Children's home run by Middlesbrough Borough Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2567557 1 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

This home is run by the local authority. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2567557 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2023 Full Good 18/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2567557 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children living in the home have positive relationships with staff. They receive individualised care and support from staff who know them well. Staff understand the children’s needs and vulnerabilities. This has helped the children to manage their own conflicts and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff create a warm and nurturing environment in the home. The children choose a range of activities which they enjoy, such as days out, quad biking and going to the gym. These opportunities help the children to try new things and ensure that they have the same experiences as their peers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are making progress in their education. They are supported and encouraged by staff to do well. Staff have high aspirations for the children and support their regular attendance and homework. This helps children to achieve their academic potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are healthy. Staff support them to attend medical appointments and any necessary health assessments. Staff attend identified training to ensure that they can meet the children’s social, emotional and physical health needs. This provides a secure base for children to progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals and outside agencies visit regularly and speak with the children and staff. They say that staff are welcoming, good communicators and know the children well. The registered manager and staff share ideas and suggestions and listen to others’ opinions and ideas. Staff place children’s well-being at the centre of their practice. This enables children to develop a sense of security and stability.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children make complaints to the registered manager, these are investigated and responded to. However, children should be able to raise issues or make a complaint without support. The children’s guide to the home does not contain details of who children can raise complaints with, or the contact details of the Children’s Commissioner. This could mean that opportunities to improve the home for children by responding to complaints are missed.

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

Risks to children who live at this home have reduced. This is because of the help and support they receive from staff. The children living at the home feel safe. One child said, ‘I do not feel worried or scared.’ Staff talk with other professionals and model a multi-agency approach to safeguarding. Children’s safety and well-being are at the centre of decision-making. Risk assessments are regularly updated. This helps to keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2567557 4 Staff have regular discussions with children to help them understand risk and how to keep themselves safe. The children receive support to understand clear and consistent boundaries. Positive behaviours are praised and recognised by staff. When action is taken to address unwanted behaviours, consequences have timescales, are reasonable and are discussed with the child so that they understand the rationale for them. The children are making progress with their personal safety

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

Children at the home go missing from care. Staff are aware of the risks posed to children when they are missing from home and make every effort to find them. Staff follow clear plans to ensure a coordinated response and contact relevant people to keep children safe. Management oversight of all missing from-home-incidents helps to support discussions with the children when they return home. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed. Actions taken by staff during the time a child is missing and when they return home are contributing to a reduction in missing-from-home incidents. The risk of harm to children is reducing.

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

Staff are trained to use physical interventions when necessary. Staff recognise when children are distressed and have the training and skills necessary to respond to changes in children’s mood and behaviour. All physical interventions which take place are reviewed by the management team. Children are offered the opportunity to talk about the intervention and their feelings. The actions taken and the oversight which is in place enhance children’s safety.

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

A current fire risk assessment is in place. This details what should happen in the event of a fire. However, several fire doors at the home are held open by doorstops. In the event of a fire, smoke and flames would spread quickly and pose a risk to the safety of children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is warm, homely and welcoming with the decor and furnishings being in good order. Children’s bedrooms reflect their own taste and are decorated in the style they choose. The registered manager carries out monthly audits of the home to ensure that quality is maintained and takes actions to address any shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is newly registered with Ofsted. Staff speak positively about the registered manager and recent changes which have been made in the home, including the introduction staff development days. Staff are positive about team relationships and are supportive of one another. The registered manager promotes staff’s development and work-life balance and helps them to be better at their role. This support creates a well-trained, skilled staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff meetings are held monthly and are well attended by the staff. Staff supervision sessions take place at regular intervals. Agenda items at meetings include safeguarding, whistle-blowing and staff reflection. The children are the focus of meetings in the home. Any decisions are made in the children’s best interests. Inspection report for children’s home: 2567557 5 The registered manager has a clear understanding of the children’s needs and experiences. The registered manager challenges other services, such as when the response to educational concerns is not effective. They advocated for additional home-schooling to be available. When one child responded well to a change of tutor, the registered manager worked with education colleagues to make the change permanent. This enables children develop a sense of self-worth and ensures that the best outcomes for children are achieved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has high expectations for the children living in the home. Feedback from children, families and professionals is used to improve experiences for children. An independent person carries out monthly visits to the home. Effective action has been taken to address the requirements and one recommendation from the previous inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2567557 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home complies with relevant health and safety legislation. In particular, ensure that fire doors are not propped open and that they are able to close securely in the frame. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that children are able to take up any issues or make a complaint without support. In particular, the children’s guide for the home should contain details of who the children can raise complaints with and have the contact details of the Children’s Commissioner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.13)

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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: 2567557 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Middlesbrough Borough Council, Middlesbrough House, 50 Corporation Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RH

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Inspector

Jo Cansfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2567557 8 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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