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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC035387 1 SC035387 Registered provider: Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2022.

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Inspection date: 26 January 2022

Date of last inspection: 26 October 2021

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Inspection date: 26 January 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 26 January 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC035387 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home now has a registered manager. Since the last inspection in October 2021, leaders and managers have taken some action to address the six requirements and one recommendation raised at that time. However, three requirements are reissued in part. Three recommendations are also raised as a result of this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not consistently follow children’s risk assessments. This has resulted in a safeguarding incident occurring due to a child not being properly supervised. There is insufficient detail in some children’s risk assessments. Risk ratings do not always reflect children’s vulnerabilities or behaviours, and missing-from-home protocols are not individualised to each child. This means that inconsistent approaches may be taken by staff prior to the police being contacted. This may place children at risk of harm.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s transitions in and out of the home are varied. When children are preparing to leave the home, good care and planning ensure that these moves are successful. However, when children are moving in, risks to their safety and/or the safety of other children are not always fully considered. This means that children could be harmed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has taken steps to ensure that sanctions and room searches are now recorded; however, there are some gaps in these records. For example, it is not always clear if children have the opportunity to reflect on their actions before a sanction is given, or what this sanction is. When it is necessary for staff to search children’s bedrooms, they do not record if the child was present or indicate where any items removed are now stored. These shortfalls do not provide children or managers with an accurate record of the action taken to manage children’s behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has introduced new monitoring systems to give better oversight of all aspects of the home. However, these systems do not extend to monitoring the home over weekends. On one occasion, this led to a delay in identifying and responding to a safeguarding concern. This potentially placed a child at risk of harm. Furthermore, not all notifications are sent to Ofsted in a timely manner. This hinders the regulator’s oversight of the actions taken by the service to safeguard children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff now ensure that children’s records are detailed and helpful. However, it is not always clear which member of staff has logged which entry. This means there is a lack of accountability for entries made in children’s case files. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035387 3 Doors to communal areas in the home are no longer locked. Children and staff are pleased about this change. Staff have also now been trained in fire safety. This means in the event of a fire, the children are better protected and able to leave the home quickly and safely.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children said that they feel safe, and they continue to have good relationships with staff. They seem happy and relaxed in the home, and enjoy spending time in the company of staff. Staff frequently remind the children how much they are cared for and this helps them to talk about their worries and concerns.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s progress is mixed. For some children, risks to their safety have continued to reduce. However, for other children, these have increased. The manager is able to identify when the home is not meeting children’s needs, and works in partnership with other professionals to ensure that children’s plans are reviewed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035387 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/02/2020 Full Good 26/11/2018 Full Good 30/05/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC035387 5

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s risk assessments are accurate; that children have individualised missing-from- home protocols for staff to follow; and that impact risk assessments identify all potential risks for all children. 10 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)(v)(vii)) 10 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; 10 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC035387 6 are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that a child’s bedroom should only be searched if the child has been informed or asked for their permission. In particular, ensure that search records include if the child was present and details of the safe storage of any items removed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)  The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)  The registered person’s review of the premises should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035387 7

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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, Cleveland TS18 1LD

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Inspector

Emma Ridley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC035387 8 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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