Children's home run by Middlesbrough Borough Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2567557 1 Registered provider: Middlesbrough Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned and managed by a local authority. It is registered to care for up to two children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The suitably qualified and experienced manager is registered with Ofsted.

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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: 18 January 2022

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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: 2567557 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2567557 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living in the home. They have been living there for a long time and view it as their home. They develop strong relationships with staff. Over time, they begin to trust that staff act in their best interests. Consequently, children become increasingly able to talk to staff about the issues that matter to them most. This supports their immediate well-being. It also helps them to develop their ability to make good decisions for themselves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make excellent progress with their education. Staff encourage children to work towards and take exams. One child’s achievements are remarkable, and they are justifiably proud of themselves. Staff also help children to take part in college and work opportunities. This is helping them to develop a foundation on which they can build their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical health needs are met. Staff respond promptly to all health concerns, so that children get the right care quickly. Staff make significant efforts to help children to stop smoking, with some success. As children grow up, staff encourage them to manage their own health needs. This is helping children to develop good habits as they approach adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised support for their emotional health and well-being. When children need professional input, staff ensure that appointments are offered quickly. Staff advocate on behalf of children. For example, if children feel unable to travel to an appointment, staff arrange for professionals to come to the home. This means that children have consistent access to the help they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have an excellent understanding of children’s wishes and feelings. They regularly talk to children about what it is like to live in the home. Their views are recorded, and actions are set for staff to ensure that progress is made. For example, children have enjoyed trips abroad and to see West End shows after saying this is what they want. These experiences are great fun and provide children with wonderful memories. They also tell children that they have as much right to enjoy such activities as other children. This is a powerful message.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to become increasingly independent. Care and support plans are individualised and are tailored to meet the areas of greatest need. Some children are supported to make their own appointments. Others receive help with managing relationships. This work helps the right plans for children to be developed, ahead of them reaching adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a home that is warm, homely and appealing. They choose the home’s décor, and their bedrooms are updated as they grow up. Day-to-day wear and tear is made good and any repairs are carried out quickly. This gives children a positive example of what their own homes could look like. Inspection report for children’s home: 2567557 4

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

Staff prepare individualised safety plans that identify children’s risks. The plans provide specific guidance to staff about how to reduce the harm that children might face. Staff regularly update the plans so that they remain pertinent. This means that children receive a consistent and effective response from staff.

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

Children are becoming safer when they are out of the home. Behaviour linked to possible exploitation or criminalisation has reduced significantly for one child. Concerns around substance misuse have also reduced. Staff talk to children about these risks. The children also undertake work with specialists on these and other issues. This work is effective and is helping to reduce children’s vulnerabilities when they are in the community.

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

Staff understand children’s vulnerabilities when they are missing from care. They take prompt action to ensure that children are found and return home. Staff are supported by good working relationships with local police. Specialist professionals work creatively with children to help them to understand and reduce their risks. This is having a very positive impact for one child.

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

Staff support children who self-harm as a way of coping with their emotions. Children tell staff about such incidents because of the strength of their relationships. Staff use the knowledge gained from their training to respond effectively to children. Staff recognise when children’s risks increase. They take immediate action and ensure that plans are put in place to safeguard children. This is helping to ensure that the most vulnerable children get the help that they need.

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

Staff use their strong relationships with children to encourage positive behaviour. Children’s investment in their home means that they follow well-established expectations and routines. There are very few incidents, and children are growing up in a home that is generally calm and settled.

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

Managers provide their oversight of incidents. This means that any required improvements in practice are highlighted quickly. However, managers do not always submit safeguarding notifications to Ofsted appropriately. This limits the regulators understanding of children’s safety and well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an experienced manager who is passionate about the children in her care. The manager has plans for the further development of the service. This includes ensuring that older children receive the care and support that they need to move from the home successfully. Staff respond positively to the manager’s leadership of the home. They are clear about the expectations of them, and they perform well. Inspection report for children’s home: 2567557 5 Staff receive the support required to understand and meet the needs of children. A wide range of training is provided. Induction processes for new staff prioritise getting to know the children. New staff also have training to learn essential information quickly. Staff become very knowledgeable and use their skills to provide high-quality care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff generally receive regular supervision and appraisals of their practice. Supervising staff are trained to ensure that they are effective in their roles. Supervision sessions help staff to reflect on their practice and to develop their expertise. However, some staff have missed several supervision sessions. Although the reasons for this are understood, it is a missed opportunity for staff and managers to identify any required support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have good-quality relationships with members of the wider professional network. They escalate concerns when risks to children increase, or the right service is not being provided. They are tenacious, and their approach is successful. This means that the right plans are made for children, and their well-being is consistently prioritised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers’ monitoring and oversight of the home is generally effective. Audits of case files ensure that the records of children’s lives are completed to a high standard. Monitoring systems include actions to be completed. This results in the ongoing development of the home. However, this monitoring did not identify that the home’s revised statement of purpose had not been sent to Ofsted. This reduces the regulators ability to ensure that the home is operating in line with its conditions. Inspection report for children’s home: 2567557 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, the 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 registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b)) 31 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 31 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2567557 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that there are systems in place so that all staff, including those who have sickness leave, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 2567557 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Middlesbrough Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Middlesbrough House, 50 Corporation Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RH

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Inspector

Jane Titley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2567557 9 inspects 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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