Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited 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 judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Within a short time of young people living at the home, staff’s effective monitoring and assessment provide a clearer picture of their developmental needs. This thorough evaluation provides important information to the placing authority. Consequently, it leads to referrals to external agencies, such as mental health clinicians, to provide multi-agency involvement. This extra support leads to improvement in young people’s emotional well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The small staff team knows the young people’s needs well and provides highly personalised care. Comprehensive, individualised care plans identify objectives and areas for development. Regular reviewing ensures that young people make continued progress from the time they move in.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are good safeguarding practices at the home. Risk assessments identify dangers and vulnerabilities, and staff know the measures to take to reduce risk. Staff provide good boundaries and structure, and negative behaviours reduce. Young people do not go missing from home. A high level of staff supervision keeps young people safe, protected and at reduced risk of harm and sexual exploitation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who have historically struggled to attend school on a regular basis attend the company’s school. This offers structure and helps to re-engage them with education. Staff have good links with external training colleges. They recognise young people’s potential and work with professionals to obtain the right education provision. One young person successfully completed a training course, gaining a vocational qualification. This offers the opportunity to enrol on additional courses to develop skills further and improve chances of employment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people take responsibility for their personal hygiene, diet, health and well-being. For young people who struggle with eating healthily, staff purposefully restrict the processed and sugary food available. Staff teach them to cook well- balanced meals and make better choices about food. Young people now attend all of their health appointments. This offers screening and helps to identify any health issues at an early stage. Staff have conversations with young people about the importance of staying safe linked to sexual health, drugs and alcohol misuse. Young people engage in these sessions to become educated about the potential risks and significantly reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke. Young people become fitter and healthier with improved personal hygiene.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are excellent at building relationships with family members, and young people benefit from increased family contact, which can take place at the home. This allows young people to have a more relaxed contact and they can enjoy activities such as baking cakes and having lunch with their parents. This provides young people with opportunities to re-establish important family links. Young people benefit emotionally. Consequently, parents feel involved, support the placement and recognise the commitment of staff. One parent said, ‘It is tremendous how [name of young person] has changed. I really appreciate staff asking my permission for things.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people transitioning from the home receive well-organised outreach support. The level of support and commitment from staff provide a smoother transition for young people moving to independent living. They benefit from the maintenance of established relationships and ongoing support that staff provide. This helps young people to settle well in their new accommodation, and the skills they develop prior to their move are evident when staff visit them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has just returned following a secondment within the company. An interim manager has been competently running the home in his absence. This offers staff developmental opportunities and the management team have fresh ideas to improve the service further. This includes the addition of a digital photo frame with rotating information and inspirational quotes. The removal of the notice board stops the home having an institutional feel.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met the recommendations raised at the last inspection, demonstrating the home’s capacity to improve. Notifications of serious events are made to Ofsted in a timely fashion. The locality risk assessment also now provides information about areas in close proximity to the home. These measures provide protection for young people. However, reviewed plans are not all signed by the manager or senior staff to acknowledge and accept the changes made. Signing these documents to confirm staff have read the reviewed plans will avoid any inconsistent care practice. This is particularly important as regular changes are made when a young person first moves in to the home.

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Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child or young person who has emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 06/09/2016 Full Good

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Statutory requirements

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

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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

 All children’s case records (Regulation 36) must be kept up to date and stored securely while they remain in the home. Case records must be kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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 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 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 0300 123 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 children looked after 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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