Children's home run by North East Lincolnshire Council

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judge that the home has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to receive excellent care and support from a staff team that is committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for each young person. As a result, young people progress in all aspects of their lives. For example, the frequency of young people’s missing episodes reduce, young people engage in education, manage their emotional difficulties and experience significantly fewer physical interventions. One young person said, ‘The best thing about the home is the staff.’ A visiting worker commented, ‘[Name] has made progress in accepting responsibility since he has been here, he is now able to apologise and give a hug. This is massive progress.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, two young people have moved on from the home. For both young people there were clear and phased plans for a return to their birth families. The staff team engages extremely well with parents and is instrumental in rebuilding and strengthening the young people’s relationships with their families. This actively supports young people returning home through a positive and timely plan. Young people often visit or telephone the staff team following their move on from the home. This is a sign of how they value the relationships they built in the home. They receive a warm welcome and ongoing advice, if this is sought or needed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two young people have moved to the home. The preparation by the home for their moves was good, and involved visiting before the move to provide them with a full opportunity to find out about the home and ask questions. This helps to settle any anxieties young people have. A key strength of the home is how it positively engages with families in planning for their child moving in. For example, families visit the home and build relationships with the staff team. Families therefore learn at an early point about the ethos of the home and actively promote the benefits to their child. This means that young people experience consistent messages from key adults who are focusing on their best interests.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people very quickly settle in the home and start to engage positively with the consistent care and support. One young person is expressing clear views that he would like to live in the home long-term. Another young person said ‘I am happy I am staying here’ and ‘I like the staff’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have been reported missing on nine occasions. The frequency of young people going missing has significantly reduced. One parent said, ‘I am happy about this.’ The staff team responds promptly and proactively and on the majority of occasions, the staff can quickly locate young people or young people return after a very short period. For one young person, the risk of sexual exploitation has reduced, although the staff team remains vigilant and the monitoring of risk continues in formal processes. Young people experience very few physical interventions. On the rare occasions that this measure is used, it is proportionate and is to safeguard the young person or others.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to engage effectively with all agencies involved with young people. The home develops strong and appropriately challenging professional relationships. The staff team members are strong and determined advocates for young people. For example, for one young person an initial school visit did not go well, resulting in the school withdrawing the place. The manager was influential in changing this perception of the young person and providing context to the initial visit. A visiting worker said, ‘The staff go above and beyond.’ The manager has identified differing perceptions and expectations for sharing lower level information between the home and other agencies. The manager has now resolved this and reviews progress with this, as part of the monitoring arrangements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager provides effective leadership and is ambitious for continual improvement. This is well supported by a complete staff team which is experienced and enthusiastic. The manager scrutinises the quality of care provided in the home closely and effectively. The manager has well-developed, transparent systems for monitoring safeguarding practice and outcomes. This provides confidence in the focus on safeguarding and the tight grip on monitoring all quality standards. The quality of the independent visitor’s monitoring has improved, which contributes to continual improvement. The manager is currently improving the content of the quality of care review for April 2017. This is to ensure that the staff team continues to challenge itself to improve and to maintain its consistently high aspirations for young people.

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Information about this children’s home

The local authority has registered this home to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 03/10/2016 Full Outstanding 01/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/09/2015 Full Good 03/03/2015 Interim Sustained 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 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 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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