Children's home run by Stockton on Tees Borough Council

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2568244 1

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Stockton on Tees Borough Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a local authority. It was registered in March 2020 to provide short breaks and edge of care services to children and their families.

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Information about this children’s home

In April 2020, the provider applied to vary the conditions of registration to provide longer-term care for up to five children and/or young people. This was a response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this monitoring visit, three children were receiving longer-term care under these temporary conditions. Several families continue to receive edge of care services.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was found to have serious concerns at the assurance visit on 4 and 5 November 2020. This monitoring visit was carried out to consider how well the service has responded to the requirements made at the assurance visit.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home now provides a more settled and calmer environment for children. Three children live in the home and there is evidence of progress for all. No child has gone missing from the home in the last four weeks. One child who was previously at considerable risk of harm is now attending school and planning a return to the care of their family. The feedback from other professionals and children’s families demonstrates that the edge of care service continues to be highly valued.

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This monitoring visit

This home has been affected by the COVID-19 restrictions since the assurance visit. Access to training is minimal and the range of activities available for children continues to reduce as restrictions tighten. However, the home has continued with Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2568244 2 its core work, aims and objectives. Some progress has been made against shortfalls identified at the assurance visit.

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This monitoring visit

Managers obtain full information about the needs of the children who move into the home. This means that staff have the knowledge that they require to provide effective care. As a result, most children make progress and their longer-term plans are successful.

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This monitoring visit

The management arrangements for the home have been stable since the assurance visit. Senior members of staff are now consistently available to the staff team and the children. Members of staff feel more supported by managers. Staff members who had moved to other services have returned to work at this home. This means that the children are cared for by a staff team that is familiar to them.

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This monitoring visit

Progress against other shortfalls identified at the assurance visit is ongoing. There has been no structured training to help staff respond to the trauma that some of the children have experienced. Many members of staff are still unable to manage behaviours that they find challenging. The use of the police to manage behaviour is not always appropriate. As a result, the children do not always feel confident in their carers and other children are upset by the ensuing disturbances.

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This monitoring visit

Members of staff do not consistently keep children safe. Children with histories of substance misuse and of going missing from the home are not always protected. As a result, for some of the children risks to their safety continue.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has taken steps to improve the monitoring of the home. However, this monitoring does not yet help her to understand the impact on the children of the quality of care that they receive. This means that some unhelpful practice continues and this potentially places the children at risk of harm. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2568244 3

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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

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children; and de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iii)(ix)(xi)) 31 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; and 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 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(b)) 31 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— 31 March 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2568244 4 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 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; and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(f)(h))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should agree guidance to reduce unnecessary police involvement in managing behaviour and criminalisation of behaviours. Children in children’s homes should not be charged with offences if similar behaviour in a family home does not lead to police involvement. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.40)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stockton on Tees Borough Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Jane Titley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2568244 5 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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