Children's home run by Stockton on Tees Borough Council in Stockton-on-Tees

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding 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

The young people continue to progress well in this home, supported by a consistent staff team. The team is knowledgeable, has high morale and is led by a dynamic and inspirational registered manager. The positive ethos and family atmosphere enable the young people to thrive and achieve good outcomes. A family member said: ‘He is doing really well there. When I visit, they make me feel really welcome. The other boys in there chat and welcome me too; it’s lovely.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last full inspection, no young people have left the home and only one young person has joined the group, just a week before the inspection. This enables the group of young people to achieve stability and develop positive, effective relationships with the staff. The young people develop trust in the adults caring for them, and this has helped them to cultivate positive, enriching relationships outside the home. This improves their personal resilience, and helps with smooth transitions into the community once independence is appropriate.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is characterised by small but important details that enhance the family atmosphere. There are current photographs of events, a memory book and personalised accessories around the home that reinforce the message of family. There is significant evidence of young people’s involvement in the community, including certificates for fundraising and charitable contributions. Culture and its associated differences are recognised, and the home has a monthly get-together with food from different countries. This is then recorded on the world-map wallpaper that adorns one wall in the dining room. The result is that the young people gain knowledge and widen their tastes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is well maintained and there is regular scrutiny of the health and safety elements in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Case files are up to date and comprehensive. Plans include individual targets for staff and young people, with strategies for achieving them. They are, along with risk assessments, monitored and reviewed before sharing with relevant other professionals. A social worker said: ‘The home is brilliant. They go above and beyond for the young people. They are very good at communication, attend meetings regularly and are always prepared with information.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Contact is managed well by the staff team. Each young person has at least one significant relationship, which is supported and developed by the team. The young people are encouraged to manage contact at their own pace, but are supported by the staff to maintain family ties by ensuring that birthdays, Christmas and other events are recognised and celebrated. This helps family relationships to be strengthened as appropriate. A social worker commented: ‘They are very good at keeping the family involved.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Education is highly valued and the staff work hard to support the young people in their placements. All the young people achieve full attendance and manage this effectively with support from the staff, who develop positive working relationships with education providers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour is managed effectively by the staff team. Challenging behaviour is rare, demonstrating the growth in maturity shown by the young people. Sanctions, although used minimally, have increased but are appropriate and negotiated with the young people. The reason for the increase is known and understood by the manager and the staff team. There have been two restraints since the last inspection, both linked to significant events in the young people’s lives. The young people do not go missing from the home, but there has been one event of prolonged absence, involving a young person who had a high rate of absence in previous placements. This reduction in absence shows the level of progression made by this young person, and highlights the level of safety felt by all young people in the home. A young person said that he never wants to leave the manager or the home, stating: ‘I want to stay close by even when I become an

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The leadership and management of this home are strengths that cannot be underestimated. The continued innovative practice and family ethos of the manager impact both the team and the young people directly. Supervision and staff development are regular and tailored to individual requirements and interests. Records demonstrate that reflective practice based on a theoretical model is regular and effective. A recent development day held with the whole staff team was again based on a recognised theoretical approach to safeguarding. It involved the staff team in experiential exercises that can be used with the young people, and included case studies. Undertaking focused work such as this helps the staff to develop empathy with the young people. Recruitment of new staff is strong. Induction is given appropriate time and support by the management team, and is signed off or extended when appropriate. However, records could benefit from an

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

evidence-based system of evaluation to demonstrate competency levels, rather than a tick-box record.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a recommendation from this inspection to ensure that the home continually improves.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and operated by a local authority. It is registered with Ofsted to provide care and accommodation for a maximum of three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/08/2016 Full Outstanding 30/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 02/02/2016 Full Outstanding 26/03/2015 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:  The registered person is responsible for ensuring that all staff consistently follow the home’s policies and procedures for the benefit of the children in the home’s care. Everyone working at the home must understand their roles and responsibilities and what they are authorised to decide on their own initiative. There should be clear lines of accountability. In particular, evidence should be available to demonstrate how the competency of staff is evaluated during induction. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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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 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, work based 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

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

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