Children's home run by North East Lincolnshire Council

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775104 1 Registered provider: 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 one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties, a learning disability or a sensory impairment.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager in post.

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Information about this children’s home

One child lives in the home and the inspector spoke with them during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have 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: 2775104 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

Since the last inspection, there have been several changes in the home’s management team. The former registered manager resigned in August 2024 and the responsible individual is currently on extended leave. Managers from other homes in the local authority oversee the day-to-day operations of the home on a rotation basis, with the deputy service director’s support. Leaders have recognised the instability caused for the child and the staff by the changes in the leadership team, and actions are currently being taken to address the recruitment and retention of the manager and the staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Despite the recent changes in the home’s management team, the child has made progress from their starting point. The child has shared with the inspectors that they feel safe and have developed trusting relationships with some staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff value the child’s views. Staff support the child to express themselves so that their opinions can be reflected in decisions made in the home. The child’s views and wishes are listened to and promoted. When a request from the child is not possible, it is clearly explained to the child the reasons behind the decision.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have a good understanding of their responsibilities to keep the child safe. When concerns arise, they take appropriate action and work closely with the wider professional network, such as social workers and child and adolescent mental health services, to make sure that the child gets the support they need. Staff understand what the child’s behaviours mean, how to respond effectively and how to help the child feel more settled.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is helped to develop and improve their social skills. Staff use their positive relationships with the child, along with consequences and rewards, to encourage them to make better choices. Consequently, the need for more restrictive measures, such as physical guides or holds, has not been required.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been an improvement in the physical appearance of the home. The home has benefited from full decoration. In addition to this, staff help the child decorate their bedroom to their own taste.

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Findings from the inspection

The lack of a permanent manager in the home means that the management oversight of the care provided to the child is not always consistent or effective. The child’s health plan does not clearly outline the actions required to support the child’s new and emerging health needs. This means that the staff lack clear guidance and strategies to effectively support the child. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775104 3 The child is cared for by a small core team of staff and a high number of specialist agency staff. Staff from sister homes cover any shortfalls in staffing. However, this often results in the child receiving care from unfamiliar staff. The monitoring and oversight of the staff team by leaders and managers is not yet effective. The core staff have not undertaken the required training relevant to their roles. This means that the child is not cared for by a staff team whose members have the relevant

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Findings from the inspection

knowledge and skills to meet their needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Safeguarding concerns are responded to quickly and appropriately. However, the managers have not notified Ofsted of serious incidents. This oversight has prevented Ofsted from scrutinising how significant incidents and potential safeguarding matters are investigated. This prevents Ofsted from being assured that the managers and staff have taken effective action to safeguard the child.

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Findings from the inspection

An independent visitor visits the home monthly. However, the reports lack evaluation and analysis of the home’s safeguarding arrangements for the child. This is a missed opportunity for the leaders and managers to reflect on the care provided to the child. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775104 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775104 5

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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 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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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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’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(e)(f)(h)) 1 November 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or 29 November 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775104 6 if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(b)(d) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 29 November 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the independent person who carries out visits to the home must make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 65, paragraph 15.5) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775104 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

Cherie Chen, Social Care Inspector Carol Jagger, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775104 8 regulates 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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