Children's Home run by Gateshead Council in Gateshead

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC036773 1 SC036773

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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 run and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since 31 August 2024. There is an acting manager in post. However, they have not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children living at the home at the time of the inspection. Inspectors spoke to all four children during the inspection.

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Inspection date: 5 November 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 5 November 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors 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: SC036773 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

Since the last inspection, there is a new manager and deputy manager. They have a good understanding of the shortfalls raised at the last inspection. The manager has implemented a detailed plan to address the concerns. They have identified immediate priorities to address and acknowledge that other aspects may take longer to resolve.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff and other professionals said there have been positive changes since the new managers have come into post. Staff feel there is a strong and supportive management presence in the home. This has improved the team’s morale. One staff member said, ‘I’m excited to come to work now.’ This means that children are being cared for by staff who feel supported and valued.

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Findings from the inspection

Children attend education in line with their needs and agreed plans. Staff talk with children about their future and the steps they need to take to achieve their goals. There are routines and incentives that encourage children to access their education. Furthermore, the manager works with an alternative education provision to explore ways to creatively engage children. As a result, children are helped to work towards their academic potential and develop aspirations for the future.

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Findings from the inspection

Children speak warmly about the staff. Staff proactively discuss sensitive subjects or concerns with children, such as substance misuse. They provide children with advice but, equally, listen to their views, offering children praise during these difficult discussions. This supports children to learn and to make informed decisions.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff new to the home receive a good induction to enable them to care for the children effectively. Staff feel they now have time to complete their training courses. The manager ensures that speakers from partner agencies attend team meetings to support staff’s development. This has improved staff’s knowledge and skills to meet the children’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff’s practice-related supervision sessions are completed more consistently. However, sessions lack reflection, in-depth discussions and agreed actions about the children’s care. The manager’s plan to address these shortfalls has yet to have the desired impact.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers ensure that children have detailed personalised care plans that guide staff on how to meet their needs. Staff have the opportunity to contribute to the plans. However, there has been little change in the shortfall raised regarding the quality of risk assessments. The manager has focused on developing care plans in the first instance, and there is a plan to extend this to risk assessments. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC036773 3 Incidents of children going missing from the home have started to reduce in number. However, staff’s actions when these incidents occur are not yet fully responsive. Staff make calls to the children and others known to them. However, they do not consistently search the local area or known locations to try to find them.

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Findings from the inspection

Requirements made at the last inspection under regulations 8, 11 and 13 have been met. However, requirements under regulations 12 and 33 remain unmet. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC036773 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/11/2023 Full Good 04/10/2022 Full Good 08/06/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC036773 5

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)) 4 December 2024

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— 4 December 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC036773 6 undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(a) (4)(a)(b)) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC036773 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead NE8 1HH

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Inspectors

Jess Elliott, Social Care Inspector Lee Elliott, Assistant Regional Director Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC036773 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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