Children's home run by Middlesbrough Borough Council

Inspection report for children’s home: SC033840 1 SC033840 Registered provider: Middlesbrough Borough Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned and managed by a local authority. It is registered to provide short breaks for up to nine children with learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2003. The responsible individual post has been vacant since July 2024.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC033840 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2024 Full Good 03/01/2023 Full Good 11/01/2022 Full Good 18/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC033840 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are welcomed to the home with a planned transition. The manager considers each child’s individual needs and how they respond to meeting staff and visiting the home. The staff work with the child, their parents and other professionals to make sure that children are ready to stay overnight. This helps both the child and their parents to be assured that they are safe and cared for well when they come to stay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from positive relationships with staff who they trust. The interactions between children and staff are warm and familiar. The staff respond to the small cues displayed by the children. This helps staff to keep them safe, provide what they need and improve their experience when staying over at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children are not able to communicate using speech and rely on other forms of communication. Children use a mix of signing, verbal and physical prompts and guides to indicate their needs to staff. Staff are skilled in the children’s individual communication styles. This ensures that children can make choices and have some control over how their care needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are treated with respect. Staff are responsive to the needs of children and ensure that they always consider the child’s dignity. Staff provide intimate personal care to some children and ensure that they have privacy and a safe space where their needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a variety of activities. This provides children with the opportunity to try new things and explore their abilities. Staff consult with the children and their families to understand what children enjoy. The staff are creative in providing activities in the home for children after school. Children have had visits from the local police and do lots of arts and crafts. Children enjoy their stay in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The physical environment lacks the feel of a family home. There is some damage in the home and repairs have been outstanding for some time. One bathroom has been out of use for over 12 months, and there is debris and rubbish in the garden. This impacts on the children’s enjoyment of their short break. The environment lacks any homely furnishings and furniture and this gives the home an institutional feel. This is emphasised by the language that staff use to describe different areas of the home.

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

The children’s safety plans are clear and provide the staff with the knowledge they need to care for the children and reduce their risks. The staff know the children well and are confident in what to do if there is a safeguarding concern. The manager makes sure that newly recruited staff read the children’s plans and risk assessments so that they are Inspection report for children’s home: SC033840 4 aware of these protocols. This helps to ensure that all staff can care for the children appropriately.

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

There have been no incidents of physical restraint since the last inspection. The staff know the children well and seek to engage them in a way that children find helpful and fun. The staff give children direction and reaffirm rules or boundaries without children becoming upset or anxious.

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

Staff engage the children in talks and use story boards to increase children’s understanding. They invite services such as the police to speak with the children and educate them. This approach breaks down barriers with emergency services and educates children about important issues, such as anti-social behaviour. For one child this has helped them to understand some of the risks related to their behaviour.

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

The manager acts quickly when medication errors occur. Staff ensure that medical attention is sought, and the safety of the child is assured. The manager speaks with staff and takes action to address the issue and improve practice. Staff have completed refresher medication training to ensure that they are aware of the correct procedures. This demonstrates a transparent safeguarding culture that seeks to improve staff practice and keep children safer.

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

New employees are not always checked and vetted in line with safer recruitment practice. When there are concerns about a person’s employment, verification calls and emails are not always followed up to confirm the reason for employment gaps. This does not provide assurances that children are cared for by suitable adults

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably qualified and experienced manager. Staff turnover is low, and many staff have worked in the home for a significant length of time. This demonstrates that staff are happy in their roles and enjoy working in the home. This also offers consistency in the care children receive and can form lasting relationships with the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager builds strong relationships with the families of the children and professionals involved with them. Family members say that they can rely on staff to help their child to make progress and trust that their children will be safe and well cared for. Parents and professionals say staff communicate effectively, and they are confident that staff provide care that is consistent to the children’s needs. This helps children to feel secure, in that their care routine remains predictable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff complete training to provide them with the skills they need to care for the children effectively. The manager uses reflective sessions to consolidate the staff’s learning and give them insight into how their practice affects the care children receive. Most staff have achieved the required qualification, and those who haven’t are enrolled on their course. This supports a skilled and experienced staff team to care for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC033840 5 The manager provides staff with regular monthly supervision. This allows them the opportunity to discuss all aspects of their role and how the children are cared for. The staff explore the challenges that children face and discuss strategies to overcome these and improve their care experience. Staff receive an annual appraisal to review their goals and focus on their ongoing development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s systems to review the home are effective in identifying any issues. The auditing tool itself has been reviewed to provide much clearer way of identifying shortfalls and addressing these, month on month. This is effective in addressing concerns to maintain and improve the quality of care that children receive. Inspection report for children’s home: SC033840 6

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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 within the given timescales.

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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

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Requirement Due date

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

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(d)) 18 March 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15 paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors 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: SC033840 7

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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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Inspectors

Lee Riley, Social Care Inspector Deb Duffy, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: SC033840 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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