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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035387 1 SC035387

p.1

Stockton on Tees Borough Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to five children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The current manager has been in post since 23 October 2020 and has recently applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit at this home on 26 January 2021. This was in response to safeguarding concerns and significant failings in the home’s leadership and management. Two compliance notices were issued following this monitoring visit. These were with regard to failing to manage and reduce risks to children’s safety and failing to provide effective and consistent care for children. A further two requirements were made with regard to planning new admissions to the home and to ensuring that the manager applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the progress made to address these practice shortfalls. This visit comprised both on- and off-site inspection activities, including discussions with children and staff and the review of children’s case records.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Children’s individual risk assessments now include actions for staff to follow to manage and reduce risks to children’s safety. This improvement means that staff better understand their responsibilities for protecting children from harm. This means that there has been a reduction in safeguarding incidents since the last monitoring visit. Consequently, children feel safer living in the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed the procedure for completing impact risk assessments. These risk assessments now take account of the impact that children’s Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035387 2 individual risks may have on their peers. As a result, children moving into the home are better matched with the children already living there. These considerations increase the likelihood of children successfully living together and forming positive relationships with each other.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff have now completed relevant training to help them to understand how children’s previous trauma may influence their actions and behaviours. As a result, the staff have the knowledge they need to meet the children’s needs. This means that children benefit from consistent care and support.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leadership and management arrangements have been formalised to provide consistent management and oversight of the home. The manager has now submitted an application to register with Ofsted. She has increased staffing levels to better reflect children’s needs. Furthermore, the manager ensures that these additional staff are already known to the children. Consequently, children receive care from staff who they know and who know their needs.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have taken sufficient action to address the shortfalls raised at the last monitoring visit.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/02/2020 Full Good 26/11/2018 Full Good 30/05/2017 Full Good 31/08/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035387 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Information about this inspection

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

p.3

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stockton on Tees Borough Council

p.3

Children’s home details

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

p.3

Inspector

Debbie White, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035387 4 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.

p.3

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.4

Inspector

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

p.4

Inspector

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

p.4