Children's home run by Newcastle City Council

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2623842 1 Registered provider: Newcastle City Council

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

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager at the home since April 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spoke to one child.

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Inspection date: 30 January 2025

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. 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: 2623842 2

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Findings from the inspection

This assurance inspection was carried out in response to a safeguarding notification that raised concerns about the safety of children. 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

The manager and staff know the children well. Children have developed trusting and nurturing relationships with staff. These relationships help children trust staff and turn to them for support when it is needed.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have a good understanding of the risks each child is vulnerable to. Staff work creatively to help children to recognise when other people are asking them to do something that is harmful to them. Children are developing the skills they need to understand their risks and how they can keep themselves safer.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff act to keep children safe when they are missing from home. Staff search for children and try to contact them by phone and text message. This shows children that staff care and are looking forward to them returning home. One professional said that the staff are motivated and determined, going above and beyond in supporting children’s safe return.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff use positive reinforcement rather than imposing consequences to help children manage their behaviour. Staff reward children for the things they do well. One child said that they appreciate the way staff respond to the things they do.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff speak warmly about working with the children and with other colleagues. Good staff retention ensures that the children have adults who know them well and provide consistent care.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff develop good relationships with children’s families. Staff understand the value of the relationship’s children have with their loved ones. Staff work with the child and their family to make sure they can maintain those important relationships.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirement and recommendations from the previous visit were not reviewed at this assurance inspection and have therefore been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2623842 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/05/2024 Full Good 15/08/2023 Full Good 11/10/2022 Full Good 14/09/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2623842 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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 March 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they have fully considered what impact any new child moving into the home may have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)  The registered person should ensure that where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home or in preparation for leaving the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs. In particular, the registered person should have an effective process in place to challenge the child’s placing local authority when independent support is not offered to a child who has been missing from the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  The registered person should ensure that the staff understand the importance of

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Recommendations

carrying out life-story work or other direct work with the children. Life-story work should be kept up to date and treated with respect. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, pages 16, paragraph 3.14)  The registered manager should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2623842 5 non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4). Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2623842 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Newcastle City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE1 8QH

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Inspector

Lisa Gordon, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2623842 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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