Children's home run by Middlesbrough Borough Council

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to support young people’s social, behavioural, educational and healthy development. Young people are encouraged by the home to engage in activities in the wider community. This has included supporting them to attend football league matches and undertaking such activities as go-karting. This gives them the experience of undertaking activities that they might not otherwise have access to.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people behave well in the home. There have been no incidents requiring them to be restrained, and there have been no instances of young people going missing. On the few occasions when sanctions are made, these are proportionate to the event they relate to. The home has received no complaints from young people since the time of the previous inspection. Young people say that they feel safe in the home and that they feel that their needs are being met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Arrangements are now in place for each young person to attend appropriate levels of education. Key workers attend personal education plan meetings and support young people with their school work.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are registered with a general practitioner, dentist and optician and routine check-ups are carried out. The home will work with social workers to refer young people to child and adolescent mental health services when they have concerns about a young person’s emotional wellbeing. These measures help to support young people’s healthy development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home works in partnership with other professionals in supporting young people. These professionals make favourable comments about the quality of care provided by the home. A social work team manager commented, ‘The home provides a good level of care. It’s like a family home. They tailor his care towards his needs.’ While an independent reviewing officer said, ‘The home meets the young person’s needs, he now engages with staff well.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager of the home acts effectively in applying the recommendations made in the monthly reports conducted by independent visitors. An example of this is the effort that the home is making to engage one young person in improving their sense of ownership of the home, and in improving their respect for staff. The six monthly reviews of the quality of care conducted by the manager are comprehensive and they indicate that they are produced in consultation with children and young people, their families and professional stakeholders. These reports include comment on how the requirements of the previous Ofsted report are being addressed. In this regard all but one of the requirements has been met. The home now has: appropriate arrangements for all young people’s education in place; staff have now been trained in acting promptly and effectively when a child makes an allegation about staff in the home; and, the home now has a system in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

place to ensure that the impact on the existing group of young people of any new admission to the home is fully assessed. The requirement to maintain the premises in an acceptable condition has been acted upon insofar as an extensive schedule of work has been contracted by the authority. This work is due to begin on the 14 th March and conclude late summer 2016. However, until the improvements have been made the requirement remains. The inspector noted during the inspection that there was some damage to a young person’s bedroom furnishings and this must be addressed.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides accommodation for up to three children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

01/12/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

10/02/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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.

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard with particular reference to maintaining the premises in an acceptable condition the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(c)(i) Ensure that the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. Specifically, that the contract of works is completed by the end of August 2016. 01/09/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that children are provided with appropriate furniture. Specifically, that broken or damaged furniture is effectively repaired. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 16 paragraph 3.19)

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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

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Information about this inspection

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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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