Children's Home run by No. 57 Ltd in Stockton-on-Tees

Inspection report for children’s home: 1244413 1 Registered provider: No. 57 Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2018. At the time of the inspection, the manager was not in work. In the absence of the manager, the responsible individual, alongside a regional manager, is currently overseeing the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home and one child remains at the home.

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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: 24 January 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Ofsted carried out a full inspection on 24 and 25 January 2023 and judged the home to be inadequate. Serious and widespread failures were identified in relation to the help and protection of children and the leadership of the home. Ofsted issued a Inspection report for children’s home: 1244413 2 notice restricting accommodation and three compliance notices under regulations 11, 12 and 13.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit was carried out on 9 March 2022 to monitor the action taken by the provider in response to the compliance notices. The inspector found that since the previous inspection, managers had taken some action to improve the service, and the compliance notice under regulation 11 had been met. Inspection report for children’s home: 1244413 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2023 Full Inadequate 18/10/2021 Full Good 27/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1244413 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child told the inspector he is now happier living in this home. He is more settled and feels cared for. His relationships with staff have significantly improved. He is able to talk to staff about his feelings and worries. One professional spoken with described the progress the child has made as ‘considerable’ and that he now feels safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has been redecorated, and some parts have been refurbished. The environment is brighter, cleaner and appears more like a family home. Doors are no longer locked, and cooking facilities have been made safe. This means that the restrictions that impacted on children developing important independence skills have been removed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to make progress in education. One child was able to maintain her school placement during what was a very turbulent time. Another child has completed important qualifications that will enable him to move on to the next step in his education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s families are valued. Progress has been made in re-establishing important relationships. This means that children are able to spend time with loved ones. Friendships are encouraged, and the importance of positive friendships is promoted. Friends are welcomed into the home. This helps to provide a sense of normality for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by staff to learn about healthy choices and understand how positive choices support good health. When children misuse illegal substances, they are provided with guidance from staff and help from specialist services to reduce harm and improve their well-being. Children are encouraged to engage with the organisation’s psychological services. As a result, children have access to the most skilled professionals when they need this support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with good support when they are preparing to move on from the home. Managers and staff are alert to children’s anxieties and are proactive in finding ways to reduce these. Individualised plans are put in place, which ensures that children’s needs are central to these plans. Children find it difficult to move on from the home and will stay in touch once they have moved. This demonstrates the close relationships that the children have with the staff team.

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

Direct work takes place frequently with the children. This is carried out in both a planned way and as and when an issue arises. Children are helped to understand how unsafe choices may negatively affect their lives. They are enabled to talk about, Inspection report for children’s home: 1244413 5 reflect and raise any worries they may have. Staff are skilled in empathising with children. This helps children to talk things through without feeling judged.

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

Although missing-from-home episodes continue to happen, they are shorter in duration. This reduces the child’s exposure to risk. The child also often returns without the need for police assistance. This is significant progress, which suggests an improved connection and sense of belonging to the home. Staff know what to do when children go missing from home. They are proactive in looking for children. However, staff do not send a photo of the child to the police. This could result in a delay to children being found.

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

Children’s risk assessments and care plans have vastly improved since the last inspection. They are clear, comprehensive, unique to the needs of each child and updated regularly. They have oversight and input from a clinical psychologist, which enhances their quality. Staff are familiar with these documents, which means they understand the children’s needs and how to help them.

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

Additional training and information specific to the experiences and needs of the child living in the home have been identified and provided to staff. This enables staff to have an improved understanding of how to help and protect the child. In addition, the team continues to benefit from regular advice and support from a psychologist who visits the home. As a result, staff are better equipped to identify and respond more swiftly and appropriately to escalating behaviours.

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

Bedroom searches are carried out when necessary. They have uncovered unsafe items, which have been disposed of appropriately. This helps to protect children from harm. However, on one occasion, a room search was not recorded. This prevents managers from having a full oversight of this practice. In addition, children are not always informed that a room search has taken place. As a result, their comments are not obtained.

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

There was a delay in Ofsted being notified of a serious incident. This prevented Ofsted from having a timely understanding of what took place and being assured that all the necessary actions had been taken to safeguard the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have made significant improvements to the home since the last inspection. One professional described the changes that have taken place as ‘brilliant’. Managers have devised auditing tools, which enable leaders and managers to monitor all aspects of the care that the children receive effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers advocate on behalf of the children. They challenge professionals when children’s care plans are no longer proportionate or fair. As a result, changes are made that are in the children’s interests. This helps children feel respected and trusted. Inspection report for children’s home: 1244413 6 Managers arrange professionals’ meetings following serious incidents. This ensures that discussions take place and strategies are implemented to reduce risk. Managers communicate the outcome of these meetings to the staff team. As a result, staff have up-to-date information, which helps children receive a consistent approach from their carers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When practice issues are identified, managers act swiftly to address them. Debriefs take place with staff after incidents. Staff value this process because it provides them with an opportunity to reflect on what took place and identify what they have learned. It also provides them with emotional support, which enables them to continue to support the children effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff describe feeling incredibly supported by leaders and managers, who now openly share information with them. Morale has improved, and the atmosphere within the home is described as ‘lovely’. Staff enjoy coming to work. They now understand what is expected of them, which has made them feel more positive. The learning they have undertaken has increased their confidence within their role. One staff member said that ‘a weight has been lifted’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings and formal supervision sessions take place regularly. The children, and any safeguarding concerns, are discussed in detail. This helps to ensure that staff have a current understanding of any issues and can respond appropriately and consistently. Staff are encouraged to contribute and share their ideas. This practice helps to involve the whole team in raising the standard of care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The six-monthly quality of care review has still not been completed. As a result, the regulator is not able to review the progress that the children are making and the actions the home is taking to support this progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 1244413 7

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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 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 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and 31 May 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1244413 8 any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s bedrooms are usually only searched if the child has been informed or asked for their permission. Immediate searching may be necessary when there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child’s or another person’s safety or well-being. In these instances, children should be informed at the earliest opportunity and their views obtained and included within a room search record. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)  The registered person should ensure that missing-from-home procedures are followed. In particular, they should ensure that a photo of the child is shared with the police as part of the ‘Philomena Protocol’. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)

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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) Inspection report for children’s home: 1244413 9 Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 1244413 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7JU

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Inspector

Emma Ridley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1244413 11 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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