Children's home run by Middlesbrough Borough Council

Inspection report for children’s home: SC472392 1 SC472392 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 owned and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to five children who may have social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, the home was providing care for four children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2019.

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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: 16 January 2024

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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: SC472392 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/01/2024 Full Good 22/02/2023 Full Good 01/03/2022 Full Good 11/02/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC472392 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming for the children. The furniture and decoration are of a high standard. Photos of the children and staff enjoying days out and holidays are displayed around the home. Children choose their own furnishings and personalise their bedrooms. This helps them to feel part of their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s transitions into the home are managed well. Visits take place to introduce the children to the staff and their new home. Children receive guidance and time to process their move. The children are supported to complete a programme of life skills during their time living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel safe and cared for. They say they feel loved and trust that they will have support for as long as they need. The children are cared for by a stable and familiar staff team. This helps them to build trusting relationships with people who provide unconditional support during difficult times.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have high aspirations and are supported to achieve their goals. Attendance at education and training is good, and children engage in extra study time in preparation for exams. Apprenticeships and college placements are going well, and the children are enjoying their learning. Some children are engaged in sports clubs and social groups outside of school. This encourages them to explore their talents and interests and helps them to spend constructive time with their friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s physical and mental health needs are met. The staff ensure that children attend health appointments and receive treatment when needed. Arrangements are made for access to specialist services for support with mental health. The staff also receive guidance on how to best support children from the home’s clinical psychologist.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children moving on to live independently receive ongoing support. They have access to ‘staying close’ arrangements from staff who they know and trust. Children can visit the home to seek help with personal issues, the demands of living independently or to catch up with the staff. This provides a sense of continued support for the children during the early days of their move on to adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children do not know how to raise complaints. Children are given the information about the home when they arrive, but this does not include who to contact if they are unhappy about their care. This was identified during the previous inspection and has not been addressed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC472392 4

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

Children’s plans and assessments are clear and easy to understand. Children know how staff will support them during difficult times. The staff work with children to help them to recognise risks and keep themselves safe in line with their own plans.

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

The home is a safe space for the children. They explore their feelings and seek support from staff who they trust. The staff treat the children with unconditional positive regard. This promotes a sense of acceptance for the children.

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

Staff seek appropriate help and support for children who have been subject to exploitation. Staff recognise the signs that children are being exploited and how this can lead to behaviour such as self-harm. The manager and staff work well with other agencies to ensure that children are safe. The staff are vigilant and employ techniques to disrupt exploitative relationships and gather information which can be used to promote children’s safety. The staff work collaboratively with police and other agencies to protect children who are vulnerable to exploitation.

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

When children are missing, staff act quickly to locate them. The staff have positive relationships with the children’s friends and family who share important information. The staff use technology and their knowledge of the children and the local community to support children to return quickly and safely.

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

The manager follows safer recruitment practices when new staff are employed. New employees are vetted and undergo a thorough induction and training programme before they work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably qualified and experienced manager. The staff are familiar with each other, experienced and long-serving. This gives the children a sense of stability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff are trained to meet the needs of the children. Mandatory training takes place as part of a thorough induction process. The manager acts quickly to ensure that staff receive training that is specific to new and emerging needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding and oversight of the children, staff and the home. Team meetings drive the work that is carried out to keep children safe. This helps to ensure that children receive good care in line with their plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff receive regular supervision that allows them to reflect on their practice and how well they meet the needs of each child. Staff can discuss the model of care used in the home and the impact this has on children’s progress. Staff say that they feel well supported by their manager, which helps them in performing their role. Inspection report for children’s home: SC472392 5 Senior leaders have good oversight of the most vulnerable children. Leaders and managers hold fortnightly meetings with the manager to understand the latest risks and seek to improve the children’s care. These meetings act as a catalyst to speed up decision-making and progress children’s plans without unnecessary delay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager carries out regular audits to identify shortfalls and address concerns. However, the audit has not identified that children’s plans have not been received. This reduces staff’s ability to work to the plans agreed with the placing authority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The are inconsistencies in a small number of documents. The lack of clear and accurate recording has the potential to impact on the continuity of care the child receives. Inspection report for children’s home: SC472392 6

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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 registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, a copy of any plan for the care of the child prepared by the child’s placing authority must be obtained. 28 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ensure that an explanation is given to each child as soon as reasonably practicable after the child’s arrival about—

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Requirement Due date

how to make a complaint or representations in relation to the home or the care the child receives and how any such complaint or representations will be dealt with. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(d)(ii)) 28 June 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children’s home: SC472392 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: SC472392 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Middlesbrough Borough Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Kalia-Marina Kourou-Paradeli

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Inspector

Lee Riley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC472392 9 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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