Children's Home run by Stockton on Tees Borough Council in Stockton-on-Tees

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035222 1 SC035222

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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 operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post is currently vacant.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with one child.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

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: SC035222 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

There are significant concerns about the leadership and management of the home. This has led to serious incidents not being raised or managed appropriately, leaving children at risk of harm. There has been a high level of management turnover, and the registered manager post is currently vacant. The monitoring and reviewing systems are ineffective, and managers’ procedures and policies have not been followed consistently or effectively. Additionally, oversight from leaders and managers has failed to identify the significant shortfalls, and they have not taken effective action to improve practice.

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Findings from the inspection

When significant incidents have taken place, staff and managers have not recognised the risk to the child and do not always take appropriate action to reduce the risks. When a safeguarding incident took place, there was a lack of professional curiosity surrounding the incident and important safeguarding actions following the incident did not take place. This resulted in the child being harmed.

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Findings from the inspection

Some areas within the home, including the children’s bedrooms, are in poor condition and require maintenance, decorating and cleaning to ensure that they meet the needs of the children.

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Findings from the inspection

On some occasions, serious incidents are not appropriately notified to Ofsted. This prevents Ofsted from scrutinising information to ensure that children are safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not addressed the shortfalls identified at the full inspection. Most of the areas of concern raised continue to be so and, in some areas, there have been further and more significant concerns raised.

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Findings from the inspection

Due to the serious and widespread concerns identified, leaders have implemented a safety plan to reduce the risks involved. This provides children with safer arrangements for their care while plans for each child are fully reviewed.

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Findings from the inspection

Following a case review on 27 February 2026, which confirmed there are serious and widespread concerns at the home, a compliance notice under Regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, has been made. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035222 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/10/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/10/2024 Full Good 06/09/2023 Full Good 05/07/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035222 4

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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 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

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h)) 19 April 2026

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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. 19 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035222 5 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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; and

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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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

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

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Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(b)) 19 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. 19 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035222 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(a)(iii))

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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. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 19 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vii)(c)(i)) 19 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is any incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 19 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

*This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035222 7  The registered person should ensure that where children are not participating in education, staff work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  The registered person should ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to help children understand and, where necessary, work to change behaviours in key areas of health and wellbeing, such as mental health, sexual relationships, sexual health and the use of drugs and vapes. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35,

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Recommendations

paragraph 7.18) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035222 8

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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

Dawn McCluskey, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035222 9 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 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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Inspector

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