Children's Home run by Darlington Borough Council in Darlington

Unique reference number SC068000 Inspector Deborah White Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Darlington Borough Council Registered person address Town Hall Feethams DARLINGTON County Durham DL1 5QT Responsible individual Jennifer Cooke Registered manager Elizabeth Jean Waring Date of last inspection 02/12/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 12/02/2015

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection There has been no enforcement action since the last inspection.

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This inspection

This home was judged adequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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This inspection

The home has made significant progress by fully addressing the five requirements and three recommendations identified at the last inspection. There have also been additional improvements in the quality of care and outcomes for the young people.

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This inspection

Transitions, to and from the children's home, have improved. Young people are now fully prepared for significant changes in their lives. Young people play an active role in their transitions, which includes them in decision making processes. This empowers and values young people.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager and staff team are committed to improving the young people's lives. Relationships with the young people are very positive. The team put young people at the centre of their practice. Young people's needs, views and wishes are paramount. As a result, young people thrive and flourish as a direct impact of living in the home. A young person said, 'Staff are good.'

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This inspection

The Statement of Purpose has been reviewed and updated. The format is clear, detailed and written in plain English. This makes it easily accessible to a range of readers, including young people. The Statement sets out what the home proposes to do to support young people and their families. This gives young people, parents and placing social workers good information about the home.

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This inspection

Measures to keep young people who go missing have improved. The Registered Manager and staff look for young people and there are good working relationships with local police and other professional agencies. Staff regularly contact young people by telephone to check their whereabouts and that they are safe. A young person confirmed, ‘They ring me all the time; they do that because they worry a lot’. 3 of 5 Monitoring of the outcomes for young people is strong . A new monitoring form includes all matters to be reviewed by the Registered Manager and this ensures all practice areas are regularly checked. Young people are consulted and their views are taken into account. Consent has now been secured for external monitoring representatives to have access to young people’s case files which enables a full and robust independent monitoring of the home.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager, and staff team, fully understand the importance of notifying relevant agencies of significant events in the home. There has been one notifiable event since the last inspection. The form was very well written and describes the event and actions taken. This ensures Ofsted and other professionals can monitor the home and outcomes for young people.

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This inspection

Young people have comprehensive pathway plans that detail their needs and how these will be met. These successfully support young people making the transition into adulthood. Arrangements have been clarified about young people making financial contributions to their care: this practice has now stopped. Individual residential plans are written in a format that is easily understandable to each young person, regardless of their age and understanding. This ensures that the young people can understand what is written about them now and in later life.

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This inspection

There are no requirements or recommendations arising from this inspection. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home is local authority managed and provides care and accommodation for up to three children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/12/2014 Full adequate 27/11/2013 Interim good progress 18/04/2013 Full good 24/01/2013 Interim good progress Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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Information 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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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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