Children's Home run by North East Lincolnshire Council in North East Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2563216 1

p.1

North East Lincolnshire Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates and manages this home. This children’s home is registered to provide care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties. The home was registered with Ofsted in November 2019.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has not been in day-to-day charge of the home since 30 July 2021. A new manager is in post, but is not yet registered with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 3 and 4 August 2021, because children living in the home were at risk of serious harm. Leaders and managers failed to address safeguarding concerns and respond to environmental hazards within the home. As a result of these failures, children’s safety was compromised. Ofsted issued three compliance notices under regulation 12, 14 and 25. Ofsted also raised a further three requirements. Action taken to address these three requirements has not been considered as part of this monitoring visit.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the progress and the actions taken to meet the compliance notices. This monitoring visit included a review of the documents and discussions and interviews with the interim manager and other relevant people. The inspector concluded from this monitoring visit that one step set in the compliance notices with regard to regulation 12 was not met.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Children’s safety plans are not robust. Children who have had a fractious and abusive relationship no longer live together but remain in a relationship. As the foundation of the children’s relationship changes, the monitoring and guidance from responsible adults has weakened. Concerningly, the safety plan for the child still Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2563216 2 living in the home does not give the staff adequate direction to review and mitigate this specific risk. There is an absence of welfare checks, observation and discussions with children to assess their safety and protection when together.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The condition of the home has been improved. Necessary maintenance has been completed so that the home presents as welcoming and hazard-free for children. Fire safety within the home has been addressed. Fire equipment is fully functional and fire procedures and audits allow for shortfalls to be identified and fixed. Procedural developments mean that maintenance issues are being quickly identified and repaired.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Risk assessments have been updated and now include pertinent information relevant to individual children. Steps have been taken to address the violence and aggression between children. Since the last inspection, there have been no incidents. The children’s risk assessments provide the staff with strategies to mitigate and respond to risk. The staff’s implementation of strategies is checked and challenged through the manager’s day-to-day oversight. This improved approach helps to keep children safe.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Placement moves have been carefully considered and planned to help children to manage this significant event. The changing dynamic of children in the home and improved practice have brought stability and routine back to the home. Children are able to settle to sleep at night and are taking steps towards achieving their goals, for example by attending school.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 03/08/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2563216 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, 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.3

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.3

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b)) 1 October 2021

p.3

Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 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)(b)) 14 November 2021

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.3

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 1 October 2021

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. 1 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2563216 4 When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.3

Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a))

p.4

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.4

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.4

Information about this inspection

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

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: North East Lincolnshire Council

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Offices, Knoll Street, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire DN35 8LN

p.4

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Yvonne Shearwood

p.4

Inspector

Jennifer Fenlon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2563216 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.

p.4

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.5

Inspector

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

p.5

Inspector

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

p.5