Children's home run by North East Lincolnshire Council

Inspection report children’s home: SC069618 1 SC069618 Registered provider: North East Lincolnshire 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

This children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child or young person who has in any combination: emotional and/or behavioural needs; drug or alcohol problems; mental health needs or a learning disability. The local authority manages the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 31 October to 1 November 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 7 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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Key findings from this inspection

 The quality of care is highly individualised and has a strong impact on children and young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC069618 2  The voice of the child is strong, and significantly influences the running of the home.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Outcomes, experiences and progress of children and young people are good.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff manage risks and challenging behaviour well. They protect children and young people from harm.

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Key findings from this inspection

 There is a pleasant, homely environment that is well maintained.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager is experienced, and leads a competent staff team that provides high standards of care.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Leadership is strong, and puts children at the heart of the service.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/07/2016 Full Outstanding 30/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/10/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC069618 3

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Recommendations

 Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4). In particular, improve how diary sheets are written and presented in a child-centred way.

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Recommendations

 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 homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2). In particular, the registered person should take action so that the quality of regulation 44 reports is consistently maintained.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of care is significantly individualised to the child living at the home. This has a strong impact on his progress and experiences, leading to an improved sense of identity and confidence. Staff support him with making appropriate choices, including clothes, haircuts and hair products. Staff are sensitive and patient when he tries new activities; for example, they help him enjoy using the slides at the swimming pool.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has been away on trips and has socialised more, and he is doing well at school. Attendance at school is very good, and staff from both settings work closely together to provide consistent care. He is in good health, enjoys a varied diet and exercises regularly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that he has regular contact with his family, and arrange this well so that there is the right balance for him. Staff help him understand expectations and the right ways to behave. He is very comfortable with the staff, and he knows that he is listened to about how he feels and what he wants. Consequently, on a day-to-day basis he has fun and is happy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team provides a nurturing and supportive home environment with consistency, structure and routine. The home is warmly decorated, comfortable and well maintained. Inspection report children’s home: SC069618 4 The staff listen to the child’s requests and advocate on his behalf. Staff members take time to explain sensitively when any requests are turned down.

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

With reassurance and support from staff, the child feels safe exploring the local community and enjoying new experiences. His behaviour is a lot better because of this, and he is making positive attachments to the small group of staff who care for him. This is good for his emotional well-being, and he sleeps better. Risks are managed well, and this is giving him positive opportunities to make friends in the local area.

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

There are no concerns about alcohol or substance misuse, or the child going missing from home. Staff generally responded well to missing from home incidents with the previous young person. Although the staff response was not consistent, the quality of relationships and levels of care led to a significant reduction in these incidents.

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

The manager initiates appropriate safeguarding procedures if there are any concerns about the child, and did the same for previous young people. She has a good oversight of children and young people’s vulnerabilities, and takes action to make sure their welfare is promoted.

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

The staff develop individual behaviour management strategies to help children and young people increase their sense of security and well-being. This is evident through improvements in behaviour and reductions in the level of risk-taking behaviours. Physical intervention is used as a last resort to promote safety. The manager and staff reflect on their practice, to best meet the needs of children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a new permanent manager, who has been in post since May 2017. She successfully manages another children’s home nearby. Her experience, skills and qualifications make her suitable to manage this home as well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

She knows the child who lives here very well and is ambitious in her support to see him succeed, and to overcome past trauma. She has a really good understanding of his needs and the progress he has made. She has set up the home well, with competent staff, and has resolved initial difficulties relating to how well staff respond to the child’s challenging behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Strong management allows the child to have fun, and feel safe and secure. Consequently, the manager is ensuring that the home is meeting the aims and objectives set out in the statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working with the local authority, and the school the child goes to, is good. This is providing the child with the best all-round support, and all the agencies involved are unanimous about the positive impact the care from this home has had on him. Inspection report children’s home: SC069618 5 Prior to the new manager taking up post, there was inconsistency in how staff supported young people with regard to missing from home incidents. The manager acknowledges this, and is providing better oversight and improvements to staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Record keeping in diary sheets was inconsistent and was not presented in a child- friendly way, which can have a negative impact on the child’s understanding of events if he reads these records. The manager undertook to improve this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External monitoring by independent visitors has improved, but is still not consistent in terms of challenging and evaluating how the service performs and improves.

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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 differences 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: SC069618 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North East Lincolnshire Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Simon Morley, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC069618 7 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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