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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594189 1 Registered provider: North East Lincolnshire Council

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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 run by a local authority. It provides care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2023.

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Inspection date: 20 February 2024

Date of last inspection: 26 September 2023

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Inspection date: 20 February 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 20 February 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594189 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children develop positive and trusting relationships with staff and enjoy living in the home. When children move into the home, they settle quickly because of the efforts staff make to welcome them. Staff make every effort to get to know all the children well and learn about what matters to them the most. As a result, children quickly begin to trust staff and develop a strong sense of belonging.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have a voice in the running of their home. They have regular consultations with staff. Children are helped to rebuild and maintain their relationships with their families. Staff facilitate these arrangements. This approach works well and means that children can safely spend time with members of their family. This builds children’s sense of identity and self-esteem.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s health needs are well promoted by staff. Some children have complex medical histories. Staff work closely with medical professionals who contribute to children’s care planning. This helps staff to provide highly effective care and ensure that children’s health is promoted well in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children develop life skills in the home. They are supported with cleaning, shopping, cooking and other general life skills. This means that children are well prepared for later life.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has been committed to ensuring that children’s safety is prioritised. Detailed risk management plans identify the children’s risks and vulnerabilities. These documents are regularly updated in response to any concerns. This ensures that staff can keep children safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s behaviour has become increasingly settled in the home. Staff now understand children’s behaviour and what it means. As a result, staff can better respond to the children if their behaviour becomes difficult to manage. There has been a notable reduction of incidents since the last inspection and no use of any physical intervention. This demonstrates that the plans are effective.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s risks are reducing. This is testimony to the positive relationships they have with staff, which helps them to feel safe and secure. Since the last inspection, there have been no incidents of children going missing from home. However, staff continue to educate children on the potential dangers of going missing.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager is skilled and experienced in their role and leads the staff team to provide a good standard of care for children. The registered manager has a wide range of tools in place to monitor children’s progress, staff performance and the overall quality of care that children receive. External monitoring by the Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594189 3 independent visitor provides further assurance that the home is now providing good- quality care to children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive regular reflective supervision sessions and team meetings. The registered manager ensures that staff have the necessary skills and knowledge to care for children effectively. Training records are up to date and additional training is sought to provide training that is specific to the needs of the children in the home. This ensures that children work with staff who are equipped to meet their needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Education attendance for children is variable. For one child, leaders and managers have not ensured that the multi-agency targeted support is provided to the child to enable them to return to formal education. This means that the child is missing opportunities to achieve positive educational outcomes.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have addressed all the requirements made at the last inspection. However, a new requirement has been raised following this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594189 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/09/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594189 5

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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 within the given timescales.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

and understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)) 10 May 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594189 6

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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 DN35 8LN

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Inspector

Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594189 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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