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

Inspection report children’s home: SC040583 1 SC040583 Registered provider: Stockton on Tees Borough Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 28 February 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC040583 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager is an inspirational leader who demonstrates a high level of commitment to the young people and the staff.  The young people are involved in the planning of their care, and the records show the journey of the young people from their starting points.  The manager and staff develop positive, effective working relationships with other professionals.  The staff team ensures that its practice improves continuously through a variety of methods.  The young people are continually supported after they leave the home. They visit on a regular basis to talk issues through and share good news.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 The plan for the holiday abroad needs to be completed.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 24/08/2016 Full Outstanding 30/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 02/02/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC040583 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The young people receive individualised care from a committed, caring and professional staff team. The team ensures that it forms positive relationships with the young people from the point of their admission. From this point, the staff act as strong advocates for young people in all areas of their lives. This enables the young people to develop a strong sense of value and belonging that continues after they have left the home and ensures the stability of the placements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The young people take an active part in their plans and in the decision-making in the home. This results in the young people developing a sense of ownership of the plans and increases their ability to make positive decisions and choices. Plans are reviewed and updated regularly and then shared with families and professionals as appropriate. A social worker said: ‘They are great at communication and keep me on my toes. They don’t let me get away with anything! Everything arrives within timescales and they tick all the boxes. Their reports are thorough.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Relationships between the registered manager, staff and young people are strong and are characterised by good humour and expressions of love. This helps the young people to feel cared for and improves their emotional well-being. The impact extends to other relationships in the lives of the young people, both with their families and partners.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Contact with family is recognised as important and is supported where appropriate. The families of the young people visit the home regularly to see them and to see the staff. The staff team offers guidance and support to family members or sometimes just an opportunity to meet and discuss any concerns in a social environment. This helps the young people to see the benefits of working together and to realise that change is possible. A parent said: ‘The staff are brilliant. Not only is he doing great but they have helped me with strategies for dealing with behaviours.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The young people achieve well at school or college or on work placements. They all have high levels of attendance. The staff team develops close working relationships with other professionals to ensure that it can work effectively on behalf of the young people. One young person has engaged positively in education after some difficulties and is now enjoying and achieving in his placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff enable the young people to consider other people in the community and in the wider world. Fundraising activities and contributing to the community are promoted. This reinforces a sense of belonging in the young people and enables them to enjoy the benefits of seeing the impact they have and that they can continue to make.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A wide range of activities are on offer, such as cinema, ice-skating and trampolining, and zombie fun runs and assault courses where fun is combined with fundraising. The young people are consulted regularly in relation to new ventures and experiences. Friends are included in activities, when appropriate, to ensure that all of the young people can take Inspection report children’s home: SC040583 4 part.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last inspection, one young person has moved out of the home and into a semi- independent provision. The transition was planned and well managed. The staff team maintains contact with the young person and offers support when needed. No other young people have been admitted to the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

The young people are safe in the home and are helped to develop strategies to keep themselves safe in the community. The positive working relationships that staff develop with other agencies contribute to the development of such strategies as the young people begin to learn to trust others appropriately. A member of the police said: ‘They do above and beyond what we expect. They work in partnership well and there is good communication between us.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Risk assessments are clear and up to date and detail the strategies that staff need to use to keep the young people safe and to mitigate risk. They are developed together with the young people and take account of changes in culture that affect all the young people, when addressing issues such as internet safety. This not only ensures the safety of the young people but also reduces the feelings of being different from those of a similar age in the community.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

The manager and staff consistently promote and role model effective, positive behaviour and interactions with others. Good manners are seen as important and help the young people to develop a strong sense of how to treat others. There have been no incidents of physical intervention in the last year. The use of sanctions to manage behaviour is minimal and is counter-balanced by rewards and incentives for positive behaviour. The young people choose the incentives and rewards they want to work towards and comment on the sanctions they receive. This develops an awareness of responsibility and consequences for the choices they make.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Incidents of missing have increased but relate to a young person who is going through a difficult time. Protocols are in place to address the issue in the short and long term. The staff team is aware of the risks to the young people when they are away from the home and makes great efforts to minimise such risks. The team ensures that the young people are aware of what they will do in each circumstance to improve safety. This enables a consistent message to be given to all of those involved in the care of the young people and reinforces the transparency involved in such care.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Generic health and safety are taken seriously at the home. Risk assessments are carried out and reviewed regularly, including those associated with the home’s pet, a bearded dragon. Fire drills are carried out as required, and all equipment in the home is well maintained and tested within timescales. This demonstrates that all aspects of the overall quality of care are given equal consideration. This ensures the safety of the young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC040583 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been in the position for four years and holds a level 5 qualification relevant to the role. She is a highly effective and motivational manager who leads a very knowledgeable, committed and loyal staff team. She role models a positive drive to achieve, and this inspires both the staff team and the young people to do the same. The staff team and other professionals recognise the impact that this has on meeting the needs of the young people. A member of the team stated: ‘I love it here. The management team as a whole, but particularly the manager, are very supportive.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Monitoring systems are robust and are undertaken by the management team, including the deputy and senior staff. The manager is clear about the strengths and areas of development needed in the home and has a plan of how to achieve these. She has used research to good effect in developing practice in the home and enabling the staff to improve their individual effectiveness with the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

In addition, the manager leads by example by working with the young people directly as part of the team. This enables her to observe, at first hand, day-to-day practice and to develop plans to address any issues either during supervision or at a team meeting. Such sessions are regular and offer opportunities for individual and group learning and to discuss the needs of individual young people. At each supervision session, staff are asked: ‘What contribution have you made to the lives of the young people?’ This, along with the opportunity for reflective practice, ensures that the staff team is cohesive and remains focused on the delivery of high-quality care to the young people and their families. A professional working with the home said: ‘They try to be innovative with their engagement with the young people and have sought advice where appropriate. Their recording is good. They show good insight and analyse what is going on as well as

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The young people’s case files are excellent. It is evident that the manager has given direction and clear expectations to the staff, who have responded positively and creatively. The files are thorough, accurate and up to date. They create a very interactive record of what is happening in the young people’s lives and their ‘voice’ is evident throughout.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are robustly recruited and records of recruitment are complete. Induction is comprehensive and uses a variety of methods to check the understanding of staff before the plan is signed off by the manager. Training for staff is ongoing and recorded via a matrix and within the workforce development plan. Records demonstrate that staff are well trained and value the learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home continues to achieve its aims and objectives as set out in the statement of purpose. Inspection report children’s home: SC040583 6

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC040583 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Municipal Buildings, Church Road, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland TS18 1LD

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Inspector:

Susan Atkinson-Millmoor, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC040583 8 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

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