Children's Home run by ROC Home Limited in South Tyneside

Inspection report for children’s home: 2876415 1 Registered provider: ROC Home Limited 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 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home and was spoken to by the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in January 2025. This is the first 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 good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2876415 2

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Summary of findings

The child says that they like living in the home, they are happy and have positive relationships with staff. Staff provide a safe and homely environment that allows the child to explore their identity, building their self-esteem. Clear safety plans alongside strong multi-agency working continuously develops the knowledge and skills of staff, resulting in child-focused and consistent care. The registered manager and deputy manager are a strong team that implement support for staff and understand the importance of reflection. While they highlight shortfalls in practice, actions to rectify these are not always completed. There are some inconsistencies in the reporting and recording of information that can occasionally have stigmatising language. Overall, the home is good.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has strong, trusted relationships with staff and feels comfortable in confiding in staff for help. Staff speak warmly and lovingly about the child. Professionals commented on the child’s growth in their self-esteem. The support that staff provide has resulted in the child also being able to recognise their progress since moving into the home. The child said that the home is, ‘one big happy family.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment reflects that of a family home. Home activities and memories from the child’s time with staff decorate the communal areas. The child’s bedroom is a safe space and reflects a typical bedroom for their age. There are plans to decorate the room to reflect more of the child’s personality and further plans to utilise the outdoor space.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have created a safe environment where the child can explore their identity and feel comfortable in their own skin. Staff are honest with the child and support their awareness of societal negativity and hate that they may experience. They support the child to adopt strategies to manage any negativity they may receive while encouraging and praising the child to be their true self.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff listen and involve the child in all aspects of their care. The child is developing their independence with life skills and exploring the community independently. Staff have worked with the child to create realistic safety plans that provide them with a typical childhood and ensures their safety. Staff also advocate for the child when they share their views and wishes about their own care. As a result, the child experiences bespoke day-to-day care that they want.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are lots of opportunities for the child to do things they choose. This includes weekly clubs that are important to them but also regular fun outings. Inspection report children’s home: 2876415 3

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

Safety plans and risk assessments are thorough. They give clear guidance to staff on the child’s daily care and how to keep them safe. Staff know the child well and are skilled in following the child’s plans.

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

Staff are reflective in all areas of their practice. They are self-aware and are conscious in ensuring that their own expectations do not impact the child. They continuously strive to improve their practice by working closely with other professionals to understand the child and their needs more. This develops safety and bespoke care that supports the child to thrive.

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

Communication with external agencies is a strength. When safeguarding concerns arise, staff follow their internal processes but also inform all relevant parties, quickly undertaking any further actions identified to support the child.

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

Room searches are rare, only occurring to ensure the child’s safety. The child is made aware of these and is helped to understand why these have taken place. When concerns are identified, actions are taken to mitigate further risks.

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

There are occasions where stigmatising language is used to describe the child when identifying risk. The language used could have a negative impact on the care the child receives and any future care. In addition, this could be upsetting for the child should they decide to access their records in the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager cares about the wellbeing of the child. They strive to secure positive outcomes for them. Their practice is child focused with a determination for the child to experience positive and trusting relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are committed to advocating for the child’s wants and needs. They provide consistent professional challenge and hold external agencies to account for their role in the child’s care. They use factual guidance from trusted sources including those they are challenging to ensure that the child’s wants and needs are acknowledged and considered. This has resulted in the child having access to opportunities and experiencing more positive interaction in other aspects of their life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the support that they receive from leaders and managers both personally and professionally. Staff enjoy working in the home and feel supported to have a healthy work-life balance. Staff are confident in approaching the management team for support in developing their practice. There is a focus on staff development regarding the child’s needs but also staff’s own progression and understanding of children’s homes. Team meetings explore legislation, theories and models, developing staff’s understanding and supporting researched-based practice. Inspection report children’s home: 2876415 4 Leaders and managers have general oversight of the home and recognise shortfalls in practice, identifying actions to rectify these shortfalls. However, these actions are not always implemented and the progress of these is not monitored. The reporting and recording of information is not always accurate or detailed. This contributes to shortfalls

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

in managers’ oversight and the implementation of the actions identified. Inspection report children’s home: 2876415 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion, and third- party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. In particular training and development needs identified as shortfalls in staff practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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 children’s home: 2876415 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: ROC Group Ltd, Hope House, Burnhope, Newton Aycliffe DL5 7ER

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Inspectors

Sarah McGow, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2876415 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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