any safeguarding concerns, staff well-being and professional development. This helps the manager to maintain oversight of staff practice and the impact their care has on the progress of children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have monitoring systems in place. This aids the manager in ensuring that children’s files are up to date and have the necessary documents. The manager is also able to track the children’s progress monthly. This gives leaders and managers a good oversight of the strengths and areas of development for the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home uses surveillance to monitor the outside of the home and the children’s bedroom doors. Managers have not sought consent for the use of this measure from all of the children’s placing authorities. For the bedroom door surveillance, there has been no review of its use. The needs of the children have not been considered. This is an unnecessary intrusion that impacts on a child’s right to privacy. Inspection report for children’s home: 1254837 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

p.5

Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

p.5

Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 22 September

p.5

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.5

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— 22 September Inspection report for children’s home: 1254837 6 meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(vii)(c)(i)(ii))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that all children are supported to maintain clean and tidy bedrooms.

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered manager should ensure that records are kept up to date. Specifically, behaviour support plans should contain up-to-date information. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

p.6

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: 1254837 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Together for Children Sunderland Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: City Hall Floor 2, Plater Way, Sunderland SR1 3AA

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Majella McCarthy

p.7

Inspectors

Joanne Wallis, Social Care Inspector Jan Edwards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1254837 8 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.

p.7

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8