Children's home run by Stockton on Tees Borough Council

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2568244 1 Registered provider: Stockton on Tees Borough Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides short- and long-term care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. This includes children with physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post since May 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children were living in the home at the time of the visit.

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This monitoring visit

On 24 October 2023, an assurance inspection was carried out and identified that there were serious and widespread concerns relating to the protection of children. At a case review on the 25 October 2023, it was agreed that a compliance notice should be issued under regulation 12.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to monitor the provider’s response to the compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

The quality of safeguarding practice is improving. Staff follow appropriate procedures when children are missing from the home. Leaders have been clear about their expectations for how staff should respond when children are missing. As a result, staff make better decisions for children to ensure that they are supported to return home safely.

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This monitoring visit

A manager has been appointed and commenced in post, but has not yet applied for registration with Ofsted. The manager has started to make changes to children’s plans and risk assessments to ensure that they are purposeful documents. Children have individual safety plans that are thorough and up to date. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2568244 2 The manager has oversight of incidents relating to children to ensure that staff are responding to children appropriately. When an area of learning is identified, staff are provided with focused supervision. This enables them to reflect on their understanding and develop their knowledge. As result, shortfalls in practice are addressed and staff are responding in a consistent way to the needs of the children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff meet regularly to discuss the children and any emerging safeguarding concerns. The missing-from-home procedures have been a focus of recent meetings. This is to ensure that there is an improvement in staff practice. One member of staff said that the recent changes are beneficial and have provided clarity for their role in protecting children.

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This monitoring visit

Following the case review on the 14 December 2023, it was agreed that the compliance notice has been met. The remaining requirements and recommendations raised at the assurance inspection were not reviewed at this monitoring visit. For this reason, they are restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2568244 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/06/2022 Full Good 15/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2568244 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 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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(e)(f)) 24 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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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 intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; 24 January 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2568244 5 is necessary and proportionate;

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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 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of all the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)  The registered person should ensure that a record of supervision is kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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: 2568244 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stockton On Tees Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Municipal Buildings, Church Road, Stockton on Tees, Cleveland TS18 1LD

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Inspector

Joanne Wallis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2568244 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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