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 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

The manager and staff have built on their strengths and improved young people’s outcomes and experiences. Both the required action and the recommendation from the last inspection have been fully implemented. The views of young people, their parents and social workers inform the way in which the manager evaluates the quality of care. Staff supervision is now in line with the home’s policy. The manager is making improvements to care planning systems to show how well young people progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In line with her wishes and feelings, one young person successfully moved out into her own flat. Good partnership working with the local authority ensures that she continues to receive support that promotes her independence. Another young person returned to live with relatives and this has had a strong positive impact on her behaviour, and her attendance at school has increased.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The commitment from staff to stand by young people and tackle any challenges has really helped to make improvements in their education. The high levels of support from staff help young people to sit their exams and enter college. In order to help young people to remain engaged in education staff use a wide range of strategies. For example one young person is now significantly benefiting from external tutoring. Staff try to do whatever they can to support young people’s learning. For instance, they helped a young person to visit Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam. Another young person is back in full-time education and is achieving well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff are thoughtful, kind and respectful. They treat young people well and have their best interests at heart. This helps the home to be a normal family-type environment as far as possible. Young people see this setting as ‘home’ and are proud of where they live. One young person said, ‘I would live here for as long as I could, it’s great.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The friendly family environment welcomes in friends and relatives so that they can be a part of young people’s success. For example, on prom night the home was full of young people’s relatives all enjoying the celebrations together. Friends and relatives frequently visit and young people enjoy sleepovers, both here and at their friends’ houses. It is like being part of a big family home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff take young people away on holiday and last summer there was a trip to Ibiza. Young people enjoy activity weekends and short breaks away, such as a trip to Blackpool during the half-term break. These are positive experiences for young people, whose independence and confidence increase as a result. Young people are able to pursue their individual interests, such as boxing and snooker. Staff are very helpful and supportive so that young people are happy and enjoy themselves. Consequently, young people have very positive relationships with staff and feel valued as individuals.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the same time, staff are clear and consistent with their expectations and boundaries. There are sometimes incidents in which young people’s emotions get the better of them. Staff are firm, sensitive and understanding. Consequently, young people learn to cope better with difficulties and benefit from the positive role models around them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Missing from home incidents are rare. Young people are absent from the home at times without permission. Staff are good at ensuring that they return safely. There are good links with the local authority and the police with regard to addressing unauthorised absences and keeping young people free from harm. The quality of the relationships between staff and young people works as a strong preventive factor in reducing incidents of young people going missing or being absent from the home. Staff make the home a place where young people want to be.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff use an evidence-based social work model to promote good outcomes for young people and reduce risks. They are developing this more in order to engage young people further in the care planning process. For example, staff ask young people to rate how safe they feel and to identify what would help them feel safer.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is now a stronger focus on young people’s progress and the manager uses this information effectively to consider future outcomes. Her six-monthly written review of the quality of care has improved; feedback from young people, their parents and social workers is directly incorporated into the review. The manager and staff use this to reflect on how to make the home better for young people. The manager is ambitious for young people and influential in changing their lives for the better.

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/05/2016 Full Good 18/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 29/06/2015 Full Good 06/01/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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, workbased 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

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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