Children's Home run by North East Autism Society in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC458754 1 SC458754 Registered provider: North East Autism Society Full inspection 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. It provides care for up to eight children and young people who may have learning disabilities and/or an autism spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 15 November 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, six children and one young person were living in the home. The inspectors spent time with all of them.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC458754 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/06/2022 Full Good 16/11/2021 Full Good 21/01/2020 Full Outstanding 12/02/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC458754 3

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outstanding

Children and young people are exceptionally well cared for by a dedicated staff team that treats them with dignity and respect. Children’s and young people’s individual needs, risks and vulnerabilities are well known. Each child and young person has a smaller dedicated team of people who look after them. This ensures that they receive stable and consistent care, which results in children and young people making outstanding progress.

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outstanding

Staff support children and young people to build resilience and become confident. Staff are creative to make sure that care is child centred. Children and young people flourish, and the exceptional progress made means that they no longer need as many staff supporting them. For one child, this has resulted in their anxiety dramatically reducing, which has led to far fewer outbursts. One staff member said:

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outstanding

‘I love working here. I love the children. We see them, hear them and view them each as children. We ensure that their voice is heard no matter what.’

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outstanding

Children and young people make excellent progress with their education because staff promote consistent and structured routines. This supports children’s and young people’s emotional well-being. They feel less anxious, which allows them to access their education daily. Children and young people enjoy learning again after many years of not being in education. Furthermore, staff work collaboratively with education professionals to regularly share good practice. This ensures that children and young people receive a consistent approach across the settings.

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outstanding

Each child and young person has their own apartment. Soft furnishings, personal belongings, and toys help to personalise them. To reduce anxiety, staff make sure that the environment and any adaptations support children’s and young people’s individual sensory needs. For example, a young person does not like bedding or pillows. Staff found them a soft fleecy blanket that they can now tolerate. Another child has a picture of a Christmas tree on the wall instead of an actual tree in their room.

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outstanding

Staff work hard to make sure that children and young people can share their views. Communication is a significant focus in the home, whether this is through speech, Makaton, symbols, gestures, or other electronic devices. Adaptations in the home support the way that each child and young person communicate. For example, one child will take staff to what they want, or they use gestures. Staff have worked hard to understand what each individual gesture means. Another child has made considerable progress with their communication and is now well understood by the adults around them. This has been life changing, as previous carers could not understand them. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458754 4 Children’s and young people’s memories are captured in photos, which, alongside their artwork, are displayed at the home. Staff take immense pride in children’s and young people’s progress. Celebrating ‘wow’ moments is a natural everyday

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outstanding

occurrence. These 'wow’ moments have a special place on one of the walls for people to see the successes. This also allows the children and young people to celebrate their achievements.

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outstanding

Children and young people have a wide range of opportunities to make friends and to be part of activities. One child arranges a weekly disco. Everyone is included in choosing the disco theme. Another child has had their first experience of going out in the community as they were previously too anxious to leave a minibus. They have now been to the beach and local arcades, and they very much enjoy dressing up.

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outstanding

The sense of belonging for the children and young people extends to their families. Staff welcome families into the home or support time together in the community. This has helped relationships to thrive. Some children and young people have been able to develop relationships with siblings for the first time, enjoying new experiences together. One child has attended a family wedding, allowing them to be part of the family photos. One child’s mother said, ‘I never thought this would be possible. The staff know him inside out; they love him, and he loves them.’

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outstanding

The staff have a wealth of knowledge that is essential to safely care for the children and young people. Children and young people receive a high level of supervision from staff. Risk management plans enable staff to understand each child’s strengths, risks, and vulnerabilities. Children and young people feel safe and protected.

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outstanding

Day-to-day planning is meticulous, which helps children and young people to manage their anxieties and gives them predictability. This extends to children who are visiting as part of their transition. New children have opportunities to spend time with others enjoying activities before moving into the home. The actual move happens at the child’s pace, and may take months of sensitive planning, visits and developing relationships with people at the home.

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outstanding

Children’s and young people’s health needs are well understood by staff, who advocate on their behalf. This makes sure that they receive specialist services to support their emotional and physical well-being. Staff are attuned to children’s and young people’s presentation and show curiosity for any out of the ordinary behaviours. Staff understand that children and young people may be communicating that they are in pain or unwell. This ensures that children and young people receive appropriate and proportionate treatment and support.

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outstanding

The children and young people live harmoniously together. Staff use their good relationships, language that is reassuring, or other techniques to help children and young people to manage their feelings. They respond well to this approach. Consequently, incidents of children and young people becoming more anxious, Inspection report for children’s home: SC458754 5 frustrated, and showing self-harming behaviours are significantly reduced. When physical holds are necessary, staff will only intervene as a last resort and for short periods of time. Managers closely monitor when children and young people are held to ensure that it is safely practised.

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outstanding

The manager is knowledgeable about medication and the adverse effects that some medicines can have on children and young people. He focuses on improving children’s and young people’s quality of life, actively promoting reductions in unnecessary medication. As a result, following medical advice, one child no longer requires prescribed medication. Other children and young people have had their medications reduced, and one child has had their medication stopped completely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team give children and young people a choice, a voice, and extraordinary quality of life through valuing and respecting each child and young person. The ethos of the team involves promoting the rights of children and young people. The attitudes and beliefs of the management team and staff are inspiring. They all hold high aspirations for children and young people. Staff persevere in removing any barriers in the way caused by the children’s and young people’s physical and emotional needs. One staff member said, ‘Nothing is impossible for our children and young people.’ Another described the approach in the home as children’s rights and voice being the core of the culture.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is well supported by his deputies. He is enthusiastic and ensures that children and young people have the care, support, and attention they deserve. His child-centred approach filters down through the team, and he leads by example. The manager knows the children and young people exceptionally well and can talk about them individually. This is because he spends time with them daily. He also takes the time to ensure that he is moving the service forward and developing the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team share the manager’s enthusiasm and ambition for changing the lives of the children and young people they care for. This enables the children and young people to flourish at this home. There is good support between colleagues and the management team. Appropriate training ensures that workers have the same base knowledge to work with the children and young people. Specialist training is sourced to help to enhance staff’s knowledge in relevant topics. The manager also uses research to inform practice. For example, a visual profile is used to show the progress for each child and young person. Reflection on practice is actively encouraged through team meetings and supervisions. The focus is on the children and young people, ensuring the team capitalises on learning opportunities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has excellent monitoring and oversight of what is happening in the home. He has a good understanding of what will help him to move the service forward and has a plan to ensure that this is in place. The service is highly regarded by other professionals and families. Families value the support and positive relationships that they have developed with the team. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458754 6

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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: SC458754 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North East Autism Society

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: North East Autism Society, 15 Lumley Court, Drum Industrial Estate, Chester Le Street, County Durham DH2 1AN

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Inspectors

Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC458754 8 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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