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

The home is owned and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, the home was providing care for one child with complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The post for a registered manager is currently vacant. The proposed manager has been in post since May 2023 and has applied to register 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 requires improvement to be 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

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: SC472381 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child, who has complex needs, currently lives in the home in a purpose-built annex adjoined to the main building. The child’s overall day-to-day experiences have improved since the last inspection. This is in part due to the staff building a trusting relationship with the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff prioritise listening to and seeking the views of the child. The children’s guide has been written specifically for the child and the child’s voice is clear in all records.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that safe arrangements are in place to manage the child’s complex health needs. Medication is stored securely, and appropriate systems are in place regarding administering medication. Staff are supported by a clinical psychologist who provides regular support and training.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in the home is not currently accessing formal education. However, staff have developed an informal education plan and use creativity and their developing relationships to engage the child in enjoyable educational activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Senior leaders and managers have ensured that they have sensitively and carefully considered the transition arrangements for the child moving into his new home. Key staff will go with the child to ensure that collaborative multi-disciplinary working has meant there is a clear plan in place for the child. Specific training has been provided to the new team of staff to ensure that they can meet the child’s complex needs.

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

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and follow safeguarding procedures. They are guided by the child’s support plan, which covers all aspects of his care. This includes a detailed risk assessment and informs staff on how to respond to or manage risks appropriately. The support plan is updated regularly by the proposed registered manager.

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

There has been a reduction in incidents, including incidents of physical intervention, which is attributed to the child feeling listened to and developing trusting relationships with staff.

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

There is a missing-from-home plan for the child and an individual risk assessment which is updated regularly. Staff know how to access these documents to follow the guidance. When a child goes missing, staff consistently follow the specific missing from-home documents for the child. When a child returns, a return home interview is offered. Managers provide oversight and discuss with staff how missing-from- home incidents have occurred to identify any changes they can make to prevent any reoccurrence. Inspection report for children’s home: SC472381 4 The current team of staff are agency workers. This was a planned approach taken by senior leaders to provide consistency of care for the child. The proposed registered manager has ensured that safe recruitment checks have been carried out.

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good

The home has not had a registered manager for over 30 weeks. However, the proposed registered manager has been in post since May 2023 providing day-to-day management oversight with support from senior managers. The proposed registered manager and senior managers have a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Managers have a clear vision for the home, and there is a clear development plan in place.

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good

The proposed registered manager has clear monitoring and auditing systems in place to ensure the appropriate care of the child and the practice of staff. Agency staff receive regular supervision from their agency and the proposed registered manager. There are discussions about the child and the care provided; however, records of these lack reflection.

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good

The proposed registered manager has carried out a location risk assessment. However, a housing development being built next door to the home has not been considered as part of the risk assessment. This means that the active building site has not been considered in the potential risks of harm in the locality, and there is no understanding in the locality risk assessment to mitigate this risk.

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good

Children’s records are of a good quality and are written to the child. This will be helpful if the child wants to read their records in the future. The documents have oversight from a manager and in some cases are countersigned by a senior manager with actions agreed which are taken forward. Inspection report for children’s home: SC472381 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the location risk assessment includes the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)  The registered person should ensure that there are systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and development. (‘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: 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

Kate Jackson, Social Care Inspector Paula Shepherd, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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