Children's home run by South Tyneside Council

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718853 1 Registered provider: South Tyneside Council

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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 care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

No children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The post for a registered manager has been vacant since July 2025.

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This monitoring visit

At a full inspection on 18 June 2025, the home was judged inadequate. Failures in safeguarding and the leadership and management of the home directly affected the safety and well-being of the children. In response, Ofsted issued compliance notices under Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard), Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard) and Regulation 14 (the care planning standard). A further two requirements were also raised.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to review the actions taken by the provider to meet the steps in the compliance notices. Ofsted found that the provider has not taken sufficient steps to meet all the steps outlined in the compliance notices. Four of the six steps have been restated. The requirements raised at the full inspection were not assessed at this visit and are restated.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have been deployed across the provider’s other homes in the local authority. However, the provider has not acted on the concerns identified at the last inspection to develop staff practice and safeguarding procedures and systems. Leaders were unable to share evidence to demonstrate the steps taken to improve safeguarding practice or how any shortfalls identified in staff practice will be managed in the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718853 2 Following the full inspection, there was a review of the children’s care plans due to concerns raised regarding their care and continued suitability to live together. Both children moved on from the home due to their complex and competing needs. These alternative arrangements were implemented to prioritise children’s safety.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has introduced some changes to improve his oversight of the home. Although children do not currently live at the home, once it is occupied again, the responsible individual’s oversight will be more comprehensive should the new system be used as intended. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718853 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/06/2025 Full Inadequate 21/01/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/02/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718853 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 with 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

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

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(b)) 7 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

*The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires, and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)) 7 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718853 5 In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation (5)(c)) 31 October 2025

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services, and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (a)(b)(c) (2)(iv)) 31 October 2025

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718853 6

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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, Westoe Road, South Shields NE33 2RL

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Inspector

Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718853 7 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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