Children's home run by North Tyneside Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2668710 1 Registered provider: North Tyneside Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to five children who may have learning disabilities, mental disorders or physical disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, five children were living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2022.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 3 February 2025

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2668710 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/02/2025 Full Good 30/01/2024 Full Good 02/08/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2668710 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspectors observed four children and spoke to two children during the inspection.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children living in the home have enjoyed a long period of stability, with some having lived there for several years. Staff are committed to the children they care for. Staff see each child as an individual, consider their unique needs, and treat them with dignity and respect. Even the smallest achievements are celebrated and shared with families and other professionals. Staff encourage children to develop independence and enjoy their time at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children well. Children, including those who communicate nonverbally, are encouraged to actively participate in decisions that affect their day-to-day living arrangements. They are helped to use the most appropriate communication methods to express their views, wishes and feelings. This means that children are fully involved in the decisions made about their lives.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education is an important focus for staff. Children attend school on a full-time basis. Staff understand children’s educational needs and promote learning in the home. Children’s educational achievements are widely recognised and celebrated. Children are also helped to learn independence skills in accordance with their abilities and understanding. As a result, children are supported in preparing for their future.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with a wide range of meaningful activities that are tailored to meet their individual sensory needs. Children take part in cooking and baking, and they visit local attractions and well-known places. During school holidays, they enjoy trips and holidays away from the home, which broaden their experiences. Staff capture these moments in virtual memory boxes, enabling children to revisit and reflect on valuable experiences with peers and adults. These opportunities enrich children’s lives and contribute to developing positive life stories.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children are dependent on staff’s support to help them meet their personal care needs. This is managed in a sensitive way and promotes children’s privacy and dignity.

p.3

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

Staff promote positive behaviour for children and have effective de-escalation strategies in place to support them. They know how individual children may present if they are struggling and have plans in place to respond. The positive behaviour plans are reviewed regularly and reflect the needs of the children.

p.3

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

Children are settled because staff know and understand their risk assessments and care plans. Staff know how to best promote positive behaviour management. Staff clearly record any incidents and include learning and reflection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2668710 4 Staff help children understand their routine and what their day entails. Now and next boards and symbols are used on timelines to ensure that children know what to expect. Children are helped to understand the rules in the home, and staff maintain consistent expectations. There is an emphasis on praise and encouragement. This provides a sense of security for the children and helps promote their well-being.

p.3

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

Staff recognise that all behaviours are forms of communication. The manager and staff work collaboratively to analyse behaviour patterns, identify underlying causes, and implement effective strategies to address them. As a result, there have been no incidents where children became upset or overwhelmed to the extent that physical intervention was required.

p.4

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

Children are included in discussions and activities about the measures in place to keep them safe. Children are encouraged to participate in decision-making around their care, and their views are considered.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is child-focused and speaks about the children with warmth and enthusiasm. She is supported by two experienced deputy managers. Together, they work effectively to ensure that the day-to-day running of the home is smooth.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home and of the quality of care provided to the children. The manager uses a range of monitoring processes to scrutinise and improve the standard of care that the children receive.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals and a parent speak highly of the home and the team’s strong commitment to children’s care. They praised the resilience shown by staff in managing challenging circumstances. Professionals reported that the manager and team maintain regular and effective communication, which has created a well-coordinated team around each child. They also highlighted that records are child-focused and clearly demonstrate the progress children are making.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision, as described in the home’s statement of purpose. These sessions are supportive in nature and provide staff with the opportunity to reflect on their practice and the children’s needs. Staff speak positively about their supervision.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held regularly, well planned and inclusive. Staff feel that their opinions and ideas are listened to and implemented. Staff have been provided with specialised therapeutic support to help them reflect on the challenging incidents they have been involved in. Inspection report for children’s home: 2668710 5

p.4

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: 2668710 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: North Tyneside Council

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Quadrant, Cobalt Business Park, Wallsend, Tyne and Wear NE27 0BY

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jacqueline Ingram

p.6

Inspectors

Cherie Chen, Social Care Inspector Mel Turner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2668710 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.

p.6

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7