Children's Home run by North East Lincolnshire Council in North East Lincolnshire

Inspection report children‟s home: SC380956 1 SC380956 Registered provider: North East Lincolnshire Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This local authority home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home provides a service for families with young people on the verge of coming into the care system. Young people generally stay on a planned short break for one or two nights a week. One of the three places is a dedicated crisis bed, used in the event of emergency placements.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 26 to 27 September 2017

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

The children‟s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 21 February 2017

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

None. Inspection report children‟s home: SC380956 2

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 The majority of young people are supported to remain with their families.  Young people learn new skills, develop existing ones, benefit from the socialisation that the home provides and enjoy a range of activities.  The staff promote the safety and well-being of young people and keep them free from harm.  Young people feel safe and there is no bullying. Young people have good relationships with each other and staff.  There is good partnership working with parents, carers and social workers, which helps the service to achieve its aims.  The manager regularly promotes the service with local social work teams and ensures that admissions are thoroughly planned.  Staff are sensitive and caring. They take time to build positive relationships with young people and help them to overcome difficulties in their family lives.  Parents and professionals like the home and are positive about what it achieves.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The staff undertake a range of training and are competent in meeting the needs of young people.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/08/2016 Full Good 09/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 08/10/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children‟s home: SC380956 3

p.2

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children‟s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the „Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, in particular with regard to keeping risk assessments for missing from home up-to-date and implementing individual strategies when young people are missing or absent; the registered person must ensure that the home‟s day-to- day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12(2)(b)) 31/12/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it, and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(3)(a)(b)) 31/12/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which include the information and documents listed in schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36(1)(a)) 31/12/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37(2)(a)) 31/12/2017

p.3

Recommendations

 Those with a leadership and/or management role should be visible and accessible to staff and able to deliver their leadership and/or management responsibilities. Any registered manager employed in the home should have sufficient capacity to ensure that the Quality Standards are met for each child in the home. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 52, paragraph 10.7)  Ensure the home receives sufficient information from the placing authority to effectively assess whether the home can meet the child‟s needs before agreeing to the placement. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations and quality standards‟, page 56, paragraph 11.5). In particular, a child‟s chronology of significant events and an understanding of a child‟s relationship history. Inspection report children‟s home: SC380956 4  The registered person must ensure that recruitment, supervision and

p.3

Recommendations

performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations and quality standards‟, page 61, paragraph 13.1) In particular, ensure that there are accurate records of staff employment history, including satisfactory explanations of any gaps in employment.  Regulation 45 sets out the requirements for the registered person to have a system in place which allows them to monitor the matters set out in the regulation at least once every six months; see also regulation 13(2)(h) (the leadership and management standard). The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. Reviews should be underpinned by the Quality Standards as described in regulations 5 to 14. („Guide to the children‟s

p.4

Recommendations

homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 64, paragraph 15.2) In particular, the next six-monthly quality assurance review should take account of the issues identified in this report and the registered person should take action so that the quality of regulation 44 reports is consistently maintained.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people benefit from regular planned respite, usually for one night a week, and this prevents them from entering the care system. The emergency bed is frequently used and supports a diverse range of young people in crisis. Occasionally, when there is no appropriate place to move on to, some of these young people in crisis may receive short-term care. In very rare circumstances and only when there is no alternative, young people looked after rely on short-term care until the local authority plans a more suitable placement. The manager ensures that the local authority resolves situations for young people in crisis and that those young people who end up receiving short-term care are not left to drift.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people experience well-developed referral and planning arrangements for respite care. Families are referred via their social worker and decisions are made at a regular panel meeting. Following this, staff are adept at building relationships with young people via home visits and taking them out. Young people can come for tea, building up to their first overnight stay. Young people find out what to expect, feel comfortable and enjoy coming to the home. This gradual introduction forms part of a good system of care planning, identifying clear aims agreed with young people, their families and social workers.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The individualised care plans target and support different areas of young people‟s development. One young person commented about changes in his life: „There are fewer arguments at home. I learn how to keep safe and feel confident to talk about any problems.‟ The home supports young people make new friends, and to develop their Inspection report children‟s home: SC380956 5 social skills and independence. Staff encourage them to take part in a wide range of leisure and recreational activities. These are experiences that they would struggle to achieve at home. Discussion and reflection with staff develop young people‟s ability to see things from another person‟s point of view. This improves their behaviour, and the quality of family relationships increases. Consequently, there is a good positive impact on young people‟s emotional health and well-being.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have a strong voice in their care and what happens at the home. They experience a service that responds well to their wishes and personal interests. Staff are sensitive and understanding, spending time listening to young people‟s views and responding to their requests. Simultaneously, they are reinforcing appropriate expectations and boundaries, for example encouraging young people to wear sensible clothing that will not expose them to risks, agreeing times to be home and making reasonable checks on where they are going.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents retain their responsibility for the education and health needs of young people receiving respite care. Staff promote this through additional support, and they encourage good attendance at school and health appointments. They go to meetings and advocate for young people and their families. Young people achieve qualifications based on their achievements and progress, which lifts their confidence and promotes their future outcomes. The manager has improved this system since the last inspection.

p.5

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

Young people feel safe. Staff are skilled in building trusting relationships and sensitive in introducing young people to the service. There are well-planned admissions and transition plans, which helps young people to feel relaxed and comfortable when they come to stay overnight. Young people feel confident in talking to staff, who are approachable. There is always someone on duty whom young people can talk to. This helps young people to feel safe and reassured. If they have any concerns, they know that staff will listen and help them. A parent commented, „My daughter is safe and staff understand her needs.‟

p.5

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

Young people report that there is no bullying. Staff address any conflict and help young people to have good relationships with each other. Staff use the positive relationships that they have with young people to avert or de-escalate any challenging behaviour. There are few incidents and staff have had to use physical intervention only once, as a last resort to keep young people safe.

p.5

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

The manager plans the allocation of respite, taking into account young people‟s needs and vulnerabilities. This means that young people stay at the home with other young people whom they get along with and who are not a risk to each other. Consequently, young people make new friends and enjoy staying at the home. Staff only accept referrals for the emergency bed if this is safe for all young people. Since the last inspection, the manager has implemented a new risk assessment for emergency admissions where there is little information known about the individual. This is contributing to improved safety levels. Inspection report children‟s home: SC380956 6 Staff undertake a range of safeguarding training courses that include issues such as child sexual exploitation and radicalisation. They understand the dangers to young people and use this knowledge to keep them safe. Staff give young people advice and information to

p.5

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

help them to learn how to keep themselves safe.

p.6

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

Young people attending for respite generally like coming and enjoy the activities that staff organise. As a result, the frequency with which young people go missing from home is low. In the event that this does happen, staff look for young people in places where they are known to go and conduct checks with their friends or relatives. This helps to keep young people safe. Individual missing-from-home risk assessments and specific strategies for staff to follow that reflect young people‟s different vulnerabilities are not up to date. This was an issue at the last inspection and the manager has not addressed this. While there has been no negative impact on young people to date, this could compromise their safety in the future. The new manager undertook to improve this.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The current registered manager is due to leave very soon. The registered provider has appointed a new manager, who has applied to Ofsted to become registered. There are arrangements in place to promote a smooth transition of leadership. The current manager fulfils other responsibilities, external to the home, and there are a number of shortfalls in meeting all the children‟s home regulations. Ofsted recommends that the registered provider supports the new manager to have sufficient capacity to ensure that all regulations are met.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The current manager has not complied with one of the requirements from the last inspection. In addition, there are a number of shortfalls in record keeping, such as obtaining relevant admissions documents, keeping the admissions and discharge book up to date and maintaining appropriate recruitment records. The statement of purpose needs updating to include better information about how the needs of children looked after will be met in an edge of care/respite service. Although these shortfalls have not, to date, had a direct impact on young people, the standard of management arrangements requires improvement.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Management strengths in running the service ensure that the majority, over 75%, of young people remain with their birth families or current foster family, or transition successfully into adult services. Respite care placement plans detail young people‟s needs and the agreed objectives that staff will support them to achieve. Young people are included in assessing their progress and there are good systems in place to track how well they develop.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager and staff have developed good partnership working with relatives, carers and professionals. The manager regularly promotes the service‟s aims and objectives with local social work teams. The service is popular with families and professionals, whose feedback about the home is positive. One young person‟s relative said: The placement is good and helps with his behaviour. Staff keep me up to date and listen to Inspection report children‟s home: SC380956 7 my views. I am confident they would resolve any concerns, if I had any.‟

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff clearly understand the aims and objectives of the home in preventing young people from coming into care. Their efforts contribute towards keeping families together. They work as a cohesive team, organised and committed to supporting young people and their families. Staff turnover is low and the young people benefit from the stability and consistency that the staff provide.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff undertake a range of relevant training and have achieved or are working towards the required qualification. The manager supervises the staff and provides suitable levels of support. Consequently, the staff are able to fulfil the aims of the home and ensure that young people have positive experiences and achieve their targets.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager monitors the running of the home and quality of care that young people receive. The last six-monthly written review was of good quality and aimed to make improvements. She has taken action to meet most of the requirements from the last inspection. More recently, there have been a number of shortfalls, as identified in this report. The next six-monthly review is due and should take account of this. External monitoring by independent visitors is not consistently of good quality to regularly challenge how well the home is managed.

p.7

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.

p.7

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: SC380956 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Child Care Management Team, Civic Offices, Knoll Street, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire DN35 8LN

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered manager: Registration application in progress

p.8

Inspector

Simon Morley, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC380956 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9