Children's Home run by South Tyneside Council in South Tyneside

Inspection report for children’s home: 1268334 1 Registered provider: South Tyneside Council 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 local authority. It provides short-break services for up to four children with learning disabilities. The home currently supports 42 children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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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: 1268334 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/05/2022 Full Good 16/07/2019 Full Good 06/11/2018 Full Good 06/09/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 1268334 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are cared for by a dedicated staff team that understands their complex needs. Relationships between staff and children are trusting and secure. This is important as children rely heavily on those caring for them to meet all their needs, including personal care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children stay for short breaks, staff make sure that they have high-quality experiences, both at the home and in the community. All children are involved, irrespective of their disability or care needs. For example, two children went on the home’s minibus to a local seaside town for a day out. Offering children everyday experiences in the community is a strength of this team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to be independent and set achievable goals for them. Children’s progress is regularly reviewed. The expectation is that children do as much as they can for themselves. For example, children make food choices and learn to feed themselves. Staff also support children to become more mobile, including those that use wheelchairs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff continually look for ways to help children to express their views and feelings. Staff make sure that children have choice. For example, the children were asked about the use of a room in the house. Following consultation, staff created a library with comfortable seating. Conversations like this happen often. Children feel included in important decisions, which enhances their overall experience when they stay at the home. However, the independent visitor reports lack direct feedback from children. The failure to include this means that there are missed opportunities for children to share their views and feelings about the care they are receiving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff take the time to get to know children’s preferred methods of communication. Through working closely with families, staff get to know children’s individual responses. Staff also help children to make progress with their communication. For example, after months of work one child is now saying single words and using the staff’s names. These achievements are hugely important, and staff celebrate them with the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Inclusivity of families and carers is excellent. Staff send updates about the children’s time in the home. Parents can see what children have been doing and the progress they are making. Staff offer extra support to families if needed, such as transporting children to make sure that they can have their short break stay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Areas of the home have been refurbished, including the bedrooms, bathrooms, sensory room, and the den. Staff involve the children in choosing themes for the bedrooms and equipment for the sensory room. Additionally, there are lots of projects for the children to get involved with, such as designing signs for use in the rooms. This helps the children to take ownership of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1268334 4

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

When looking at each child’s short-break visit, the manager takes time to consider which children will get on well together. This is particularly important for those who have different sensory needs. For example, some children cannot cope with loud noises. This careful planning prevents children from getting upset and supports the children to have the best time during their stay.

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

Children are carefully supervised by staff according to their needs. Each child has an individual staff member who knows them well. Furthermore, children’s support plans and risk assessments are individual. These are easy to follow and give all staff clear guidance about how to care for each child. Additionally, staff go to safeguarding meetings so that they have an understanding of any actions that are necessary. This helps keep children safe and well.

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

Staff use their good relationships with children to manage behavioural issues that arise. Each child’s behavioural plan identifies strategies that staff follow. This consistent approach means that staff do not have to physically hold, guide, or use consequences to support children.

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

The staff’s knowledge of the children means that they notice subtle changes in behaviour which may indicate that a child is upset. The manager seeks advice from external agencies to help identify the cause. This sensitive approach and multi- agency working helps the child to receive prompt support.

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

Prompt action is taken when staff make errors with the administration of prescribed medication to children. Staff seek advice from a nurse or doctor to ensure that there has been no adverse impact on children’s health. Additionally, staff receive extra medication training. Daily audits by the manager have helped to reduce medication errors.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is motivated and committed to the children and the team. She wants all the children to have the support they need to enhance their lives so that they can make progress. This ethos is embedded in the staff team, whose members have high aspirations for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been some changes in the staff team. The children are informed of the staff changes through a newsletter that goes out to their carers. The children are well prepared for any changes and can see photos of new staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team works well together for the benefit of the children. Staff are supportive of each other. The staff are well supported through receiving supervision, attending training and team meetings. A newer member of staff said that they feel confident about asking questions and there is always someone who knows the answer. Inspection report for children’s home: 1268334 5 Transitions into and out of the home are well planned. If children struggle to settle, alterations to plans are agreed with families to help them to enjoy their stay. One child has started to have overnight stays recently. Planning was sensitive and the move in was completed at the child’s pace. New children have an opportunity to meet staff before coming to the home. These daytime visits help new children to begin to build relationships with staff before beginning to stay overnight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Case records reflect the children’s daily lives when they are at the home. Staff write about children in a way that they understand. This makes paperwork accessible to all children. Additionally, staff talk to children about their plans and the care they will receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager takes time to develop good relationships with families and professionals. Feedback is positive and encouraging from parents. Parents particularly appreciate the support provided by staff. One parent said that they see the staff and home as a ‘lifeline’. Another parent said that staff go ‘above and beyond’ for their family. Inspection report for children’s home: 1268334 6

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the children should have the opportunity to share their views directly with the independent visitor. 31 March 2024

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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: 1268334 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: South Tyneside Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall & Civic Offices, Westoe Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear NE33 2RL

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Inspector

Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1268334 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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