MLB - Ofsted Children's Residential Home in County Durham

Ofsted Registered Solo/Small Bedded Children's Homes required for 16 year old male in County Durham.

Pen Picture:

MLB is a lovely, friendly young person. He is very sociable, chatty, and outgoing. He loves football, bikes, buses and his nana and grandad very much. His favourite football team is Newcastle United and he is often seen wearing different football kits regardless of the weather. MLB likes to socialise with other young people and he will seek to build friendships and relationship with his carers and workers also. MLB thrives on social interactions and this helps him to feel settled. MLB has a good sense of humour and will often make jokes and chit-chat with people when he meets people.

MLB also enjoys playing on his Xbox, he will arrange to play online with friends on Fortnite. MLB likes to take care of his appearance, he will spend around 1-2 hours each morning getting ready and he has a large collection of aftershave, something he enjoys wearing. MLB will often wear sportswear and often looks smart and neat.

MLB not only enjoys watching football and following his favourite teams, but he also loves playing football. He will play football in the back garden at his home, at the park and he goes to a football club once a week where he plays in an over sixteen team. MLB is a talented footballer and this is something he enjoys pursuing.

MLB is a keen leaner; he has told the social worker how much he wants to go to school and that he wants to go to college when he is older. He is currently having home tuition while we search for a school place for him and he enjoys this and works well with his tutors, he is working towards his foundations level 1 in Maths and English.

MLB has had quite a lot of placements in the past as he struggled to settle into being in care. MLB was initially placed in the Local Authority’s care after his grandparents signed a Section 20 for his as they felt they could not keep him safe at home. MLB was extremely upset by this as he believed he would shortly be returning to their care; however, this became a long-term situation as grandparents did not feel they could have him back. This led MLB to having lots of homes over a short period of time as when he is unsettled, the number of aggressive incidents is increased. When living in southern England, MLB was unhappy that he was away from his home area and frequently tried to return. Since coming back to the north East in July 2023, he has been much calmer and more stable. There have been very few aggressive incidents, no incidents of harmful sexual behaviour and only two missing episodes, this is a massive improvement in terms on MLB’s wellbeing. He is having regular family time and he engages in several hobbies and activities with his carers when he is not in his lessons. MLB has said he wants to live in a home with carers he can get on with and that is near enough to his grandparents to allow him to have regular family time with them as he is at present.

MLB has a diaganosis of ASD and is currently subject to a DOL's order requiring 3:1 staffing to support his needs.