Children's home run by Highfield North East Limited in Redcar and Cleveland

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 sustained effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has demonstrated its capacity to improve by meeting the requirement and three recommendations raised at the last full inspection. The manager has used the knowledge he gained on a new training course to establish and maintain a system for monitoring and reviewing necessary actions to improve the quality of care and outcomes for young people. He has also used this information to review and update the home’s workforce and training plan, and actions for the coming year.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Much improved risk assessments increase the knowledge that the staff have about each young person’s individual vulnerabilities. This information is utilised appropriately to inform the newly developed young-people-friendly care plans. Care plans also detail how to take proactive actions with providers to ensure that young people receive all the services they are entitled to from partner agencies. However, it is not clear whether young people have read their care plans or are aware of any amendments following a review. As a result, young people may not fully appreciate the importance of these documents and their role in contributing to them.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been one new admission and one departure from the home. Both of these well-planned events included careful introductory visits to their new home for the young person. These actions enhance young people’s chances of settling and success in their placements.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to enjoy good intuitive care from the proactive and nurturing staff team. The sense of warmth and belonging that young people experience as a result of this consistent care builds their feelings of belonging and self-worth. A young person said, ‘It’s really nice here because all the staff are kind and nice.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy living in a spacious and welcoming home. The shared rooms are comfortably furnished, and photographs of the young people engaged in activities adorn the walls. The well-equipped kitchen and laundry room provide young people with the space they need to start honing their burgeoning independence skills. The resultant feelings of security and ownership in the home provide young people with a safe place in which to grow up and mature. A staff member said, ‘The girls have made progress since November in their social skills. They are all coming together and getting on with each other.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All of the young people are refusing to attend full-time education at this time. The management team are working hard with partners, including social workers and the virtual headteacher, to identify suitable education provisions that young people will agree to attend. The staff are working individually with young people in order to re-stimulate their interest in learning, and to help them achieve their career goals. One young person hopes to become a travel representative and another plans to join the army. In the meantime, all are engaged in practical or learning activities throughout the week. These include working on independence skills, participating in work experience at a local stables and completing studies within the home. A staff member said, ‘We keep pushing education and helping and encouraging them to do it. Tried everything with [Name] and now she’s saying she’ll go to college.’

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The patient and resilient staff team understand each young person’s individual and diverse needs well. They are good behavioural role models, encouraging young people to treat each other, and staff, with warmth and respect. Positive rewards encourage young people to behave appropriately. Consequently, although there have been a number of incidents of verbal aggression and damage caused within the home by young people, there have not been any physical interventions. These measures safeguard young people. A staff member said, ‘Every person is an individual and we treat them as they are. We are trusting and respectful of them and they tend to respect the staff.’

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

However, young people are not always provided with the opportunity to recognise the impact their behaviour has on others, in that they do not receive any negative consequences, or sanctions, following inappropriate behaviour. This does not prepare young people fully for social interaction in the community.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Well-trained staff fully understand the risks posed to young people of child sexual exploitation. Since the last inspection, the swift and proactive intervention of staff members protected a young person who had arranged to meet an older male she had contacted online. Their direct intervention not only safeguarded the individual young person, but the appropriate sharing of the information with the local police and the vulnerable exploited and missing team (VEMT) protects other young people.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has only been one missing episode since the last inspection. Good missing- person procedures are applied effectively, and they provide good safeguards for young people. A staff member said, ‘I like to make them feel secure and safe and that they can get home to us.’

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team encourage young people to spend time with them and each other, sharing meals as they would in a family home, and having fun together. They also work very hard with young people to involve them in inclusive activities within the community. These include applying for the girl guides association, volunteering with animals in the community and attendance at local youth clubs. The full support of staff also enables young people to pursue existing interests, such as membership of the army cadets. These activities not only build social and life skills, but also enhance feelings of self-worth as young people become accepted members of their community. A young person said, ‘One of the good things about here is that staff always have time for a laugh.’

p.3

Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A private company operates the home.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/11/2016 Full Good 23/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/10/2015 Full Outstanding 25/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.5

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases, it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  Children should be actively encouraged to read their records and to add further information to them. They should be regularly reminded of their rights to see information kept about them and be given information about how they might be supported to access their records in later life. (‘Guide to the children’s homes

p.6

Recommendations

regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.6)

p.6

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’.

p.7

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.

p.7

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 .

p.7

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,

p.8

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Information about this inspection

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

p.8