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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC477428 1 SC477428

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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

This home is run by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional needs, a physical disability or a learning disability.

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Information about this children’s home

An acting manager has been in post since August 2026 and is not yet registered.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home and was spoken with.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 11 November 2025

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Compliance notices were issued under Regulation 12, ‘The protection of children standard’, and Regulation 13, ‘The leadership and management standard’, and a notice Inspection report for children’s home: SC477428 2 restricting accommodation was issued further to an assurance inspection outcome on 17 June 2026.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/11/2025 Full Good 08/10/2024 Full Good 19/03/2024 Full Good 12/12/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC477428 3

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Summary of findings

Managers have not ensured that children consistently receive good-quality care. Weak management oversight, inconsistency in staff practice and high staff turnover have reduced the continuity of care for children.

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Summary of findings

Children have experienced variable responses from staff. Not all staff have received the training required to respond effectively to incidents and meet children’s needs consistently.

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Summary of findings

Despite these shortfalls, staff have worked hard to support children during a period of instability. Managers are now established in post and have taken steps to strengthen practice and improve the quality of care provided to children. Managers continue to embed the development plan to support progress and outcomes for children.

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improvement to be good

The child has experienced a difficult and disrupted year. Instability has impacted the consistency of care provided and, at times, has left the child at increased risk. Although the child said that it is ‘okay’ living in the home, improvements are recent and have not yet been tested.

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improvement to be good

Staff promote education and support the child to engage in learning. Staff understand the barriers that affect the child’s attendance. Staff use their relationships and incentives to encourage the child to value education and work towards their aspirations.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child to be healthy. Staff have provided consistent encouragement and guidance around healthy choices and medication. Children have access to in-house therapeutic support to promote their emotional wellbeing. As a result, the child has been supported to improve their health and wellbeing.

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improvement to be good

Independence plans for the child have been started. They are in the early stages and require further work to ensure that the child is fully prepared for a safe and successful transition to adult services.

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improvement to be good

The child is supported to maintain relationships with people who are important to them. Clear arrangements are in place to promote family time, helping the child to maintain these important relationships safely. Inspection report for children’s home: SC477428 4

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improvement to be good

Risk assessments are reviewed and updated following incidents. Risk assessments and plans provide aligned guidance for staff. However, management oversight of incidents has not been consistent. Changes in management have resulted in inconsistencies in the monitoring and evaluation of incidents. This has reduced the opportunity to identify learning and improve safety for children.

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improvement to be good

Not all staff have received training in the home’s preferred behaviour management model. On one occasion, staff implemented a response without first using de-escalation strategies identified in the child’s plan. This decision was influenced by a lack of staff training. Staff admit to being confused regarding which behaviour management model to use, which has caused inconsistency in responses to children.

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improvement to be good

Room searches are carried out appropriately and proportionately. Staff undertake searches using a restorative approach, seeking the child’s agreement where possible and involving them in the process. This helps to build trust while ensuring that potentially harmful items are identified and removed.

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improvement to be good

The child’s behaviours are rarely subject to consequences. Staff use a restorative approach that is proportionate and relevant to the child’s behaviour. This approach helps the child to understand the impact of their actions and behaviour.

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improvement to be good

Medication is currently stored away from the home. Staff are working with the child to increase their understanding of medication and its safe use, and to help the child to manage their health needs more independently in the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Management monitoring and oversight have been ineffective. Managers have not completed the audits and monitoring activities necessary to evaluate the quality of care provided to children. As a result, leaders and managers have not maintained sufficient oversight of practice, and opportunities to identify concerns and drive improvement were missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Supervision has not taken place in line with the home’s expectations. Staff have not received the guidance and support necessary to undertake their roles effectively. More recently, supervision has improved and has become increasingly reflective. However, managers have not ensured that staff are provided with protected time for supervision, and there have been no annual appraisals completed. This limits opportunities for staff to reflect on their performance and identify professional development needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There has been a period of instability. Frequent management changes, staff turnover and a high reliance on agency staff have left some staff feeling unsettled and unsupported. The permanent staff team has reduced and consistency of care for children Inspection report for children’s home: SC477428 5 has been affected. Recent recruitment has been positive and there are identified staff waiting to start in the role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Recent changes in the management of the home have brought greater stability. Staff report increased confidence in the new management team’s ability to improve practice and strengthen support for children and staff. However, these improvements are at an early stage and have not yet been embedded to demonstrate effective leadership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff speak positively about the new manager and are confident in their ability to provide effective leadership and further progress. The manager has established a visible presence in the home and is working alongside staff to model expectations and improve practice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC477428 6

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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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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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 home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)) 30 January 2027

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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; 30 January 2027 Inspection report for children’s home: SC477428 7 ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; 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)(h))

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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 (1) (4)(b)(c)) 30 January 2027

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Recommendation

 The registered person should notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)-(d) occurs, which the registered person considers to be serious (40(4)(e)). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have 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: SC477428 8

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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: Municipal Offices, Town Hall Square, Grimsby DN31 1HU

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Inspectors

Kate Jackson, Social Care Inspector Mel Turner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC477428 9 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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