Children's Home run by Tees-Valley Care Limited in Redcar and Cleveland

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1272220 1 Registered provider: Tees-Valley Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides short- and long-term care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since August 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Inspection date: 25 February 2025

Date of last inspection: 3 September 2024

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Inspection date: 25 February 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 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: 1272220 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

One child was spoken with during the inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, the manager has taken action to address some of the previous shortfalls identified with staffing, supervision and the care of children. However, some requirements have been reissued where further progress is required.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are learning how their feelings can affect how they behave. Staff complete key-work sessions with children to help them understand their emotions and learn how to express them appropriately. Staff have clear expectations in place relating to children’s behaviour. One child said that she knows that staff have put safety measures in place to keep her safer. This helps children to understand their risks and encourages them to adhere to boundaries.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s essential documents are held on their file. This includes when children are subject to a deprivation of liberty court order. This provides staff with the information they need to safeguard children in line with these orders.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have regular supervisions with their line manager. This gives them the opportunity to reflect on the needs of each child and the impact that their practice has on the care that children receive. This allows the manager to maintain oversight of staff performance and how they contribute to the experiences and progress of children.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager adheres to safer recruitment practices. Since the last inspection, the international recruitment policy has been updated. Further overseas checks on staff already in post have been completed. New staff are subject to suitable checks and vetting before starting work in the home. This assures leaders and managers that children are cared for by appropriate adults.

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Findings from the inspection

There is an increase in the number of experienced and qualified staff. One staff member has completed their diploma, with more staff due to complete their qualification in the coming months. Staff are enrolled on an appropriate course when they have completed their probation period. Leaders and managers have provided additional training specifically relating to the children they are caring for. This means that staff are gaining the skills they need to meet children’s individual needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff use methods of restraint when children become frustrated or upset. This includes the use of medication to help children to calm. The manager has made progress in recording their oversight of incidents when restraint is required. Staff work well with professionals when they use medication, and the child’s consent is sought. However, not all children are spoken with and offered independent Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1272220 3 advocacy. This prevents some children from being able to share their views about how their behaviour has been managed by staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not always have up-to-date information about children’s risks or how to effectively manage these risks. Risk assessments are not always updated or communicated to the staff team in a timely manner to reflect the changing needs of children. For one child, this has contributed to them engaging in risk-taking behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager’s monitoring and oversight of the home are not yet effective. The processes in place do not help the manager to identify where improvements are needed or enable her to review the actions taken to strengthen practice. For example, the manager does not review the risks for each child or evaluate whether interventions are working. This does not allow the manager to have adequate oversight to improve outcomes for children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1272220 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/04/2023 Full Good 25/07/2022 Full Good 05/01/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1272220 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(s) 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 8 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 8 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")— 8 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1272220 6 has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1272220 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Tees-Valley Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Tees-Valley Care, PO Box 547, Middlesbrough TS1 9HG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Ann-Marie Henderson

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Inspector

Natalie Clark, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1272220 8 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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Inspector

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