Children's Home run by Middlesbrough Borough Council in Middlesbrough

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 . The young people that live at this home have done so for quite some time. They have all experienced an unsettled lifestyle prior to their admission but have settled well into the homes routine and boundaries. They have complex needs, and on occasion, can present some degree of challenging or risk taking behaviour. Staff are resilient and treat young people with the respect they deserve despite the challenges they face. They are good role models and offer on-going encouragement and support. This helps young people to develop socially acceptable behaviour and to learn appropriate ways to deal with their anger and frustration. All young people living at the home make progress from their starting points.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s physical and emotional health care needs are met. Their health needs are recorded within individual care plans. Staff understand what the health care needs of each young person are and they fully support their attendance at all appointments. This includes child and adolescent mental health services and psychology services. This promotes good outcomes for young people as well as providing them with consistent care and support.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In order to try and reduce offending and anti-social behaviour, young people are encouraged to have aspirations for themselves, to develop hobbies and interests and to participate in household activities. Staff show determination in helping them to do this and there has been some success. For example, one young person regularly achieves 100% attendance at school, another aspires to be an architect or designer and another wants to join the armed services. Staff support young people to achieve their maximum potential.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Transitions to and from the home are good. The registered manager fully considers all referrals made to the home. The potential impact of admitting a new young person into the home on the stability of the existing group is fully considered. Any concerns are shared with senior managers in the authority before a final decision is made. Furthermore, staff contribute effectively to the pathway planning process for individual young people and support them to learn activities for daily living. They advocate for the young people in their care to ensure they are fully supported by the local authority to move into independence. In addition, staff recognise that moving into independence is a big step for any young person to take. In order to help reduce feelings of anxiety, isolation or loneliness staff offer out-reach support to young people that have moved on from the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff recognise the need to keep young people safe and work hard to help them understand the risks they face when they go missing. They also understand that some youngsters will, despite their best advice, place themselves at risk and continue to go missing. However, the frequency at which young people go missing has significantly reduced since they came to live at the home. When young people do go missing they are offered a return home interview carried out by someone independent of the home. This helps staff to understand why young people go missing and to look at strategies to eradicate this completely.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s management team know that the safety and welfare of the young people is paramount. Notifiable events are quickly addressed and, where necessary, notifications to Ofsted are appropriately made. This shows that the home operates in an open, transparent manner.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The documentation used by the independent visitor to record the summary of their visit to the home has been reviewed and updated following a requirement made at the last inspection. The visiting officer now makes a formal decision about the on- going safety and wellbeing of the young people living there.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In addition, the home now has a registered manager in post. This was raised as a requirement at the last inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The home is run by Middlesbrough Borough Council and provides care and accommodation for up to 4 children and young people with emotional/behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

03/02/2015 Interim Declined in 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, 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,

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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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