Children's Home run by Redcar and Cleveland Council in Redcar and Cleveland

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2699377 1 Registered provider: Redcar and Cleveland Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is managed by a local authority. It provides short- and long-term care for up to six children who may experience social, emotional or mental health difficulties. The home also offers outreach services to children who live with their families or in other placements.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2023.

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Inspection date: 16 October 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: 2699377 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

Leaders and managers recognise when children are engaging in behaviours that are likely to place themselves and others at an increased risk of harm. The manager served notice on one child’s placement and accelerated another child’s transition back to their family home. These measures kept children safer at home but did not prevent one child being arrested for a serious incident in the community.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff ensure that children receive unconditional care and support regardless of some difficult circumstances. The shortfalls in practice have been addressed and there have been improvements since the last inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s moves into and out of the home are managed well. The manager uses information from professionals’ meetings to assess the impact on the children already living in the home. The dynamics of children living together and the potential risks to each other are considered.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff know the children well and understand the risks they may face when in their local community. Leaders and managers have established relationships with children’s wider family, social networks and professional agencies. These relationships help to inform the children’s plans and actions staff need to take to reduce their risks.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff talk to children about important issues. These discussions are regular and offer guidance to children and help them to develop their relationships with the staff. When concerns are identified, staff support the children to engage with specialist services to address issues such as substance misuse and child exploitation. When children refuse to engage, staff continue to encourage them to make safer choices.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff use restorative practice to promote children’s learning. Children can reflect and discuss how they feel with staff. Children are encouraged to repair items in the home that they have broken. This instils a sense of personal responsibility and reduces the likelihood of repeated incidents or damage in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

When children are missing from home, the staff act quickly. Staff search known locations and communicate with family and friends until the children return home safely. Children do not always engage in the independent return home interviews. However, staff speak to the children to try and understand why they go missing from home. This helps staff to put plans in place to reduce the frequency of children going missing.

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Findings from the inspection

The children say they feel safe in the home. This view is shared by professionals and parents. The children know how to raise complaints if they are unhappy about the Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2699377 3 care they receive, and they say that they are confident raising issues directly with staff who they trust.

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Findings from the inspection

When complaints are received, leaders and managers do not record these in line with the home’s complaints policy. A parent raised a complaint about their child’s transition plan. The manager spoke with the parents and resolved the matter successfully. Evidence of the actions that the manager took was not available. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2699377 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/06/2024 Full Good 16/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2699377 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping. When a complaint is received, this should be recorded in line with the home’s complaints policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2699377 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Redcar and Cleveland Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Department of Social Services, Seafield House, Kirkleatham Street, Redcar TS10 1SP

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Inspector

Lee Riley, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2699377 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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