Children's home run by Hartlepool Borough Council in Hartlepool

Inspection report for children’s home: SC472417 1 SC472417 Registered provider: Hartlepool 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 operated by a local authority. It provides care and accommodation for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2022.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC472417 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/03/2023 Full Good 10/11/2022 Full Inadequate 25/08/2021 Full Good 13/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC472417 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children live in a home that is warm and welcoming. Children who are moving to the home are supported with a thorough transition plan prior to moving in. Children get to know staff, the environment and the other children in advance, which helps them to feel welcome and start to develop a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff invest their time in getting to know the children. Children feel listened to and able to speak to staff if they have a concern. Staff understand children’s views and help children to feel that their views are valued and important.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Not all children are engaging with education, training or employment. However, staff recognise the importance of learning, and when children do not attend their provision, staff are persistent in seeking alternative arrangements. Staff liaise with other professionals to address the barriers that children face. For one child, this has enabled them to sit their GCSE exams.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with their local health services. Staff support children to attend their appointments and meet their health needs. When children do not feel able to attend, staff make new appointments and continue to encourage them to attend.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to plan and enjoy a range of activities, hobbies and trips. This supports their emotional well-being and helps them to build confidence. These memories are captured in a memory book for children to keep, helping them to understand their life journey.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people who leave the home do so with a thorough and sensitive plan for their transition to independent living. Staff continue to maintain relationships with the young people and support them after they have moved on. This demonstrates to the children in the home and those young people who leave, that they can rely on the relationships they have built during their time in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the important relationships that children have with their family and friends. Staff communicate effectively with the children, their families and professionals to ensure that those relationships are protected. As a result, children develop their sense of identity and are able to maintain those close bonds.

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

The staff team know the children’s individual risks and needs well. Staff regularly update risk assessments and follow children’s plans. Staff work as a consistent team to better protect children. Children can identify a trusted adult who they can turn to if they are worried or need guidance. This helps children to trust that staff will keep them safer. Inspection report for children’s home: SC472417 4 Key-work sessions are creative and varied. Children are supported to think about the things they see and do, and the people who they associate with. Children are able to develop their ability to make safer choices and better protect themselves.

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

Staff are alert to the risk of bullying and when this is identified, work is undertaken with the children to help them to understand the impact of their actions and prevent further incidents.

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

Staff understand and recognise the signs that children may be at risk of exploitation and take immediate action to protect them. These interventions are effective in keeping children safer. Staff’s vigilance in identifying that a child was at risk of abuse resulted in that child being protected from harm.

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

Staff know what action to take when children go missing from home. Staff are proactive in searching for children and assess when to contact the police. Detailed records are kept of the steps that staff take to make sure that children return home safely. This enables the manager to maintain oversight of practice and evaluate the effectiveness of actions taken to safeguard the children.

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

Staff encourage children’s positive behaviour with feedback about the things they do well. Children are helped to understand the impact of their actions through natural consequences. This helps children to think about their behaviour and the decisions they make.

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

Children’s bedrooms are fitted with door alarms that are used to oversee their movements following bedtime. This measure is not routinely reviewed to ensure that it is still required to safeguard the children. Consequently, children may be subjected to unnecessary monitoring and surveillance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is run by an enthusiastic and passionate manager. The manager and staff are committed to giving children opportunities to reach their full potential. The staff team feel well supported by leaders and managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has processes in place to monitor the functioning and progress of the home. This means that she can maintain oversight of practice and assess where changes may be needed. As a result, children continue to be given the opportunity to develop and make progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision with their line manager and attend team meetings. This contributes to ensuring that children receive consistent care. In addition, clinical reflective supervision provides staff with a safe space to discuss their practice. This means that staff can better understand their own emotional responses and how these can impact on the care they provide. Inspection report for children’s home: SC472417 5 Staff follow a programme of mandatory and additional training that is specific to the individual needs of children. This means that the staff are suitably trained to safeguard children and meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers understand the importance of staff well-being. When difficult incidents occur in the home, the manager arranges group supervision to allow staff to explore how this has affected them. Additional support can also be offered on a one-to-one basis to those staff who need it. This means that staff feel valued and protected in their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager completes a report evaluating the care given to children. The review considers the children’s views about the care they receive. The manager also considers what is needed to develop the home and improve the service. The report is not submitted to Ofsted within the necessary timescales. This hinders Ofsted’s oversight of the quality of care provided to children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC472417 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(d)) 15 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (4)(a)) 1 May 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC472417 7

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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: SC472417 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hartlepool Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Centre, Victoria Road, Hartlepool TS24 8AY

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Inspector

Lisa Gordon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC472417 9 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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