Children's Home run by Active Young People Limited in Stockton-on-Tees

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2625941 1 Registered provider: Active Young People Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private company. It provides care for up to nine children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2023. Five children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector 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: 2625941 2

p.1

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. All the requirements and recommendations made at the full inspection are met.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children’s risk assessments are easy to understand and contain all known risks. Staff understand these risks well. Risk assessments no longer contain blaming language and no longer misrepresent emotions displayed by children . Staff also understand children’s care plans well and follow these. This helps the manager to be assured that children are well-cared for, and that staff help to keep children safe.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager has an effective escalation policy in place to ensure children’s statutory documents are received from each child’s placing authority. This means staff have access to important information about the children. Staff use this information to develop targets for children. This supports children to make progress.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff are creative in helping children to build relationships with each other. For example, staff have arranged movie nights and indoor snowball play. This helps children to make progress with their social skills and develop friendships.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager has developed a strategy to address shortfalls in staff skills and qualifications. This will also help to ensure consistency of staffing and continuity of care to children. She is dedicated to improving children’s experiences of living in this home.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager commissioned staff training related to instilling professional boundaries and professional curiosity., Staff say they have found helpful and beneficial to their role. The management team have observed that staff are implementing the learnings from this training and that it is contributing to improved practice.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The home’s managers have significantly improved the auditing and monitoring processes. These are effective and highlight areas for staff development. For example, managers challenge how risk assessments are reviewed and suggest actions to improve practice that impacts on children’s experiences, such as rewarding children more for positive behavuiour.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Supervision sessions are regular and reflective in nature. However, records do not consistently reflect the supervisor’s discussions with the supervisee. This prevents the manager from being assured that these records are an accurate reflection of the discussions that take place. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2625941 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/08/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/02/2022 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2625941 4

p.3

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that a note of the content and/or outcomes of supervision sessions are kept to ensure that both the person giving the supervision session and staff member have a copy of the record. In particular, the record should contain the supervisor’s responses to points raised by the supervisee. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 13.14) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2625941 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Active Young People Limited

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Suffolk Way, Sevenoaks TN13 1YL

p.5

Inspector

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.

p.5

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2625941 6 You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6