Children's Home run by North East Autism Society in Durham

Inspection report for a children’s home: SC458754 1 SC458754 Registered provider: North East Autism Society

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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 offers care for up to eight children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, seven children were living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for a children’s home: SC458754 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2025 Full Outstanding 19/12/2023 Full Outstanding 28/06/2022 Full Good 16/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for a children’s home: SC458754 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children experience safety and stability at this home, and most have lived here for years. This has been life changing for some children who have experienced many moves before. The children’s deep trusting relationships with the staff contribute to their remarkable progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff create an environment that is calm, safe and loving. The nurturing atmosphere can be felt throughout the home. From this secure base, staff support children to excel. Children consistently thrive and meet their expected targets. For one child, this has made a huge difference to their quality of life because of what they can now do for themselves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are empowered to communicate through child-centred and inclusive communication aids. Children who are nonverbal have many tools to be able to make their views, wishes and feelings known. Communication boards in shared areas allow children to make choices immediately about what they want. Staff understand the nuances of children’s gestures, facial expressions and body language. Staff significantly excel at recognising when children express anxiety or frustration and help children to manage their feelings when distressed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There is excellent support for children’s health needs. This is essential as some have complex diagnosed conditions that need specialist support. The manager works to reduce children’s medication where possible and ensure that children have access to the right support. He shows healthy professional curiosity about any advice given. For example, the manager takes considerable time to complete his own research to ensure that the right decisions are being made for the children. This allows him to advocate strongly on behalf of children if he has concerns about advice given by other professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager ensures that research-based decisions enhance children’s experiences. For one child, this involved detailed research on a new epilepsy medication and the effects on their condition. This knowledge has been shared across the team. Additionally, the latest innovations are being used, such as a medication card, which is being used to ensure that children always have access to critical epilepsy medication, reducing concerns around ‘Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All the children have substantial support for their learning. Children’s learning plans are tailored to their individual needs and capabilities. Aspirations for children are high, and staff help children to be as independent as possible. Staff’s daily communication with school keeps them up to date with any changes no matter how small. This ensures that support and care is consistent across different agencies. Inspection report for a children’s home: SC458754 4 The manager and staff positively promote a culture of inclusivity for neurodiverse children and ensure that others share the same openness. For example, one child has been involved in sharing their experience about being neurodiverse and using an airport. This information has informed a documentary on YouTube to help other people understand how overwhelming these situations can be because of children’s sensory needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff take the time to significantly widen children’s experiences, giving them choice and influence in what happens in their lives. This has allowed the children’s worlds to become more inclusive. There have been incredible first-time experiences for some. For example, one child has been back to their family home for the first time in years. Also, there have been meals out and trips to theme parks. These are all things their family never thought they would be able to do with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff develop superb relationships with families. Parents say they see the manager and staff as an extension of their family. They can drop into see children any time. They are included in important decisions and kept up to date on all matters. This reassures families that their children are being cared for incredibly well.

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

The highest priority is given to the safety and well-being of children. Staff’s kind, patient approach helps children feel safe. No matter what happens during the day, staff remain consistent in their approach to help children cope at times of distress or frustration. If further support is needed, staff have training for guiding or holding children to keep them safe. Staff are skilled in these interventions and only use them for the least amount of time possible. Manager debriefs with staff promote consistent reflection and learning from each incident. Once situations calm, the children’s sense of safety enables them to move quickly back to their usual day.

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

Staff know the children incredibly well. They are highly responsive to the children’s changing needs. Daily meetings promote close analysis of the children and enable staff to make any changes necessary. This dynamic assessment ensures that children have what they need immediately. Information shared across the staff team and with wider professionals ensures a high-level consistency. This is essential for the children living in this home.

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

The manager has been responsive to information shared by the local authority designated officer, for example when safeguarding issues happen outside of the home that could impact on the safety of the children. The manager ensures that internal process and procedures are used and adhered to, such as no lone working, to keep children safe while these issues are dealt with. Inspection report for a children’s home: SC458754 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager creates a culture of positivity, optimism and advocacy for children. He is an inspirational figure who wants the best for children and leads the staff to share the same ethos. This aspirational culture is woven throughout the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly creative and forward thinking. Nothing is impossible. He tenaciously overcomes any barriers that may prevent the children from having the best possible care and experiences. He actively considers what children need, does his own research and then creates a plan to achieve. The manager strongly advocates on the children’s behalf, ensuring they have what they need to thrive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Moves out of the home are exceptionally well planned. This is done with local authorities and whoever is taking over the care of the young people once they leave. The manager creates support plans that help young people with the significant change. This includes social stories to explain to young people what is happening and where they are going. When needed, the manager will strongly challenge others, taking issues to the highest level. This prevented delay for the most recent young person to move out and they moved on the date that they had chosen.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is proactive in developing the team and getting the best out of the staff. Recently staff have trained as behavioural support trainers to broaden the level of expertise in the home. The newly trained staff can now help their colleagues to develop their practice more often and in the moment when staff are managing the children’s behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are very happy working at [name of children’s home]. Staff are complimentary about the management team, the support provided and how well the members of the team work together. They feel invested in and valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff are known for providing superb care and making a huge difference in children’s lives. They have developed solid relationships with professionals around the children. Professionals say, ‘I wish I could clone [name of children’s home]’ and ‘every child in care should have an experience like [name of children’s home]’. Inspection report for a children’s home: SC458754 6

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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 a children’s home: SC458754 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North East Autism Society

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: North East Autism Society, 15 Lumley Court, Drum Industrial Estate, Chester-le-Street, County Durham DH2 1AN

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Inspectors

Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector (lead) Deirdre Silkstone, Social Care inspector Inspection report for a children’s home: SC458754 8 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 looked- after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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