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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033127 1 SC033127 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 managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to 11 children with physical or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the visit, the home was providing care for four children. The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2023 and is appropriately qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

This visit was carried out to address specific concerns following the full inspection on 30 April 2024.

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection, this home was judged inadequate. One compliance notice was issued under Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard). This was because of serious concerns relating to the safety and protection of children. The purpose of this visit was to review the progress and actions taken by the provider to meet the compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed how children’s risk assessments are updated and accessible to staff. The documents are detailed, reviewed regularly and identify the actions for staff to take should risks be identified. Staff take responsibility for reading children’s risk assessments before starting their shift. Staff spoken to were knowledgeable about the risks for the children, how to locate the risk assessment and the actions they should take to manage emerging risks.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has adapted the monthly audit to include staff’s knowledge of risk. This means that the registered manager can be assured that staff know the risks identified for each child. Staff have received a one-off supervision session with leaders and managers to ensure that they are aware of the new process for Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033127 2 accessing the risk assessments. This means that staff working with children in the home are knowledgeable about children’s risks and the actions they should take to safeguard them.

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This monitoring visit

Staff receive regular supervision. This means that staff are provided with opportunities to reflect on their practice. Leaders and managers can review staff’s actions to ensure that they are in keeping with risk assessments. This ensures that leaders and managers can recognise, challenge and address any shortfalls in practice.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have supported one child to move to another placement where their needs can be met safely. This has reduced the risk identified at the full inspection of children posing a risk to each other. A multi-agency approach was provided to ensure a safe transition period for the child to the new placement and to support the other children returning safely to their home. This transition has been completed, and children living at the home feel happy and safe.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have made changes to increase safety in the home. Staff have been provided with close-fitting bags to carry fobs and keys in to ensure safe storage. This prevents keys and other equipment from being visible to children or carried in places where they could easily be misplaced or cause an injury if taken by a child.

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This monitoring visit

Oxygen tanks required to manage some children’s health needs now have their own safe storage area. There is appropriate signage to identify the flammable risk, and the tanks are no longer stored outside where they are open to the weather. The tanks have their own secure cage and a stand to prevent them from falling over. Fire extinguishers in the home are appropriately placed and secured back on the walls. In the event of an emergency, these are easily accessible to staff to support children exiting the home safely and quickly.

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This monitoring visit

Home conditions have improved. Some damage has been repaired and soft furnishings have been purchased. One child has had flooring replaced and a new sofa. The outside space has been made safe so that it is a usable area for children to use. It is acknowledged that there are some outstanding repairs and work required in the home. However, there is a system in place regarding ongoing repairs and replacement items being tracked and any lack of progress being challenged, where necessary. The home is now a more homely environment for children to live in.

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This monitoring visit

Following this visit, it was determined that the compliance notice has been met and the changes required to satisfy regulation 25 have also been addressed. The requirements previously issued under regulations 13, 14, 11 and 35 were not reviewed during this visit. For this reason, they are restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033127 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/04/2024 Full Inadequate 17/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/10/2022 Full Good 14/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033127 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person enables, inspires, and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

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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 staff have the experience, qualifications, and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(d)(e)) 11 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(c)) 11 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033127 5 The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iv)(x)(xi)) 11 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 11 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033127 6 within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(v)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, support children to talk about their feelings. Following incidents, ensure that feedback is sought from children and staff and that learning takes place.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should provide a children’s guide for all children in the home. This should be accessible to the children who live in the home, considering their communication needs. It should be kept under regular review with the statement of purpose, and any changes should be explained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraphs 4.21, 4.22 and 4.23)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033127 7

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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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Inspectors

Kate Jackson, Social Care Inspector Ladean Wilson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033127 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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