Children's Home run by Talbot House Children’s Charity Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC432843 1 SC432843

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Registered provider: Talbot House Children’s Charity 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 operated by a charity and may care for up to five children who have emotional and social difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home at the time of inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023.

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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 inspection

At this inspection, 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. The inspector has 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: SC432843 2

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Outcome 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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Outcome from the inspection

Children are developing positive relationships with staff. Children are given time to build those relationships at their own pace. This supports them to develop trust over time with the adults who care for them.

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Outcome from the inspection

Not all children who live in the home are attending education. One child has not attended school for several months. Staff have improved how they engage children who do not attend school, and they do this by engaging them in alternative learning. However, planning for one child’s return to school remains unclear.

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Outcome from the inspection

Staff continue to restrict children’s movement around the home. Doors to the kitchen and connecting areas are locked at night, and the reasoning for this was inconsistent across the management and staff team. This means children are being restricted from accessing all areas of their home and from having access to food in the evenings. This was raised at the last inspection.

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Outcome from the inspection

The home uses alarms to alert staff when children leave their bedrooms at night. The manager assesses and reviews the need for these alarms and the rationale is recorded in children’s plans. Therefore, only children who need this measure in place are subject to this monitoring in their home.

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Outcome from the inspection

Children’s risk assessments provide information about their risks and vulnerabilities. This is to ensure that children receive well-planned responses from the adults who care for them. However, one child is frequently held by staff, and there is nothing written in their plan about how staff are to manage this safely. This means that staff do not have clear information about what holds are effective for individual children. Managers complete an assessment when considering a new child moving into the home. This helps the manager to set out how staff will balance the competing needs of all the children living in the home. Children living in the home are therefore thoughtfully considered when welcoming a new child to the home.

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Outcome from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not provided some staff with the training required to safely meet the needs of children. This includes essential training, such as first aid and behaviour support. This limits the staff’s ability to deliver care as set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

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Outcome from the inspection

On one occasion, a concern was raised about practice within the home, which was referred to the local authority designated officer. The manager effectively addressed this. However, they did not notify Ofsted of this safeguarding concern. This prevents Ofsted from scrutinising how significant events and potential safeguarding concerns are investigated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC432843 3 Supervision for managers and staff has improved. Staff are receiving regular supervision, and records show that there is a focus on children, safeguarding and reflective practice. Staff said they feel well supported by managers. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC432843 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/06/2022 Full Good 18/05/2021 Full Good 21/10/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC432843 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 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; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(c)) 22 December 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 a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(viii)) 22 December 2023

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Requirement Due date

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child. 22 December 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC432843 6 The following measures may not be used to discipline any child—

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Requirement Due date

any punishment involving the consumption or deprivation of food or drink; or

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Requirement Due date

any measure involving punishing a group of children for the behaviour of an individual child. (Regulation 19 (1) (2)(b)(j))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the kitchen door should not be locked at night.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 22 December 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that in a restraint situation, staff should use their professional judgement, supported by their knowledge of each child’s risk assessment, an understanding of the needs of the child (as set out in their relevant plans) and an understanding of the risks the child faces. Professional judgements may need to be taken quickly, and staff training and supervision of practice should support this. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 48, paragraph 9.53) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC432843 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Talbot House Children’s Charity Limited

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Inspector

Joanne Wallis, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC432843 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.

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Inspector

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