Children's home run by Middlesbrough Borough Council

Inspection report children’s home: SC472392 1 SC472392 Registered provider: Middlesbrough Borough Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority home. The home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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 outstanding

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 11 January 2017

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC472392 2

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 The staff know the young people well and have developed positive, nurturing relationships with them.  There are very good links with other professionals. Communication is good, which means that the children and young people have good access to services care.  Recruitment and selection practice is robust. This means that the children and young people are cared for by suitable staff.  The leadership and management of the home is strong. The registered manager is experienced, qualified and skilled to run the home. He is supported by a committed staff team.  Missing from home episodes are gradually reducing, resulting in the young people no longer putting themselves at risk.  Risk assessments outline a clear understanding of the risks and how they can be managed or minimised.  Family contact is well supported, enabling the young people to maintain and develop relationships.  The young people are involved in the planning of their care and their views are

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

listened to in relation to the running of the home.  The use of restorative practice and behaviour management techniques is helping the young people to grow in self-esteem and confidence.  The young people are able to access a range of activities. This offers them new leisure experiences, helping to improve their emotional and physical well-being.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The refurbishment plan for the home should be implemented. Inspection report children’s home: SC472392 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/11/2015 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: SC472392 4

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff work hard to build secure and trusting relationships with young people. Currently, there are two young people living at the home, who are thriving on the high level of support and care they are receiving.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people attend alternative educational provisions. Both have experienced disruption and fracture in their education prior to moving into the home. The staff are very proactive in helping to support education. They assist with homework and enable the young people to have lots of opportunities for learning within the home. This has enabled the young people to understand the importance of education for their futures and given them the confidence to re-engage.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are helped to develop life skills that will prepare them for leaving the home. Currently, an accredited short course specifically designed to help young people to make a successful transition to adulthood is being introduced. The course is provided by the ASDAN educational charity and awarding board. This ensures that they can gain the skills and resilience they need to help them move on from the home, while also giving them a recognised qualification.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are healthy. They are encouraged to have a healthy diet and take part in exercise. They generally attend their health appointments well. When there are health issues, the staff are able to work with the young people, giving them appropriate information and attending appointments with them. This helps to reassure the young people, helping them to trust in health professionals and to understand the importance of good health.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care planning is good. Records and risk assessments are comprehensive and include identified needs, as well as the wishes and feelings of the young people. The young people are supported to complete their own individual ‘my plans’. These are child-centred and encourage them to take an active part in their care plans. This means that they feel valued and allows self-esteem to develop. Updates of plans and risk assessments are carried out on a regular basis. These are shared with social workers, which helps to develop a consistent approach to planning by professionals. A social worker said: ‘I have been really impressed with the way the staff keep me up to date with all plans and events in the young person’s life. They use the children’s services’ electronic case records, so I am able to access information on a regular basis.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff support family contact, facilitating transport and supervision when needed. They work closely with family members and are flexible in arranging contacts when changes arise. By working in a positive way with families, they help the young people to improve their family relationships, ensuring support in the future.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Working with other professionals is well established. This ensures that the young people are able to be offered appropriate services when required. A social worker said: ‘The staff have Inspection report children’s home: SC472392 5 helped my young person to progress and settle well. I am very pleased with the work the staff are doing and the relationships they are building with her. She is currently having to attend a number of medical tests and appointments and they are supporting her in a caring and sensitive manner.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people’s guide has regular updates, in line with the statement of purpose. The young people contributed to the update of the most recent guide, giving them a sense of ownership and belonging. It outlines the boundaries and expectations of the home. It also contains information on how to make a complaint and to have access to an independent advocate. The manager and staff work closely with the young people and try to accommodate their views and opinion wherever appropriate.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are able to take part in a number of varied activities. These include meals out, visits to the cinema, shopping and attending the Music of Black Origin awards (MOBO). The young people have taken part in a number of charity fundraising events for a local hospice and cancer research. This helps them to develop an understanding of the wider community and make a positive contribution.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The introduction of a more informal style of young people’s meetings has greatly improved the level of participation. The young people did not feel comfortable with formal meetings with a set agenda. Discussions now take place on an informal basis, during meals or activities. There are a few topics for discussion and the staff ensure that records are maintained to evidence the young people’s views and their responses. The young people use key-worker sessions and informal time to discuss any concerns or worries. This helps them to develop appropriate ways to manage their feelings and make responsible choices.

p.5

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

The young people are safe in the home and the local community because of the actions taken by the staff. They understand the expectations of the staff with regards to behaviour, both in the home and the community.

p.5

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

The use of restorative practice enables the staff to get to know the young people well. All of the staff have undergone training in the use of the restorative practice model of behaviour techniques. This model is based on relationship building, setting boundaries, expectations and consequences, alongside continuous support. Staff develop protective and secure relationships with the young people, working with them to help them to understand the need to be safe and make positive choices. Positive incentives and consistent boundaries are in place, along with clear behaviour support plans, which help to improve negative behaviours. The staff are able to use de-escalation and distraction techniques to avoid the need for physical intervention. Only four physical interventions have been recorded since the last inspection. The records are clear and detailed, giving assurance that the actions were appropriate. The records are signed off by a member of the management team once they

p.5

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

have been discussed with the individual young person and member of staff.

p.5

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

There has been a gradual reduction in missing from home episodes. One young person, who has now moved on from the home, had a prolonged period of being missing from home. The Inspection report children’s home: SC472392 6 manager worked well with the police and his social worker to try and locate him. This demonstrates a clear understanding of the importance that multi-agency working has in the safeguarding of the young people. Staff know the local area well and when the young people go missing they respond quickly, looking for the young people and working closely with the local police. As a result, young people can be located quickly and risks are minimised.

p.5

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

The manager is a member of the ‘vulnerable, exploited, missing and trafficked’ (VEMPT) multi-agency group. He attends regular meetings and is able to gain valuable and up-to-date information and intelligence about unsafe areas and individuals. This close involvement with other agencies is able to provide an extra level of safeguarding for the young people.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly motivated and has implemented a number of significant positive changes within the home since he took up his post just under a year ago. He holds a level 5 qualification relevant to the role. There have been a number of changes in the staff team over the last year, due to wider organisational needs. The manager has embraced these changes and used the opportunity to build a highly committed and loyal staff team.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Monitoring systems are highly effective and are undertaken by the management team, including the deputy manager. The manager is clear about the strengths and areas of development needed in the home and has a clear development and assessment plan in place of how to achieve these. He has used research to good effect in developing practice in the home. This enables the staff to improve their individual effectiveness and relationship building with the young people.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The young people’s case files are consistently well maintained. It is evident that the manager has given very clear expectations to the staff, who have responded positively and creatively. The files are accurate and up to date. They are an interactive record of what is happening in the young people’s lives, with their voice being evident throughout.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff morale is high. The mix of new and more experienced staff is well balanced. Staff state that they feel supported in the work that they do and that they are supervised and appraised appropriately. Records of supervision and appraisal are well maintained. Regular high-quality supervision takes place, giving staff the opportunity to reflect on their practice and discuss the needs of the individual young people. The staff state that the manager has an open door policy. He is always willing to discuss any problems they may have, offering advice and support. It is clear that the manager is shaping a cohesive staff team that is focused on providing a high quality of care for the young people.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a very thorough recruitment and selection process, which ensures that suitable staff are recruited. There is a formal induction and training programme that prepares new staff well. A member of staff said: ‘I have just finished my induction period. It really helped me to understand the young people and the work.’ Training for staff is ongoing and recorded in a training matrix and in the workforce development plan.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager knows the young people well. He spends time with them on a daily basis. This Inspection report children’s home: SC472392 7 ensures that he has a very clear understanding of their needs, behaviours and the progress that they are making.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff meetings take place on a monthly basis. They give the opportunity for the staff to discuss all of the young people and also include discussions on staff development and practice.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has introduced an electronic recording system within the home and the use of the local authority children’s services’ electronic case files means that the young people’s records can be shared easily and efficiently. He has significantly improved communication with other professionals by developing the use of the ‘objective connect’ secure data-sharing programme. This enables information to be shared securely with other agencies quickly and safely. The police have been impressed with this and how it has been very effective in the reporting of young people who have gone missing from the home, in a fast and efficient manner.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home’s statement of purpose is kept up to date and forwarded to Ofsted appropriately. It clearly outlines the ethos of the home and what it hopes to provide for the young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC472392 8

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 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.

p.8

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: SC472392 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Middlesbrough Borough Council

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: PO Box 99, Middlesbrough TS1 2QQ

p.9

Inspector

Dot McGough, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC472392 1 inspects to 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. 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,

p.9

Inspector

under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10