Children's Home run by Stockton on Tees Borough Council in Stockton-on-Tees

Inspection report for children’s home: SC035380 1 SC035380

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Registered provider: Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a local authority. It provides care and support for children with physical and learning disabilities. The home offers short-break care for up to five children and one longer-term placement.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 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

Date of last inspection: 31 October 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC035380 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/02/2023 Full Good 01/02/2022 Full Good 26/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC035380 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive well-planned introductions to this short-break service. Staff work well with families and professionals to understand children’s individual needs before they start visiting. This ensures that children receive tailored care from skilled staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s bedrooms are personalised for their stays. Staff prepare rooms for children with their own bedding and items. This ensures that bedrooms are welcoming and familiar environments for the duration of children’s stay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have the opportunity to enjoy new experiences. Children engage in activities both inside and outside of the home. The property has an array of different activities for children. Children can spend time in a sensory room or soft-play area. Children also have access to large gardens with play equipment and climbing frames. The grounds have an orchard and wildlife walk for children to enjoy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are sought regularly, and they are encouraged to be actively involved in the service. Children’s meetings are a regular event, and any suggestions by children are responded to by managers. Children are included in interviews for new staff, and their feedback contributes to decisions about those who are appointed. This shows that staff value children’s views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Families value the support they and their children receive from staff. One parent said that the support their child receives ‘is the best’. Another parent said that they feel confident leaving their child in the care of staff, they are kept up to date and staff have helped their child develop friendships and learn new skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported to transition from the service. Staff work with children, their families and professionals to help children access other services when this is needed. Staff ensure that they capture important memories and events for the children so they have a record of their time visiting the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The property is old and in need of maintenance to ensure that it remains safe for children. Some windows, including ones in a bedroom, are not secure. The manager has closed off a bedroom until this can be made safe.

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

Children’s risk assessments and care plans are detailed and provide guidance for staff to follow to reduce risks to children. Some assessments do not provide continuity of information on how to manage children’s care. The manager’s oversight of these documents has not identified these discrepancies. This could lead to confusion about how to best meet the needs of children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035380 4 Staff have conversations with children to help them develop new skills and work towards agreed goals. This helps to keep a focus on how to support children to develop skills for life, such as their social interactions and basic life skills. Staff take pride in children’s progress.

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

There has been one incident where restraint has been used to ensure that a child was safe during a car journey. This was appropriately responded to, and managers had oversight of the incident. Staff spoke with the child, their parent and social worker to develop plans to prevent this risk from reoccurring.

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

Children accessing the service may have complex health needs and require support with medication. Staff receive appropriate medication training to ensure they administer medication safely and understand how to store this safely. The oversight of medicines is well established and effective.

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

A new fire alarm system has been installed. However, fire doors were not closing securely. The manager took immediate action to have these fixed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced registered manager who is supported by two deputy managers. Managers work well together to ensure that children receive a good standard of care and support. Staff said they feel well supported by their managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have good working relationships with professionals who are involved with the children. One professional commented on the good communications from staff and the contribution they make to children’s care. Constructive multi-agency relationships are key to ensuring that children receive the care they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and support. Supervision sessions provide a space to focus on children and reflect on practice. This helps managers understand staff strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures they have a skilled and qualified team to work with children. Training is included in team meetings and development days. This helps staff to improve their knowledge and skills when caring for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safe recruitment practice is in place. Managers follow their procedures to ensure that they safely recruit to their vacant positions. This helps to ensure that only adults who are safe to do so are employed to work in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035380 5

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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, The 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 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the monitoring systems are effective in identifying inaccuracies and inconsistencies across documents. 1 July 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home complies with relevant health and safety legislations. In particular, the manager should ensure that all areas of the home are safe and in good repair. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: SC035380 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: SC035380 7 and inspects 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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