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

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people live in a very homely, friendly environment, of which they feel proud and think highly.  Young people benefit from a staff team that is caring, supportive and invests in their well-being. This helps them to make good progress and to overcome past trauma and adversity.  Young people have a good say in their care and the running of the home. They enjoy their friends and family visiting.  Young people are safe. The high quality of care and safeguarding practice lead to a reduction in risk-taking activity, improved social skills and maturity.  Leadership and management of the home are good and ensure that young people’s positive experiences are the first priority.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered persons 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 persons must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff (Regulation 45 (5)). 31 July 2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 61 paragraphs 13.2 & 13.3). In particular, there should be compliance with the frequency of supervision, according to the registered person's policy.

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Information about this children's home

The local authority has registered this home to accommodate and care for 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

18 February 2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

6 January 2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

Young people make good progress in different aspects of their lives according to their needs and the individual expectations that they have of the home. From difficult starting points, they thrive in the emotional warmth of staff and generally respond well to the sensitive, nurturing and homely environment that they now live in. The manager and staff all work hard to meet the commitment set out in the statement of purpose to, ‘ensure that each young person experiences warmth, stability, structure and boundaries constantly and consistently…with genuine, caring relationships.’ Indeed, some young people are very keen that others see their home in such a positive light and they value highly their surroundings and staff. Staff returning from leave are welcomed with hugs from young people who clearly have missed them, which reflects the strength of relationships that are built over time. Most young people speak highly of the home. One young person said, ‘It’s

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Good

not like any other kids’ home. I have made a lot of progress since being here. Staff listen and care about you.’ Young people benefit from the friendly and safe environment and are able to enjoy new experiences, such as train travel and holidays abroad. They start to trust staff and let adults help them to overcome practical and emotional difficulties. Consequently, their emotional well-being, hampered by past trauma and adversity, greatly improves. Staff understand how the past can affect young people’s social and emotional development and put their knowledge and understanding to good use. One young person commented about her progress, ‘I don’t drink alcohol anymore, and my relationship with my mum is much better.’ There are good care plans based on the Signs of Safety model detailing what is going well for young people and what action is needed to address any concerns. Young people are included in these plans and have a say in their own progress and

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Good

development. They also have a good say in the running of the home. Feeling cared about, secure and included boosts their self-esteem, and helps them to make better choices. One young person commented, ‘I make more sensible decisions now.’ There are clear expectations that young people go to school. Otherwise, daily routines are flexible, and adults are caring, reliable and consistent. This gives young people a very positive experience. They engage with staff in health- promoting activities, such as going to the gym, swimming and slimming world. Some enjoy reading the paper and doing the crossword and Sudoku puzzle. Young people also enjoy adventurous activities, such as go-karting, trips to Dalby Forest and doing a ‘high ropes’ course. At the right age, young people are supported to take driving lessons. Family and friends are welcome in the home and are frequent visitors to young people. They can stay for meals and are a firm part of the social networks that

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Good

young people have. For example, one mother visits several times a week, and a young person’s boyfriend comes round in the morning to encourage her school attendance. Support for family contact and the integration of important people in the lives of young people are exceptionally good. These opportunities are enriching. They help young people to feel that they are still part of family life and the local community, and that they share common experiences with their peers. This enhances young people’s care experiences and empowers them to be themselves, rather than being overly responsible and protective of their relatives. Young people all engage in some form of education. In some cases, previous education has been so limited that even a low level of attendance now is positive progress. Some young people are predicted to achieve good GCSE grades and they have plans for future education at college and university. There is very effective

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Good

partnership working with local schools and the local authority, to help to provide young people with an education that meets their needs. When attendance drops or young people are excluded, the manager is quick to ensure that plans are reviewed and to take on board young people’s views. Young people progress well towards supporting themselves independently. They learn to complete household tasks, budget, shop, cook, travel and drive. As they get older, they focus on their future education and career plans. Increasing recognition of the high levels of support at the home positively influences some young people about the benefits of staying put for longer. However, this is not every young person’s view.

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Good

Young people are safe. They feel safe both in the home and outside. Nobody who visits the home makes them feel worried. There is effective risk management that allows young people to take age- appropriate risks, for example, accessing the internet, going out on their own and with friends and taking part in independent travel. One young person is learning to drive. This promotes their independence and provides opportunities to learn to keep themselves safe. All young people learn about internet safety and report that staff help them to keep safe. Staff understand young people’s individual vulnerabilities and the reasons why they may engage in risk-taking behaviour. Staff members’ understanding, being positive role models and genuinely investing in young people’s well-being help reduce levels of risk. For example, there is a significant reduction in missing-from-home incidents, and young people previously on the local child sexual exploitation risk

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Good

register have been removed from it. Young people who are still occasionally absent or missing are safeguarded, as staff follow locally agreed protocols and ensure their safe return home. Staff persistently try to contact young people, to go out and look for them at homes of friends and family, and if necessary to contact the police. Young people are further protected by the effective partnership working between safeguarding agencies. The manager is part of a local child sexual exploitation panel, and there is good sharing of information with the police. If necessary, police will use their powers to serve child abduction notices on those unsuitable to be in contact with the young people. Staff are trained in relevant safeguarding matters, and there are plans for them to undertake training about preventing radicalisation. They put their training to good use to keep young people free from harm. Young people respond well to the friendly, homely, warm and nurturing

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Good

environment that the staff have created. Discussions about sensible behaviour and respect help young people to improve their social skills and to manage difficult emotions. They come to see the home as theirs and to take pride in where they live. Damage is minimal. There are plenty of incentives to encourage young people, and they always have an opportunity to put things right if they have misbehaved. This positive approach means that physical intervention is extremely rare as a response to difficult behaviour. In addition, staff are effective in using de- escalation strategies and maintaining a calm atmosphere.

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Good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and has considerable experience to manage the home effectively. She knows the service well and has high expectations of the staff, to ensure that all young people receive high-quality care. The manager and staff can clearly demonstrate young people’s individual development and progress. Staff highly value the support that they receive from their manager and senior staff, which includes formal and informal supervision. Recently, the regularity of supervision has fallen short of the registered provider’s expectations. Due to the close working relationships in the team, this has not had an impact on the young people. There is effective teamwork; staff complement and enhance each other’s skills and expertise, giving young people very positive experiences of care. The high quality of care is underpinned by good training opportunities, achievement of the required qualification and development of the Signs of Safety

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Good

model as part of practice within the home. The manager and staff play close attention to the progress of young people and to any concerning behaviour or incidents. This includes regular reviews of care plans and risk assessments, alongside frequent discussion with and advice given to young people. Young people are looked after by staff who are highly competent and committed to providing the best care. The manager and staff team work diligently with other professionals. There is frequent communication, and strong partnership working exists that facilitates achieving the very good outcomes for young people. In particular, the work with education professionals is specifically tailored and supportive of young people’s needs. Equally, the close relationships between staff and the relatives and friends of young people play a key role in promoting young people’s well-being. Parents comment that they are always welcome and feel included and listened to about the

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Good

care of their children. There is suitable monitoring of the management of the home by two independent visitors. They visit the home monthly, alternating on a quarterly basis. Written reports of these visits provide the manager, registered provider and Ofsted with appropriate information about the home and the welfare of the young people. This is supplemented by the manager’s own monitoring which she combines into a six- monthly quality-assurance review. The last review did not meet regulatory requirements, but overall these processes help to maintain the focus on young people’s progress and to facilitate making improvements to the service.

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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’.

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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 children looked after 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

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What the inspection judgements mean

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

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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 that 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 whom 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

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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 .

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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

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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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