Children's home run by Middlesbrough Borough Council

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC472381 1 SC472381

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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 local authority. The home provides care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspectors were not able to speak with the one child who currently lives in the home during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post is currently vacant.

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This monitoring visit

An assurance inspection took place on 28 April 2023 to look at specific concerns that were notified to Ofsted following a fire in the home that was started deliberately by one of the children. Ofsted issued two compliance notices under regulation 12 (The protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (The leadership and management standard) as there were serious concerns relating to the safety and protection of children in the home. The local authority made immediate plans to safeguard all children and higher enforcement action was not taken by the regulator.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the progress and actions taken by the provider to meet the two compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s fire risk assessment, extinguisher risk assessment and fire evacuation plan have all been revised and shared with staff. Fire extinguishers are now in place throughout the home. Staff understand their responsibilities should another fire occur and have the necessary equipment to manage this appropriately.

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This monitoring visit

Advanced training has been arranged for all staff to support them to gain a detailed and clearer understanding of the underlying causes of challenging behaviour. Staff Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC472381 2 will receive training in what steps can be taken to reduce the likelihood of such behaviours occurring in the first instance, as well as a range of strategies to avoid the need to intervene physically.

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This monitoring visit

The child’s support plan, which combines a risk assessment and care plan, has been rewritten. This is a detailed document which considers every aspect of the child’s care and daily routines as well as a comprehensive risk assessment. Risks are identified with clear steps in place for staff to follow. This document has been shared and discussed with all staff to ensure a consistent approach.

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This monitoring visit

Regular staff team meetings and supervision are now in place. This is an important opportunity for leaders and managers to ensure staff’s understanding of relevant policies and procedures and the changing needs of the child.

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This monitoring visit

There has been an acceptance by senior leaders of previous shortfalls and the lack of effective leadership and management within the home. Leaders and managers are keen to address these failures and are committed to providing a bespoke package of care for the child in their care.

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This monitoring visit

Two physical interventions have taken place since the last inspection. While the need for staff to hold the child is appropriate and proportionate, the recording of the debrief with the staff involved is poor. The debrief of staff should provide the opportunity for reflection and amending practice to ensure that it meets the needs of the child and avoid reoccurrence.

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This monitoring visit

The most recent statement of purpose has not been completed as required and has not been sent to Ofsted within the required timescale. This means that parents, Ofsted and other professionals are not able to scrutinise this information in a timely way to ensure that children are cared for in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

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This monitoring visit

The home is in need of redecoration and refurbishment and the cleanliness of the home could be improved in some parts. A fire door was also propped open, contrary to the home’s fire risk assessment.

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This monitoring visit

Following this monitoring visit, it was decided that the compliance notices have been met. The requirements previously issued under regulations 8, 10 and 23 were not reviewed during this visit. For this reason, they are restated. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC472381 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/03/2023 Full Good 07/03/2022 Full Good 19/11/2019 Full Good 22/01/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC472381 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iii)) 13 August 2023

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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, staff to provide children with educational opportunities while suitable school placements are being identified. This requirement is restated as the assurance inspection took place before the required date. 13 August 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. 13 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC472381 5 In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

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, arrangements must be made to ensure that any errors in recording the administration of medication are identified quickly, so that these processes improve. This requirement is restated as the assurance inspection took place before the required date.

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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)) 13 July 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is clean and offers a homely environment. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations, including fire risk assessment. This specifically relates to ensuring that all fire doors are not propped open. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are kept that enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The debrief of staff should provide the opportunity for reflection and amending practice to ensure that it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC472381 6

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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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Inspectors

Paula Shepherd, Social Care Inspector Beth Forster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC472381 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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