Children's Home run by Right-Trak Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

Inspection report for children’s home: SC394909 1 SC394909 Registered provider: Right-Trak Limited

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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 four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living in the home at the time of the inspection

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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 outstanding

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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: SC394909 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/06/2024 Full Good 30/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/11/2022 Full Good 27/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC394909 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All of the children are making good progress because of the care that they receive from staff. Staff are committed to investing their time in children, and this builds good relationships. When one child left the home, they wrote a letter to a staff member expressing how grateful they were for the love and care provided to them. Children have positive experiences, and staff help them to feel a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to develop life skills for when they become adults. For example, one child is due to start driving lessons, and the staff work to ensure access to an instructor who would understand their needs. Children are better prepared for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff listen to children, and regular discussions take place. Children also participate in children’s meetings and chatterbox sessions with staff, helping children to share their views. Children have a say on how their home looks, and they can choose what activities they can enjoy and what meals they would like. One child said, ‘I am very happy, and who wouldn’t love it here?’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress with their education. When children struggle to go to school, the staff use effective incentives to encourage them to improve their attendance. Staff communicate with professionals to ensure that children are getting the right support. This helps to reduce any anxiety and worries children may have about their education and future learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to maintain positive relationships with their families and friends. Children have their friends visit the home and spend time with them in the local community. Children have regular and positive social opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to health professionals and are in good physical health. Staff also work with a clinical psychologist who helps them to better understand the impact of the children’s past experiences on their current behaviour. This helps staff to better support children with their emotional well-being. For example, one child has grown in confidence from their starting point.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are comprehensive plans in place when children move out of the home. For example, one child had a four-week transition period out of the home. Staff continue to support them, and the child regularly keeps in touch with staff. Children are well prepared for their next steps, and the relationships that staff have established with children give them lifelong links to people who care for them.

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

Children feel safe and are supported by staff to understand safeguarding and risk. The staff learn how to respond effectively when children are at risk of harm. Furthermore, Inspection report for children’s home: SC394909 4 staff have a good understanding of the individual vulnerabilities and the risks surrounding each child. Staff promote children’s welfare, and this helps to protect children from harm.

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

Staff build good relationships with children who are happy spending time in the home. This means that incidents where children go missing from home rarely occur. When children do go missing from home, the staff respond effectively. Staff know where children go when they are missing from home and will look for them to ensure they return home safely.

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

Staff have conversations with children about risk. Children are aware of the worries that staff have for them, and the discussions they have with staff enable them to make better choices. This helps children to understand risk and be able to keep themselves safer. One child has been able to be safer online.

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

The use of physical intervention is rare and only used to keep children or others safe. Staff employ the minimum restriction for no longer than is necessary. Following the use of restraint, staff consult with an expert in physical intervention. This helps staff to reflect on incidents and consider the effectiveness of the intervention and how holds can be reduced. This also helps staff to identify any triggers to the incident and any patterns in children’s behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is reflective, child focused and highly ambitious for children. She is dedicated to her role, the children and staff. Her approach to the home’s development is exceptional. Professionals say that there have been huge improvements in the standard of care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager takes the time to understand her staff individually and assesses their strengths and areas for development. This informs comprehensive plans for staff training and development. Staff who require support with their personal development can rely on the manager to go above and beyond to help them. The manager understands that staff want to progress in their role. She has introduced a mentoring system to give staff the opportunity to learn different aspects of various roles to prepare them for the next steps in their careers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have effective oversight of the home and staff practice. The manager’s evaluation of incidents and events in the home is clear on records and demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the children’s needs and the staff’s ability to meet those needs. The manager employs a therapeutic approach to practice that is modelled to the staff. She encourages staff to use their professional curiosity and to think about what drives children’s behaviour. This develops the staff’s understanding of the needs of children and leads to better outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a strong focus on ensuring that children’s plans progress. Staff focus on helping children to make progress from their starting point. Children are learning to Inspection report for children’s home: SC394909 5 make appropriate choices and take responsibility for their actions. Leaders and managers have introduced changes to processes in the home to help staff to evaluate children’s progress. Staff can measure the children’s outcomes and develop focused plans for the month ahead.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Regular team meetings allow the manager and staff to discuss innovative ideas for the development of practice. This includes using educational games that allow staff to enjoy learning. The staff regularly receive praise in meetings through an ‘employee recognition scheme’. This shows staff that they are valued and creates a positive team culture.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a consistent presence in the home. She is supported by a deputy manager, and they work effectively together as a team. They are both ambitious for what the children and staff can achieve.

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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: SC394909 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Winovation, Houghtons Yard, Shields Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE6 2YP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Melanie Spriddell

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Inspector

Laura Roberts, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC394909 7 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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