Children's Home run by Durham County Council in Durham

Unique reference number SC035220 Inspection date 05/01/2012 Inspector Stephen Graham Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 19/10/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011).

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Brief description of the service

This local authority children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three children of either sex, aged 12 years to 17 years. It is registered to care for young people whose main needs arise from emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress.

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Progress

The home is currently judged as good. Since the last inspection, the manager and staff team have worked very effectively to further improve the service. The two actions set at that visit and three of the four recommendations made, have been fully implemented. Some work has been completed with regard to the fourth recommendation. However, as this has not yet been fully implemented, the recommendation is re-stated in this report.

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Progress

To help keep young people safe, the staff team follow detailed guidance regarding the use of agreed sanctions where this is necessary. A range of agreed incentives are used regularly to support and promote the very positive behaviour of young people living at the home. The use of restraint has rarely been necessary at the home. However, when it has been used the required records are now completed promptly. Room searches are occasionally necessary to help ensure that all young people are safe living at the home. The records maintained have been improved and now clearly indicate that each search has been conducted and recorded in accordance with the written guidance at the home. The staff team look after young people if they are ever unwell. The records, that the staff team need to maintain, of any accidents occurring at the home have been improved and are now fully complete.

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Progress

To help ensure that the home is effectively managed and led, monitoring visits to the home take place on behalf of the registered provider. Arrangements for these visits have been improved to help ensure that they take place at the frequency required and that they cover all of the matters required by regulation. There are good systems which are used by the manager to monitor the home's records and to create monthly reports regarding the quality of the service provided to young people. Young people, their parents and their social workers are regularly consulted as part of this process. The information gathered from this monitoring is used by the manager to plan further improvements to the service. These reports are now provided to Ofsted as recommended. The staff are well qualified and are very experienced in working with children and young people. They receive regular supervision and additional training opportunities. However, the training monitor used to record and plan staff

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Progress

The manager and staff team use a combination of individual discussions, group meetings and surveys to consult with young people, their parents, carers and placing social workers. This helps to ensure that the wishes and feelings of young people and those involved in their care are taken into consideration in the day-to-day running of the home.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that the recording system used to monitor and plan staff training is clearly presented. (NMS 18.2)

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