Children's home run by Middlesbrough Borough Council

Inspection report for children’s home: SC472381 1 SC472381 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 provides care for up to four children who experience 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC472381 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/03/2022 Full Good 19/11/2019 Full Good 22/01/2019 Full Good 15/03/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC472381 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children stay in this home for a long time and come to view it as their home. They develop strong relationships with staff, most of whom they know well. Children learn that staff want them to be safe and well looked after. They begin to trust staff, even when they have had previous experiences that make this difficult. This helps children to respond positively to the care that they receive. For some children, the progress that they make is remarkable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff involve family members in children’s care when this is possible. This helps family members to understand children’s needs. As a result of this input from staff, some family members begin to play an important role in children’s day-to-day care. The care plan for one child changed, in line with the child’s wishes, because of the support provided to their family. This was a very positive outcome for this child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met, including when their needs are complex. Staff use their positive relationships with children to encourage them to attend medical appointments. Staff undertake significant learning about relevant health conditions. They work closely with medical professionals. This helps them to understand what these health issues mean for children. Children respond well to this involvement from staff, even when they are anxious. This means that children receive vital medical support when they need it.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The administration of medication is safe and effective. However, records of the administration of medication are not consistently clear. This means that there is potential for error and misunderstanding. Records are repetitive. Audits of medication records do not identify required improvements. This means that staff practice is not improving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s educational progress is mixed. Some children make clear improvements with their learning, particularly from their starting points. Staff have regular discussions with children about the importance of going to school. They use creative methods to explore and help children’s anxieties. However, other children do not get the education that they need. This is due to a lack of appropriate provision for children with additional needs. This affects children’s day-to-day routines as well as their immediate learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s emotional well-being is well supported. Staff take part in trauma-informed sessions to look at the individual needs of each child. Specialists provide direct support to some children. Other children are helped indirectly by staff who have had appropriate training. Over time, this input helps children to understand their previous experiences. This support is flexible and provided when it is most needed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC472381 4 Children live in a home that is generally warm and comfortable. Staff encourage children to personalise their bedrooms and communal areas. Repairs are undertaken quickly, including when damage is caused by children. However, areas of the home that are restricted in line with children’s individual plans lack creativity. Managers are aware of this and plan to make improvements in line with children’s wishes.

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

Staff make a significant effort to keep the children safe. Managers and staff involve a wide range of professionals in children’s care planning. Professionals meet frequently to review the necessity for an order that deprives a child of their liberty. This means that the child is not restricted any more than is necessary. However, some professionals do not fully understand how restrictions work in practice. This limits their ability to contribute fully to the decision-making for the child.

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

Staff involve children in the arrangements to keep them safe. Children are invited to contribute to their own risk management plans. This means that children know what staff will do if a safeguarding incident arises. Some children respond very well to this approach, which contributes to their progress.

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

Staff act swiftly to safeguard children who are missing from home. Staff follow detailed and individualised plans to help them find children. Staff search local areas and those much further away, as necessary. Return home interviews are consistently offered, and staff talk to children about what prompts them to leave the home. Managers and staff regularly review the responses to children who go missing from home. This ensures that they remain effective. Over time, children’s risks when they are missing reduce.

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

Staff use physical intervention with children when required to keep them or others safe. Staff are trained to carry out such interventions. Following all such incidents, children talk to senior staff about their views. Staff take part in debrief sessions about what happened. This helps to identify any learning, including any concerns that children might have. Staff encourage children to speak to an advocate. The number of such interventions reduces for most children because of the approach taken.

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

Staff follow individualised behaviour support plans to help manage children’s behaviour. These plans clearly set out what works with each child. Plans are reviewed regularly, and changes are made when required. The behavioural support to children is regularly discussed in team meetings and in supervision to ensure that staff respond consistently. When gaps in practice occur, they are discussed and alternative ways of responding to children are agreed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a registered manager who is committed to children and wants the very best for them. She sets a good example to staff. She places children at the centre of her thinking and expects staff to do the same. She advocates vehemently Inspection report for children’s home: SC472381 5 on behalf of children, bringing about improved health and education provision. Children recognise that the registered manager consistently acts on their behalf. This helps them to develop trust in the wider staff team and to make progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive the support that they need to provide good-quality care for children. They have bespoke training that helps them to understand children’s individual needs. Staff have regular supervision and additional practice discussions when required. When performance issues arise, the manager takes decisive action to prioritise children’s well-being. The manager and her deputy are readily available to staff. This means that staff can talk about any concerns when they arise. This is essential for staff working in situations that are sometimes challenging. It means that children are cared for by staff who have the support to do so well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has developed excellent links with the wider professional network. She uses these connections to ensure that the right services are provided to children. For example, professionals respond quickly to children’s emerging health issues because of the relationships that the registered manager has developed. This means that children promptly get the help that they need from those qualified to give it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager oversees all aspects of the home. Practice observation and file audits ensure that staff practice and written records are of a good quality. When deficiencies are apparent, the registered manager ensures that staff improve their skills. Most written records are accurate and easy to read and include the voice of the child. This means that the child’s story is readily understandable. This is essential for those working with children now. It will also be invaluable for children to read their records in the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff understand children’s wishes and feelings. This means that they can alter how care is provided to children. When children’s wishes cannot be met, staff help children to understand why. This helps to keep children engaged in their care planning. Inspection report for children’s home: SC472381 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff provide children with educational opportunities while suitable school placements are being identified. 31 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (c)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all professionals involved in reviewing such limitations know how the restrictions work and how they affect the children. 31 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that— 31 May 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC472381 7 a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that arrangements are made so that any errors in recording the administration of medication are identified quickly so that these processes improve.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are able to access all shared areas of their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet their needs. When limitations on children’s access to areas of the home are required, efforts must be made to make the home as appealing as possible. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)

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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: SC472381 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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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Amy Philbin-Robinson

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Inspector

Jane Titley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC472381 9 regulates and 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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Inspector

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