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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC035380 1 SC035380 Registered provider: Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated and managed by a local authority. It provides care for children with physical and/or learning disabilities. The home offers short-break care and accommodation, and up to one long-term placement, for a total of six children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 7 October 2020 to carry out an assurance visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 26 February 2020

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC035380 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/02/2020 Full Good 12/11/2018 Full Outstanding 01/08/2017 Full Outstanding 17/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC035380 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy spending time at this short-break service. One child said, ‘Staff make me feel settled, and that helps me feel safe and that helps me have a good sleep.’ A parent said, ‘The environment they offer my son is like a home from home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff plan children’s visits and activities in advance. For some children, this involves attending groups and clubs in the community. This improves children’s confidence and social skills. Staff ensure that children are with peers who have similar interests and abilities. Each child has their own individual box of toys and sensory objects which have been carefully chosen by staff. This helps children feel important and have the best possible experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work in partnership with families. Staff listen to and act promptly on their wishes and any concerns they may have. For example, staff will complete social stories for those children who sometimes struggle to make the transition from home or school to the home. The stories show children what they will be doing when they visit and with which member of staff. The stories are provided to parents, and often to schools, to read and show the child to help prepare them. Staff will also visit children at home or school and go through the story with them if that will help. This helps alleviate children’s anxieties and results in a more successful transition.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress very quickly. In reference to the short-break service, one education professional said, ‘Within a couple of weeks there is an immediate change in them emotionally. It really makes a difference to the children’s lives and the lives of their families.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

For one child, their progress has been particularly significant. Challenging and harmful behaviours have reduced in frequency and severity. Staff have worked hard to help the child, and the child has been able to develop positive relationships with some staff. The child’s father described staff as ‘brilliant’ and ‘absolutely fantastic’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Sanctions are rare. Praise and rewards are frequent. Children gain stars for good behaviour and achievements, and after receiving eight stars are given a treat of their choosing. This helps children feel valued and want to do well.

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

Staff are alert to risks and respond swiftly to potential hazards in the home. This helps protect children and staff by reducing accidents and injuries. Risk assessments are thorough, clear and regularly reviewed and updated. However, they are not always signed and dated which means there is a lack of accountability. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035380 4 Some documents have been streamlined. Each child’s care plan now contains all necessary information in one place. This makes it easier for staff to locate information and helps prevent duplication.

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

Safeguarding is the focus of team meetings, supervisions and shift handovers. Staff are informed of any current issues and any actions which have been put in place to help and protect children. Staffing ratios are dependent on numbers and needs of children, and are increased if required. This offers better protection for both children and staff.

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

All safeguarding incidents are recorded and cross-referenced to other relevant documents. Training and guidance have been recently provided to improve the quality of the recording of any such incidents. This has led to more detailed, clearer and consistently written documents.

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

Restraints are infrequent and happen only as a last resort. Debriefs take place after a restraint which allow staff to reflect and learn. Training is provided if a need is identified. This could be for an individual or the whole staff team.

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

Mandatory training has either been undertaken by all staff or is due to take place. Many more courses have been attended to equip staff with the knowledge and skills to better safeguard children and help them progress. The team development day which was enjoyed by staff has introduced restorative practices. This will help to further strengthen relationships between the children, and between children and staff, by better managing any conflicts or tensions.

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

Medication is carefully administered with additional checking in place for increased oversight. Learning has been achieved from a recent incident when an incorrect dose given at the child’s family home was not identified by staff on the child’s return. Documents have been amended to help prevent this from happening again.

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

Safer recruitment takes place. This prevents unsuitable adults from having contact with children in this home.

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

One allegation has been made. This was thoroughly investigated, and learning was identified, and actions made and implemented. There was, however, a delay in the designated officer for the local authority being informed of the allegation. Whilst this had no adverse impact on this occasion, it could have affected the decisions which were initially made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced in working with children who have a range of disabilities. She is ambitious for the service. This is in respect of short breaks and long-term placements. Her commitment to the children and staff team is clear to see, as are the improvements she has made in the short time she has been manager. She is responsive to the needs of the service and will make the necessary adaptations where required. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035380 5 The manager and leaders are very much aware of the impact on children and families from the recent suspension of short breaks. The service has now been reinstated, much to the relief of families. While it is currently at a reduced level, the service will increase. Those children and families with the greatest need and without access to other services have been prioritised. Great care has been taken to reintroduce those children and families back into the service. The manager is also

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

proactive in helping children access and receive other services relevant to their needs. This improves children’s care and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager sets high standards for staff. Staff are expected to provide consistently good care for all children, and care which helps children achieve and progress. The manager benefits from a monthly auditing tool which allows her to have oversight of all areas. She is able to quickly identify and remedy any outstanding tasks or issues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager will challenge practice issues firmly, yet supportively. Staff say they feel supported and listened to by managers. They are provided with regular and reflective supervision and team meetings. One staff member said, ‘Our management team has been supportive and flexible, ensuring that our mental health has been cared for.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is well regarded by professionals. She has developed strong links with important services. This means she has support at hand and will access that whenever needed to benefit the children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff appreciate the additional support which is provided from specialist services and professionals. They are given advice and strategies to manage particularly challenging behaviours and situations. This has been provided as a staff group and on a one-to-one basis, where individual difficulties and anxieties can be addressed on a more personal basis. This helps staff feel cared for and valued. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035380 6

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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 procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located. (Regulation 34 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the timescale for referral to the designated officer for the local authority is clearly set out in the home’s statement of purpose. 16 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

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that impact risk assessments are signed by the author. 16 March 2022

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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: SC035380 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 Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC035380 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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