Children's home run by Together For Children Sunderland

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2613157 1 Registered provider: Together for Children Sunderland 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 provides care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 11 October 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 children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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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. 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: 2613157 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

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. This helps staff to keep children safer.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are developing trusting relationships with staff. Children are given time to build those relationships at their own pace. One child said they have a close relationship with a member of staff who they can speak to about worries or concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

Children attend education regularly and are making progress. Staff work well with education providers to support children back into education. This has led to improved attendance for one child who had not been to school for some time.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have a safer escape route from the property. The manager has removed the key lock from the front door to ensure that children and staff have a direct exit point in the event of an emergency.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager ensures that staff have the necessary skills to care for children. All staff have now been trained in first aid and in their model of physical intervention. However, many staff have not yet completed the required qualification related to caring for children in a residential setting. This shortfall is an ongoing concern from the previous inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The presentation of the home has deteriorated. This is because damage caused to communal areas is not repaired in a timely manner. One child said that this impacts on how they feel about living in the home and they no longer invite their friends to visit. One child’s bedroom was cluttered and unsuitable for the child. Clothing and rubbish on the floor prevented easy access through the door. The registered manager addressed this immediately and made arrangements to move the child to another bedroom.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are trained to respond to children in a safe and consistent way. On one occasion, a child complained about being hurt when held by staff. The registered manager consulted with the designated officer and child’s social worker but did not complete an investigation. The manager did not notify Ofsted of this allegation against a member of staff. This prevents Ofsted from having oversight of significant events. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2613157 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/03/2023 Full Good 14/09/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2613157 4

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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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(b) (2)(b)(vii)(c)(i)) 30 April 2024

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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

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)) 30 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. 21 July 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2613157 5 For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2613157 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Together for Children Sunderland Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Majella McCarthy

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Inspector

Joanne Wallis, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2613157 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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