Children's Home run by Middlesbrough Borough Council in Middlesbrough

Inspection report children’s home: SC472374 1 SC472374 Registered provider: Middlesbrough Borough Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority runs this children’s home. It is currently closed for refurbishment.

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Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 5 February 2019

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Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection the home was ‘not judged’.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home closed in February 2019 for refurbishment. The reports of the independent Regulation 44 visitor confirm that no placements have been made since the home closed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager explained that the conditions under which the home operates are to change. The provider will make the necessary application for variation of conditions. The registered manager is to move to another home within the local authority. The registration requirements for this move are in progress.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home will be managed by a registered manager who is currently based in another children’s home. The registration requirements for this move are also in progress.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is fully staffed. The staff team is undergoing training in preparation for children and young people being placed when the home re-opens. The full training programme will ensure that members of staff have the skills required for the changes that are planned. Inspection report children’s home: SC472374 2 The requirements raised at the last inspection will be reviewed by Ofsted when the home re-opens.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/02/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/02/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 28/06/2016 Full Good

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d)) In particular, the registered manager should liaise with the virtual school head in terms of the education for the children and young people. 30/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; 30/04/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC472374 3 understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; and promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)) In particular, staff should engage children and young people not in education in structured activities, while their education

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Requirement Due date

placements are being arranged. The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; and understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) and (2)(c)(f)) In particular, the registered provider must ensure that all staff are provided with the skills and knowledge to carry out their roles, including with children and young people who have challenging behaviour. 30/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) and (2)(a)) In particular, the home must not admit children and young people to the home in an emergency or when assessment clearly shows that the young person or those already in the home would be at risk. 30/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and 30/04/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC472374 4 have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if— the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs; the child is, or has been, persistently absent from the home without permission; or the child requests a review of the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) and (2)(e)(i)) In particular, staff, including the registered manager, must challenge the local authority social worker if plans for the next placement for children and young people are not adequate for

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Recommendations

 Staff skills for safeguarding should include being able to identify signs that children may be at risk, and support children in strategies to manage and reduce any risks. Staff should encourage children to express their views about whether they feel safe both within and outside the home. Staff should support children to understand how to ask for help to stay safe and that the home is an environment which supports this. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10)  Staff need the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. The registered person should ensure that skills in safeguarding are gained, refreshed and recorded in the home’s workforce plan. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12) In particular, the registered provider must ensure that all staff, including the

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Recommendations

registered manager, undertake training on county lines behaviour, delivered by a suitably qualified and experienced practitioner.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC472374 5 after.

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Information about this inspection

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

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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Middlesbrough Borough Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Kalia-Marina Kourou-Paradeli

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Inspector

Jane Titley, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC472374 6 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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