Children's home run by St Cuthbert’s Care in Newcastle upon Tyne

Inspection report for children’s home: SC433451 1 SC433451 Registered provider: St Cuthbert’s Care 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 six children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2011.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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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

Date of last inspection: 16 October 2024

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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 children’s home: SC433451 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/10/2024 Full Outstanding 12/03/2024 Full Good 20/02/2023 Full Outstanding 05/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC433451 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There is significant evidence of sustained change and improvement because of the excellent quality of care provided. The progress of children is exceptional from their starting points. Children who have experienced significant trauma are understood, supported effectively and provided with highly nurturing care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is a large property, with plenty of space. It is kept to a high standard and is reflective of the children’s interests. Bedrooms are personalised and children choose the décor and any items that they want in their rooms.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff team is stable, and this allows the children to build trusting and long-lasting relationships with a consistent staff team. Children report that they feel happy and settled and want to stay at the home. This stability and consistency in staffing means that children have a real sense of permanence and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s education is a priority for staff and is promoted at the home. As a result, children have achieved excellent school attendance and are making progress with their education. The registered manager and staff have a good understanding of the children’s educational needs and are strong advocates for them when a suitable alternative education provision is required to meet those needs. This has helped children to achieve academically and to have aspirations for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A particular strength of the home is how the voice of the child has a significant influence on how care is delivered to the children. Children feel confident in sharing their views with staff in the knowledge that this will have an immediate impact. Furthermore, children play a significant role in their care planning. Staff use a ‘celebration day’ each month for every child as an opportunity for them to be involved in their own care planning. This level of participation provides children with a real sense of control over what happens in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are provided with a variety of different activities. The staff encourage children to try out new activities and attend with them to build their confidence. These activities are important to children and give them opportunities to explore their talents and interests and make new friends.

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

Children living at the home say that they feel safe and are protected effectively from harm. Staff work hard to build trusting relationships with the children, who say that they feel comfortable talking to the staff if they have any worries or concerns.

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

Staff help children to understand their emotions and how to manage them appropriately when they are angry or upset. They use therapeutic models of care to better understand Inspection report for children’s home: SC433451 4 how to respond to children. Staff are supported in this with specialist training to aid their knowledge and understanding of the children’s needs.

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

Staff help children to take appropriate risks for their age and level of understanding. Professionals and family spoken to identified that as the staff and managers know the children so well, they can quickly identify any changes in behaviour, which helps to safeguard and protect children from harm.

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

When children’s behaviour results in the need to impose a consequence, staff use restorative practice that helps children to understand the consequences of their actions and encourages them to make amends. This increases children’s sense of personal responsibility.

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

Effective risk assessments provide staff with the information that they need to keep children safe. The staff follow children’s risk assessments consistently, and this contributes to reducing possible harm the children may face. Risk assessments are dynamic, regularly reviewed and comprehensive. Trends and patterns of behaviour are fully understood, and staff are reflective on how best to meet the needs of individual children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has created a home for children that has had a significant influence on changing their lives. She inspires confidence in her staff and is highly ambitious for children. The registered manager knows the children exceptionally well and takes great pride in their progress and achievements. She has high expectations of staff to change and improve the lives of the children who they care for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff enjoy working at the home and say that they feel fully supported in their role. Staff morale is high. They have access to regular reflective supervision sessions and support from a consultant psychologist. This helps to promote staff learning and development and enables them to give high-quality care to children that is tailored to their individual needs. One staff member said that they feel fully supported by managers and that this has allowed them to make significant progress in their own practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home has a highly effective culture of learning, which is embedded into the practice of all staff. The registered manager uses data analysis very effectively to understand any trends or patterns in behaviour and undertakes her own research to continually improve practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s records are of a very high standard and highlight the reflective practice at the home. There is daily reading for each member of staff to ensure that everyone is fully updated on what is going on for the children. This ensures that staff provide consistent care in line with the children’s plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made during the inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC433451 5

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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: SC433451 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: St Cuthbert’s House, West Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear NE15 7PY

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Inspector

Dawn McCluskey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC433451 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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