Children's Home run by North East Lincolnshire Council in North East Lincolnshire

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceeds the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.2

The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 The experienced and skilled staff team provide well planned, nurturing care.  As a result of the excellent relationships they have with staff, young people learn more positive ways of managing their behaviours.  Proactive partnership working with parents, carers and relevant agencies provide young people with a consistent, shared approach to their care.  Young people’s exceptional growth in confidence and feelings of self-worth empower them to rebuild fractured relationships with family members.  The majority of young people are fully supported to remain in their familial home and are prevented from being accommodated in local authority care.

p.3

Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if – (b) an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4) (b)) 30/10/2015

p.4

Information about this children's home

This home is provided by a local authority and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. The home provides a service for families with young people on the verge of coming in to the care system. Young people stay either on a planned short break or in an emergency.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

24/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.5

outstanding

This home provides planned respite breaks and emergency provision for young people who are on the cusp of family breakdown and being placed in to the care of the local authority. Careful planning and a build up to young people coming to stay overnight increases the opportunities for success. A parent said, ‘This has made a real difference to our lives. It was partly the way they arranged the first stays. It started with a male member of staff coming to take (Name) out for activities and then bringing him back here so he could see the house and do things with the other young people. He then told me that kids were allowed to stay here for a night and so could he start to come? He loves coming here.’

p.6

outstanding

Excellent care planning incorporates all of a young person’s holistic and diverse needs. This ensures that appropriate interventions allow them to rebuild their relationships with family members and their carers. As a result the majority of young people who receive a service are able to remain within their family. A parent said, ‘I think without that service I would have lost the plot. They have always tried to accommodate me, they have even come round on their bikes to take him out. He would have slipped in to his old ways without them. They are an amazing facility.’

p.6

outstanding

Young people enjoy their short break or emergency stay in a spacious, comfortably furnished home. The décor has been chosen by young people and their sense of belonging and security is further enhanced as their requests for further equipment are listened to. For example, the installation of a couch and larger television in the activities room where they are able to play computer games. A young person said, ‘I absolutely love coming here.’

p.6

outstanding

The committed, experienced and nurturing staff team are excellent role models. They start the process of building relationships with young people prior to the placement commencing and are available to support young people and their families in-between their breaks. Consequently young people feel valued and secure enabling them to build consistently strong relationships. This effectively allows them to take full advantage of the care provided. A social worker reported, ‘The child on my caseload names one staff member in particular as being someone he respects the authority of and feels safer when he is on shift’ and another commented, ‘Children will ask for extra respite to get to see the staff.’

p.6

outstanding

As this is a short break service, parents remain responsible for their children’s education. Nevertheless the home works closely with schools and education providers to fully support young people to attend. They encourage young people to engage with learning during their short break. Young people take great pride in achieving certificates in the home. The confidence this provides encourages them to go to school and they start to establish a pattern of attendance. This improves their learning outcomes and future employment prospects. A social worker reported, ‘I have placed two young people into (Name) and I have been able to see significant improvements with both young people in all aspects of their lives. This has also been noticed by other professionals; health and education.’

p.6

outstanding

Young people’s emotional health and well-being improve as a result of the tailored support provided. Their growth in self-esteem empowers them to make sense of difficult life experiences and develop new, more appropriate coping mechanisms. A parent said, ‘It is much better now because he is able to recognise when he is silly. We sat down together, (Name), me and his key worker and looked at some of his silly behaviours and what he could have done instead. That is really good because then he knows we talk to each other and we all do this together.’

p.7

outstanding

Young people confidently use a range of methods in which to express their views. The resultant growth in confidence and communication skills empower them to share their wishes and feelings positively and appropriately. This promotes future life opportunities as well as enhancing their sense of belonging in the home. A young person said, ‘I have made good friends and not used foul language here.’

p.7

outstanding

Young people’s short breaks are carefully planned to build upon their interests and develop social and life skills. As a result they thoroughly enjoy their stays and want to attend thereby increasing their opportunities for achievement. The manager said, ‘We are giving them life skills and opportunities they may not have experienced. We get young people who have never been off the (Name) estate or to the cinema and some of them are a bit in awe about all the things there are to do,’ and a parent said, ‘He gets to do lots of activities and they take him out on all sorts of things that he hadn’t done before.’

p.7

good

A robust Location Risk Assessment details the community where the home is based and any potential risks, including of child sexual exploitation (CSE). The staff team’s thorough knowledge of young people’s individual vulnerabilities and careful planning to address those needs ensure that young people are safeguarded. A social worker reported, ‘Staff have formed very good relationships with the children, and in turn there have been no reports of absconding or reports of missing for my young person who was at significant risk of CSE.’

p.7

good

Very good health and safety procedures include regular fire evacuation drills at different times of the day and night. These ensure that all young people using the facility would know what to do in the case of an emergency. A young person said that being in the home was ‘fun and safe.’

p.8

good

Individual risk assessments incorporate every aspect of a young person’s unique and diverse vulnerabilities. These, coupled with their care planning, allow young people to safely participate in new inclusive experiences. Young people’s horizons are broadened as a result. A social worker reported, ‘Young people are kept physically safe, in addition they feel emotionally safe to share their feelings and develop trusting relationships with staff.’

p.8

good

There has been an increase in the number of missing episodes since the last inspection. All of the young people who have absented themselves from the home have been those who have been placed on an emergency basis. Young people attending for respite bond well with staff and want to engage with care therefore they do not leave without permission. A missing person’s police officer said, ‘They keep us updated, particularly if there is a risk of CSE. We’ve got close working links and I am in regular contact. It’s a good working relationship.’

p.8

good

Good partnership working with specialist police officers and adherence to locally agreed protocols ensure that staff act appropriately when young people are missing. In addition, they work together with staff from other local authority homes to go out and physically search for young people when necessary. This provides further protection. However, Ofsted have not always been kept informed which does not allow the regulator to have an overview.

p.8

good

The proactive and innovative staff team build close, trusting relationships with young people. As a result physical intervention is not needed as young people quickly learn the benefits of good behaviours and how to express themselves in a positive manner. A social worker said, ‘Some young people find relationships difficult but many of the staff extend their support to the children outside of their own venue. This means that they are more likely to seek help than take unsafe actions.’

p.8

good

There have been two sanctions imposed since the last inspection. Both involved the same young person who was able to learn from the consequences of his actions. This valuable lesson will sustain him in his relationships now and in his future adult life. He wrote, ‘Looking back on the incident, my reaction was way over the top.’ Judgement grade

p.8

outstanding

The experienced and well qualified manager has been employed by the local authority for 10 years and has held Registered Manager status for this home since May 2009. She holds a Chartered Management Institute qualification at Level 5; a foundation degree in Health Related Studies and a Level 4 NVQ in Children and Young People. She is aspirational for all of the young people using the service to achieve safely to the best of their abilities. The Registered Manager is able to demonstrate the effectiveness of the provision by identifying whether or not young people became accommodated by the local authority. Her records evidence that between April 2014 and April 2015 familial breakdown was prevented in 74% of young people referred to the home. That figure has increased in the period since April. Of the 36 young people who have received a service; one was placed in custody; two became accommodated in a residential provision and two were placed in foster care. Therefore, 84% of young

p.9

outstanding

people were supported to remain in their homes.

p.9

outstanding

Young people were actively involved in the updated format of their quarterly Progress Reports. These help young people identify the specific aims to work towards and what their achievements are. These include social and emotional progress as well as the certificates awarded for both educational and practical skills. For example, an understanding of sexual health or learning how to bake. A social worker wrote, ‘This is an excellent resource - they provide a vast array of support to young people which assists young people feel safe and make appropriate decisions. I cannot recommend it enough.’

p.9

outstanding

Young people are cared for by a well-established and consistent staff team who are well trained and supported to meet their needs. There has only been one new appointment since the last inspection. Robust local authority recruitment procedures were followed. This ensures young people are not cared for by people who may pose a risk to them. A staff member said, ‘This is a nurturing place that makes a difference to young people and families. From an employee point of view it’s a fantastic place to work. There’s never a day when I don’t want to come to work.’

p.9

outstanding

Excellent external monitoring processes fully contribute to the well-being and safety of young people. The manager’s comprehensive internal auditing procedures ensure that records are consistently updated allowing young people’s progress to be monitored and shared appropriately with all interested parties. A social worker reported, ‘It is a safe happy place to be that provides a break in the day to day for children who cannot cope with the world. Their expertise has really changed lives.’

p.9

outstanding

The Statement of Purpose clearly details that young people may be placed in the home on a planned respite or on an emergency basis during times of crisis. It defines how young people from each group will not impact on the other and how care will benefit both. The home’s ethos that ‘children have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, to be valued as individuals, to be listened to and have their views acted upon where possible’ is demonstrated by the progress young people make. Excellent communication and partnership working between the home, professionals and family members ensure the best possible outcomes for young people. A social worker said, ‘Staff clearly have very close links with all professionals and share information where relevant in a timely manner.’

p.9

What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

p.11

What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

p.11

What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.11

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

p.12

Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.12

Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, 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,

p.13

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.13

Information about this inspection

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

p.13

Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.13