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

Inspection report children’s home: SC035222 1 SC035222 Registered provider: Stockton on Tees Borough Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to care for up to three children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The registered provider is a local authority. The registered manager has been registered since 2012.

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 good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 28 January 2019

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC035222 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/01/2019 Full Good 12/12/2017 Full Good 06/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/06/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC035222 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, the 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 registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children at least once every six months. (Regulation 45 (1)) 12/12/2019

p.3

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)) 12/12/2019

p.3

Recommendations

 The registered person should build a strong safeguarding culture in the home where children are listened to, respected and involved in both the development of the home and decisions about the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.8) In particular, safeguarding should be a standard agenda item in team meetings.  Supervision of staff practice should ensure that individual adults in the home are engaged in the safeguarding culture of the home so they understand what they would need to do if they found other staff misusing or abusing their position to the detriment of the safety of a child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.14) In particular, safeguarding should be a standard agenda item on the supervision agenda.  A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The

p.3

Recommendations

record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4) Inspection report children’s home: SC035222 4

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are building good relationships with the staff team, based on trust and respect. Adults spend time taking part in fun and exciting experiences with the children. Adults working at the home get to know the children well, know their likes and dislikes and can respond quickly when the children’s needs are not being met. This helps children to feel safe with the adults who care for them.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health and are supported to attend routine health appointments as well as specialist support services. This ensures that children’s emotional and physical health needs are met. Additional support is received through well-planned one-to-one sessions that encourage children to take responsibility for their own health needs now and into independence.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are determined to provide good-quality education provision for children. When issues arise, staff liaise effectively with education providers and virtual school heads to overcome these by providing structured educational alternatives until a more appropriate provision has been found.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions in and out of the home are managed very well. Two children have recently moved out of the home in a carefully planned way. Both children made good progress educationally, emotionally and socially while living in the home. By being fully involved in their planned move, children can see how this move will benefit them as they grow older and move toward independence. Great care is taken when planning the admission of children into the home. On one occasion, taking a child on holiday prior to admission enabled staff and children to build secure relationships in a relaxed and nurturing environment.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s statement of purpose does not accurately describe how care is delivered that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. While this has not adversely affected any child, this limits the ability of placing authorities to accurately assess whether the home can meet the individualised needs of children referred.

p.4

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

Risk assessments detailing historical and current concerns are understood and regularly reviewed by staff. These risk assessments are enhanced by input from a clinical psychologist who works with staff to identify strategies that minimise known risks, and this contributes to protecting children.

p.4

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

Children are making considerable progress, demonstrated by a reduction in missing- from-home episodes. On the rare occasion that children do go missing, staff are proactive in looking for the children to ensure their return to the home. They work closely with other agencies to share intelligence and, as a result, the children are returned quickly and safely. Inspection report children’s home: SC035222 5 Physical intervention has not been used since the last inspection and there have been no incidents of bullying within the home. Expectations and boundaries are consistent and understood by staff and children. This approach creates an environment where children and adults can learn respect for others in a warm and nurturing atmosphere.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably experienced, qualified and registered manager. He is supported by a consistent team of staff who have a wide range of qualifications and experience. The members of the staff team share his ambitious vision and high expectations for children. They know the children well and provide consistent and good- quality care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last full inspection, there has been some turnover of staff. However, a core team of staff who know the children well have provided stability and continuity of care from a group of familiar adults. The manager is aware of the vacancies in his staff team and has active plans in place to recruit more staff.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision of staff and team meetings take place on a regular basis. However, this is not always recorded appropriately. Safeguarding is not always a standard item on agendas, which has the potential to limit the occasions when staff are able to share any concerns about a child.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a clear understanding of the progress children are making. Children’s care plans are discussed at length in staff meetings and within supervision. The manager and his staff team actively challenge others when responses from other services are not effective. This ensures that children are receiving the care they require in a timely manner. This approach is enhanced by the addition of group supervision and bespoke training for staff by a clinical psychologist.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has identified some strengths and areas for development within the home. However, his understanding of these would be enhanced by using the monitoring and evaluation tools that are available to him. This would enable the manager to produce an effective development plan for the home which would improve the standard of care offered to children.

p.5

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. Inspection report children’s home: SC035222 6 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

p.5

Information about this inspection

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: SC035222 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stockton on Tees Borough Council

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Mark Proffitt, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC035222 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.

p.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8