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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC477428 1 SC477428 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

The home is operated and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to two children with learning disabilities and physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was carried out following an anonymous complaint made with concerns that a child may be at risk of harm. The complaint stated that a child was living at the home whose behaviours were targeting another child.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2025.

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Inspection date: 10 February 2025

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: SC477428 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

The inspector spoke to both children living at the home during this inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff know the children well and understand how to respond to their needs. They follow children’s plans to provide care. Risk assessments are updated regularly and provide staff with strategies and guidance. This means that staff can respond to a child’s needs in crisis and mitigate potential harm to provide reassurance and promote safety.

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Findings from the inspection

For one child, who is non-verbal, staff use the child’s preferred communication methods to understand their wishes and feelings. The staff recognise behavioural changes and use the child’s communication book and their relationship with the child to understand what the child is trying to communicate.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff use thoughtful language to record incidents and update daily records. They write with due consideration given to how children will feel when coming back to read their information. However, children’s records do not provide a consistent narrative and lack continuity. This may be confusing for children when reflecting on their time living in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Records capturing information about children missing from home lack detail. Information is written across different documents and does not provide a comprehensive record. As a result, there is a lost opportunity for reflection and learning in relation to missing-from-home incidents. Return-home interviews are requested and offered following a missing-from-home incident. However, the child has not engaged with this opportunity to talk about their reasons for being away from the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Some children say they are unhappy at the home. One child said they do not want to be there, and another child has presented as upset and distressed. A child has come to live in the home in an unplanned way. Their needs were not fully assessed and are not in line with the statement of purpose. This has caused disruption and instability for the other child living in the home. It has also disrupted staff who may not be equipped to meet this child’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have confidence in the manager, who has recently become registered for this home. The registered manager is aware of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. However, in the period of not having a registered manager, staff have not felt listened to by senior managers when they have shared their concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

Two recommendations have not been reviewed at this inspection and have been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC477428 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/10/2024 Full Good 19/03/2024 Full Good 12/12/2022 Full Good 05/01/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC477428 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 within the given timescales.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)) 14 May 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that evaluation of missing-from-home incidents is carried out to identify any gaps in training, skills or knowledge for staff and to record and retain evidence of what worked well. This evaluation should inform the review of the quality of care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.31)  The registered person should ensure that a record of supervision is kept for all staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC477428 5

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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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Inspector

Kate Jackson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC477428 6 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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