Sunderland care home rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted

Revelstoke Road children’s home in Sunderland was praised by Ofsted for its “homely atmosphere” and carers’ “exceptional understanding” of the children.

Operated by Together for Children (TfC), the home houses six children with social and emotional needs and is one of nine homes run by TfC, which works in partnership with Sunderland City Council.

Simon Marshall, chief executive of TfC and director of children’s services at Sunderland City Council, said: “It is fantastic to see Revelstoke Road recognised as Outstanding.

“This is testament to the dedication and understanding of the carers, who have created a safe and nurturing environment where children can thrive.

“We are incredibly proud of this achievement and remain fully committed to providing the highest standard of care and this recognition of our carers is well-deserved.”

The outstanding grade was awarded during an inspection in March, with Ofsted noting the positive relationships between children and carers as key to the children’s progress.

The report stated: “Children are thriving in this home.

“They make excellent progress because of the close, positive relationships that they have with staff.

“Children talk about carers fondly and the home is filled with laughter.”

Inspectors highlighted the home’s efforts to help children engage in meaningful education, secure volunteering placements, part-time jobs and college opportunities.

Carers were commended for helping a young person build road safety awareness, enabling them to walk to school independently.

Support for health needs and life-story work was also recognised as important in helping children make sense of their personal histories.

Mark Christie, manager of Revelstoke Road, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the team and the young people who live here.

“We work hard to build reparative relationships with the children, within our therapeutic model and to make sure they are listened to, supported and valued, so it really means a lot to us to see the team’s effort reflected in this latest Ofsted report.”