Children's Home run by North East Lincolnshire Council in North East Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2563216 1 Registered provider: North East Lincolnshire Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority owns and manages this home. The home provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. The suitably qualified manager registered with Ofsted in October 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 25 October 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2563216 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/07/2022 Full Inadequate 24/05/2022 Full Inadequate 18/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2563216 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff create a welcoming atmosphere in the home. Children move into the home following detailed planning. Children enjoy good relationships with staff who spend time getting to know them. Children spoke positively about the staff and feel confident in speaking to them if they have any worries or concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to be healthy, and staff ensure that children’s health needs are met. Staff provide the children with healthy and nutritious meals. Staff work with other health professionals to encourage children to access the physical and emotional health services that they need. These efforts ensure that the children’s health is maintained.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s educational needs are prioritised. When children are anxious about changes in their education, staff provide individualised support. Staff work closely with educational professionals to ensure that children are supported to participate in alternative education plans. This helps children to recognise the importance of education and develop aspirations for their futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to take part in a range of activities to help them explore their talents and interests, including swimming and horse riding. These opportunities help children to develop their self-esteem and confidence. This also helps children with their social skills and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are proactive in encouraging children to see their families in line with their care plans. They transport them to visit their families and support them emotionally when needed. As a result, children maintain close connections with the people that are important to them. This helps children to develop a positive self-image and sense of identity.

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improvement to be good

Risk assessments are updated after significant incidents. However, risk assessments are hard to follow. The lack of clarity does not help staff identify the most relevant risks to the children. Behaviour logs also lack management oversight. This shortfall means there is no review to ensure that measures used to support children are proportionate. This does not ensure that children are safeguarded effectively.

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improvement to be good

The manager has failed to notify Ofsted of one serious incident that placed a child at risk of harm. This hinders the regulator’s ability to monitor safeguarding practice in the home.

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improvement to be good

The staff use physical intervention as a last resort. They use low level holds for a short time for the safety of children and staff. The children and the staff always Inspection report for children’s home: 2563216 4 reflect on what happened during incidents. This helps them to think of what could be done in the future to prevent these from occurring.

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improvement to be good

Staff teach children to learn how to keep themselves safe. This is because staff have discussions with children on relevant topics, including healthy relationships and internet safety. This helps children to understand the potential risks to their safety and well-being.

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improvement to be good

The staff are employed following safe recruitment procedures. The procedures ensure that the staff are suitable to work with the children. The staff complete a range of courses in relation to safeguarding children. As a result, the staff know how to report any concerns, and they feel confident to follow procedures to keep the children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have responded well to the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. They understand what works well in the home and where further improvements are needed. The registered manager is well supported by a staff team that is committed to make a positive difference to children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff report feeling well supported by the registered manager. They feel that morale is improving. They have regular supervision sessions, where they explore the progress of children and reflect on how to deliver better care. This helps to improve the day-to-day care that children receive from staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures the staff are continually undertaking a range of training. The training helps the staff to understand the children’s needs. The registered manager uses team meetings to practise scenarios of issues that staff may encounter in their practice. This means that the staff are supported to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to care for the children effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager works with other professionals, such as social workers and specialist mental health workers. These good relationships help to make sure that the children’s plans are followed and that they are working towards their goals. This supports partnership working and means that children’s welfare is better protected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has auditing tools in place to monitor the children’s progress, staff performance and the overall quality of care that children receive. Despite these monitoring systems, there are some important documents that lack management oversight. In addition, the language used in some children’s records stigmatises them. This recording is not helpful to children should they wish to view their records in the future. Inspection report for children’s home: 2563216 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered persons 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 persons 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)) 7 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 7 July 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

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 7 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2563216 6

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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: 2563216 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North East Lincolnshire Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Offices, Knoll Street, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire DN35 8LN

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Inspector

Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2563216 8 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 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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