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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been a number of changes in the resident group. Two young people stayed briefly before either moving on to a more suitable placement or returning to live with family. One young person has moved on into semi-independent living. Two young people have become long-term residents and have now settled very well. All of these moves were well planned with young people’s individual vulnerabilities carefully identified and addressed. Consequently, young people do not feel that care is being imposed on them but that they are able to express their wishes. A young person said, ‘Staff are really nice and they listen to me. They don’t just pretend to listen and it goes in one ear and out of the other, but they really listen and so I feel I can say what I want and need to.’ The three young people that have moved on are thriving in their new environment and maintain contact with the staff. They trust the staff and see this home very

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

much as a refuge that they can return to if they need additional support. This provides a safe haven for them, as a family home would. The two new residents have settled in to the home at their own pace. One took considerably longer than the other did to recognise that the caring and resilient staff team meant what they said and could be trusted. Since that acceptance has been achieved there is a distinct improvement in behaviours, leading to a happier and more harmonious household. A staff member said, ‘She came as a very damaged young person who was very wary of other people, she didn’t know who to trust. She was the adult in her family and looked after everybody and now she’s allowing us to look after her,’ and the manager commented, ‘Over time she has just blossomed. ‘ The three young people who have been resident throughout the year enjoyed a foreign holiday during the summer break. This was a new experience for all of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

them, providing them with experiences of a different culture and a lifetime of memories. Young people grow in confidence while building social and life skills and having fun. The skilled and nurturing staff team provide all of the young people with warmth and care within consistent boundaries. The sense of security this engenders empowers young people to start making positive life choices. One young person has grown so much in confidence and her abilities that she was able to make a presentation to elected officials about the foreign holiday she had enjoyed. The proactive and insightful manager works very closely with the virtual head teacher to ensure that young people receive good education in appropriate schools. Not all of them avail themselves of this opportunity daily but they are fully supported to learn. For one young person this was a day out at a local seal sanctuary whereas another young person is doing so well that she received the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

‘Special Achievement Award’ at the annual LACE (Looked After Children’s Education) ceremony. Young people feel listened to and valued as a result of the consistent, structured and well-planned care they receive. Their sense of belonging and security means that they trust staff to keep them safe and for the most part, behave appropriately. As a result, physical intervention has not been used in the home. A young person said, ‘I feel safe here because I know that staff will protect me. I feel so at home here, and it is home. I can’t really remember what it was like when I first came but I felt welcomed and that everyone was nice. People can put on an act for a short time but it hasn’t worn off here because they (the staff) are nice.’ The consistent use of positive and negative consequences empowers young people to learn the benefits of behaving in a positive manner. They learn negotiation and positive communication skills as they are able to choose their sanctions. A young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

person wrote, ‘I am sorry for smashing the photo frames and breaking the mirror and next time I will try and behave better.’ There was an increase in the number of missing episodes last year as new residents settled in to the home. The resilient and committed staff team actively searched for young people and built up a list of contacts and addresses they attended to ensure they could be brought home safely. A staff member said, ‘We had to go out and pick him up from dangerous places where there were lads on drugs.’ All staff are trained in the risks posed by child sexual exploitation and the home works in close partnership with local specialist police officers. Young people are safeguarded by these measures and as their trust in the home increases, the number of missing episodes decrease. None of the young people have been missing from the home in 2016. A young person wrote, ‘I am really proud of myself as I haven’t been reported missing since the 8 th September. I have been

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

coming in on time without you needing to ring me.’ The manager has fully met the one requirement raised at the last inspection, demonstrating the home’s capacity to improve. Excellent new monitoring and review systems ensure that continued improvements are made in the quality of care in the home and outcomes for young people. The information gathered from these methods is used effectively to inform young people’s individual care planning and the home’s action plan. There were no breaches of regulation identified at this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

This is a local authority long-stay children’s home. It is registered to accommodate up to five young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

06/01/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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 .

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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, work based 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,

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Information about this inspection

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

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Information about this inspection

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

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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

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