Children's Home run by Durham County Council in Durham

Unique reference number SC035181 Inspection date 30/03/2012 Inspector Stephen Graham Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 05/10/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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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 offers short-break care and accommodation for up to six young people 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 was judged as outstanding at the last inspection visit. Since that visit, the manager and staff team have worked very effectively to further improve the service. The one action set and four recommendations made at that inspection have each been fully implemented. One new action is set regarding the frequency of the monitoring visits to the home completed on behalf of the registered provider. These visits are required to help monitor and report on the quality of care provided to young people by the service.

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Progress

Monitoring by an external visitor has continued to take place on behalf of the registered provider. The reports created from these visits have been improved and now cover each of the matters recommended in sufficient detail. In addition, the views of the parents and relatives of the children accommodated at the home are now gathered more regularly by the visitors. However, these visits have not always occurred each month as required by regulation.

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Progress

The staff team complete detailed risk assessments and use these to help ensure the home is a safe place for young people to live. Regular checks are also completed on the safety equipment used to help protect young people. The arrangements to complete these checks have been further improved to ensure that they take place at the frequency agreed in the fire safety risk assessment for the home.

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Progress

The leadership and management arrangements at the home are effective. A Statement of Purpose is in place which gives good information about the service provided at the home. Since the previous inspection the information within it has been further reviewed and updated to ensure that it is fully accurate. Young people also receive their own guide to the home. It is now presented to a good standard and contains clear information about how the service is provided. The current document has been updated and now contains all of the information recommended. For example how young people can contact their own independent reviewing officer. There are good systems in place 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. Arrangements to provide copies of these monitoring reports to Ofsted have been improved to ensure that they are now received at the

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Progress

The manager and staff team consult very regularly with young people, their parents and placing social workers. Consultation is completed through a combination of group meetings and individual discussions. These arrangements help to ensure that the wishes and feelings of young people and those involved in their care are taken into consideration. Detailed records are maintained by the manager and staff team which help to demonstrate how views and ideas received are incorporated into the day to day running of the home.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the monitoring visits completed on behalf of the registered provider take place at least once a month. (Regulation 33(3)) 31/05/2012

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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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