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 outstanding 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 has demonstrated its capacity to improve. The one requirement raised at the last inspection, that the regulator be notified about serious incidents requiring police involvement without delay, has been met. A suitable action plan and discussions within team meetings ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibilities in this regard. Young people are safeguarded by these measures. Improved referral documentation has been developed. This now incorporates the signs of safety method of working. This ensures that professionals identify the supportive work necessary to promote positive outcomes for young people, rather than just providing a break for parents. In addition, the new ‘My Progress’ booklets enable young people, who have been accessing the respite service, to clearly chart their achievements. However, although respite stays are clearly recorded, diary entries for all crisis placements are not. This does not provide young people who

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

stay for just a short period, with the same opportunities to see or comment on their records. Careful planning, including introductory teatime visits, allow young people to build up to overnight stays. Very often, they will say when they feel ready to start sleeping at the home. For example, one young person wanted to continue working on repairing a bicycle with staff. This provides them with a sense of ownership as to decisions and an investment in the caring process. Young people feel listened to and valued as a result. The staff are very clear that they are not a babysitting service but that targeted work is undertaken with young people and their families. Thus preventing family breakdown. The home is maintaining its outstanding quality of care and outcomes for young people. None of the young people accessing the respite service have had to be accommodated by the local authority since the last inspection. A staff

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

member said, ‘We help rebuild families and promote communication, so that children are not having to be looked after permanently. We give families the skills to keep together.’ Young people enjoy their stays in a comfortable, welcoming home, which is fully equipped to meet their needs. The recent replacement of the carpeting on the stairs, hall and landings gives the home a warmer, homely feel. The enthusiastic and skilled staff team know each young person very well and work hard to make sure their needs are met. This includes completing outreach work with carers and family members to ensure that young people receive consistent messages. As a result, young people’s well-being, sense of self and belonging are enhanced allowing them to thrive . A young person said, ‘ I feel they have really helped me mature and we are planning my leaving. I will miss them.’ The crisis bed continues to be well-used. Young people are welcomed in to the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

home warmly during a period of real stress in their lives. For example, child migrants who arrived at local docks in a shipping container. Effective partnership working with generic and specialist agencies ensure that young people are moved swiftly on to appropriate placements or return to live with family members. The proactive manager and enthusiastic staff team work hard to match young people together, so that they can make the most of their stays. All safeguarding concerns are explored ensuring that young people interact safely. For some young people, it also provides them with an opportunity to demonstrate positive attributes, which may have been hitherto unrecognised. Young people grow in self- esteem and confidence as a result. The manager said of a young person, ‘She is so caring and kind towards him (the other young person in the home). It’s giving her a chance to display another side to her and it’s made mum and us see another

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

lovely, lovely caring nature. We tell her and we praise her.’ Such is their sense of identity and belonging with the home that young people return to share their news with staff after they have moved on. This provides them with the opportunity to share any concerns and receive appropriate guidance, or to celebrate achievements. Young people feel valued and enjoy having the chance to reminisce about fun times. A young person said, ‘That time I was taken to a forest to ride my BMX bike and how much I enjoyed it. I know I’m good at riding bikes now.’ Young people are safeguarded by consistent adherence to robust safeguarding procedures and the staff’s knowledge of their individual vulnerabilities. Detailed risk assessments include whether a young person has the potential to go missing or be subject to child sexual exploitation. The trusting relationships young people have with staff and the enjoyment they receive from their stays, mean that there have

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

not been any missing episodes since before the last inspection. Excellent behaviour management plans are consistently applied. These, coupled with the relaxed and nurturing relationship young people have with staff, ensure that they behave appropriately. There has only been one physical intervention since the last inspection. This was suitably recorded and both the young person and the staff were provided with the opportunity to reflect on the incident and learn from the experience. Consequently, the young person developed more appropriate ways of expressing her frustration. A young person said, ‘I think the staff do a fine job and I mostly like them all. I have always felt safe here and they listen to me.’

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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.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

24/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Children should be encouraged by staff to see the home's records as 'living documents' supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 58, paragraph 11.19)

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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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