Children's Home run by Stockton Borough Council in Stockton-on-Tees

Unique reference number SC442886 Inspection date 04/10/2013 Inspector Steve Pearson Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 16/07/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is registered to care for up to four young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. The registered provider is a local authority.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress .

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Progress

At the previous inspection Ofsted judged that the overall effectiveness of the home was good and made two requirements and one recommendation. The shortfalls have mostly been addressed. As a result Ofsted is better able to monitor serious concerns because the Registered Manager and staff now report all significant concerns to the regulator. Young people are more comfortable because the heating in a bedroom and the fittings in their bathroom have improved.

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Progress

At the previous inspection, Ofsted recommended that the external visitor who monitors the quality of care should comment on how well young people are attending and achieving in education. This recommendation has not been met yet as the period since the previous inspection has coincided with the school summer holidays. Consequently the recommendation has been repeated.

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Progress

Since the previous inspection young people have continued to make good progress. Their behaviour has become more settled; health assessments and health treatments have been positive; they no longer go missing and they are doing extremely well in school and at college. In addition, young people have developed and strengthened relationships with their families. They also continue to develop and consolidate friendships with their peers in the community.

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Progress

The staff are redecorating the home and young people now have the use of a large climbing frame in the garden. A large patio has also been fitted at the rear of the house. The home currently has a vacancy. Careful assessment procedures are being used to determine who may be the next young person to live there.

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Progress

The external person and Registered Manager continue to monitor the quality of care on a monthly basis. In doing so they gain the views of young people, their parents or relatives, and the staff. Young people also have a significant say in how the home should be run because they attend monthly house meetings. The staff record their views and suggestions and carry out any actions that may be necessary. This helps young people to feel that they have a real voice and that their views are important.

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Progress

Some of the residential placement plans are unclear about young people's emotional needs. This makes it harder for staff to understand the whole person. It is also not clear for them how any necessary actions relate to particular needs.

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Progress

As a result of this inspection there are two recommendations. The inspector did not meet any young people as they were all at school or college.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that the external monthly visitor scrutinises how the home is supporting children to achieve, in particular evaluate and report on young people's attendance and achievement at school. (Volume 5, statutory guidance, para 3.12)  ensure that the emotional needs of each young person is recorded in their residential placement plan. (NMS 3.7)

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

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