Children's home run by Stockton on Tees Borough Council

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2568244 1 Registered provider: Stockton-on-Tees Borough 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 run by a local authority. It provides short- and long-term care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. This includes children with physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post since May 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home.

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Inspection date: 12 March 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 12 March 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: 2568244 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

There has been no registered manager since May 2022. Managers have been appointed during this time but have not progressed to be registered with Ofsted. The current manager’s application had not been received at the time of this inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Positive behaviour is promoted in the home. When consequences are used, they are designed to help children to reflect on the impact of their behaviour. Staff speak to children about their emotions and how they can influence their behaviour, which helps children adhere to the boundaries in the home. One child said that she has completed repairs in the home when damage has been caused and that this has helped her to take more pride in her home. This approach has led to a reduction in the amount of damage being caused.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support all children to attend an education provision. Staff help children to have a positive routine to encourage their attendance. Children who are not able to attend full time have alternative education arrangements in place. In addition to this, staff provide activities to further aid their learning. One child said that the routine and the support from staff have had a positive impact on improving their attendance.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff build positive relationships with the children they care for. Staff have been proactive in carrying out direct work to educate children about risks. This helps children to share past experiences and current concerns with staff. One child said that they talk to staff about their worries, and that this has helped them to reflect on and reduce their drugs misuse. Furthermore, the child said that they have not gone missing from the home since December.

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Findings from the inspection

Monitoring and surveillance continue to be used in the home. Door chimes are used on external doors to alert staff if someone has entered or left the building. Although children’s consent has been sought since the last inspection, consent has not been sought from the local authority for every child.

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Findings from the inspection

Not all information in children’s risk assessments is kept fully up to date with the actions staff need to take to reduce risks. This means that staff do not have clear guidance on what steps to take to safeguard children.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager does not always carefully assess the suitability of children moving into the home. Furthermore, there is no consideration of whether staff can meet the child’s needs or of the impact this may have on children already living in the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2568244 3 This increased the risks for two children when a decision was made for them to live alongside one another.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager’s monitoring of the home is not yet effective. Gaps in the manager’s oversight of the home prevent him from identifying all areas for improvement. This is hindering progress in improving the quality of care provided to children.

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Findings from the inspection

There continue to be gaps in the frequency and quality of supervision and appraisals offered to staff. This does not ensure that staff have the support they need or opportunities to reflect on their practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Fire doors do not operate in line with the expectations set out in the fire risk assessment. The manager has started to take steps to address this; however, there is no clear timescale on when this will be completed. This may present a risk to children and staff should a fire start in the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2568244 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/08/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/06/2022 Full Good 15/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2568244 5

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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 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

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;

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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)(f)(h)) 23 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)) 23 April 2025

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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 23 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2568244 6 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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c)) 23 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that fire doors are in full working order. 28 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance.(Regulation 24 (1)(b)) 23 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2568244 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Municipal Buildings, Church Road, Stockton-on- Tees TS18 1TW

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Inspector

Natalie Clark, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2568244 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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