Agenda item

The Service Manager (Supported Accommodation Residential) and the Residential Manager were in attendance to provide Members with a presentation on Rosecroft Children’s Home. Rosecroft was a home for children and young people. Boys and girls could live there between the ages of 11 and 17. Up to five young people could live at Rosecroft at the same time and most residents were from Middlesbrough but some may have lived in other places before arriving.

Board Members heard that Oftsed had carried out an inspection of Rosecroft in November 2025 and found the provision to be outstanding in all areas. Inspectors had commented on the positive relationships children had with staff who they trusted and said children felt loved and wanted.

Children at Rosecroft had been supported by staff through major life events such as bereavements and pregnancy and staff had recently received an invitation to a former resident’s wedding underscoring the relationships they had with the children. The children demonstrated increased confidence and aspiration, feeling encouraged to excel in both their education and wider life.

A Member queried what considerations were taken into account during the referral process to determine whether a placement at Rosecroft was the correct choice for a child. It was confirmed that Rosecroft’s manager would review the referral information based on several factors such as the child’s needs and an impact risk assessment would be carried out to identify any risks to the community and young person as well as strengths and how these would be managed.

Members praised the welcome pack highly which had been submitted as an appendix to the Board and highlighted the welcoming tone. It was queried how the pack was received by young people and how they generally felt when arriving at the home. It was advised that a transition plan was developed to prepare young people for moving and visits were arranged so they could spend time with staff. It was emphasised that moves were planned in line with each child’s individual pace and needs. While some children preferred a gradual transition, others found the uncertainty of waiting difficult and in such cases a quicker move could be accommodated.

Members expressed an interest in understanding the range of accommodation available to cared for children in Middlesbrough and requested a breakdown of the different types and profiles of homes to be circulated to Members following the meeting. Clarification was also sought around how private children’s homes fit into the wider landscape of provision.

The Board was advised that in-house placements were always first choice to explore but sometimes these were not suitable. The Residential Panel monitored and reviewed external placements and costs to ensure they were the right choice for the child. The Commissioning Team sourced and secured external placements where needed and matched a child to the most appropriate placement. Regulated placements were prioritised but there were situations where unregulated placements had to be used in emergencies or if no other suitable placements were available.

A discussion took place regarding the costs of private provision compared with Council-run homes, with the Director confirming that costs could vary significantly. Concerns had been raised at a national level about potential profiteering within the sector, which was being examined by central government. The Commissioning Team was keen to drive down costs, noting that local authorities were able to negotiate, as maintaining positive relationships with councils was beneficial for private providers.

A Member raised that there had historically been staffing problems in this area and queried whether this was still an ongoing issue. It was also asked whether the Council had any plans to open new homes in the future to increase internal provision. The Executive Member for Children’s Services advised that the Executive had agreed to pause this work previously to focus on improving existing services but it was open to the idea in the future.  It was agreed that staff recruitment and retention was an ongoing challenge due to the demanding nature of the job but was improving. There was currently one vacancy at Rosecroft.

AGREED that:

1.     The information provided was received and noted.

2.     A breakdown of the different types and profiles of children’s homes in Middlesbrough be circulated to Members following the meeting.