Children's Home run by Durham County Council in Durham

Unique reference number SC035220 Inspector Deborah White Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Durham County Council Registered person address County Hall DURHAM DH1 5UL

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Responsible individual Karen Monica Robb Registered manager Joan Lesley Inns Date of last inspection 09/01/2015 2 of 5 Inspection date 16/03/2015

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

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This inspection

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

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This inspection

Children continue to make exceptional progress. They are extremely well supported by a range of professionals, which has a direct impact on each child’s improvement and positive development. All children are thriving and growing in confidence and self-esteem. This is clearly demonstrated by a significant reduction in difficult behaviours and an increase in children's achievements.

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This inspection

Children are consulted and listened to. This values them. Children feel, 'it's a good home to live in' and, 'the staff are good, I like the staff'. Feedback from social workers is positive and the home has received a number of compliments from visiting professionals. A teacher wrote, 'The home have done an amazing job with my child, their progress is fantastic.'

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This inspection

Relationships with staff are very good. Children have learned to form trusting attachments that will help them successfully move into a forever family. All children are achieving in their education, with some children exceeding all expectations. Children are fit and healthy and access the healthcare services they need. This ensures they meet their developmental milestones. Children also significantly benefit from direct contact with the local authority therapeutic team who provide bespoke psychological and emotional support.

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This inspection

All the children are active and involved in their local community. As their confidence improves they expand their social circle and feel able to participate in a wide-range of activities. This is a substantial step forward for children who have experienced trauma. Children’s wishes and aspirations are fully taken into account and acted upon. Children are constantly learning new skills; finding new hobbies they enjoy and trying new experiences. This teaches children how to have fun; how to be adventurous and assertive; and how to feel included. 3 of 5 The safety of children is paramount. Good staffing levels provide high levels of supervision and safe observation. Children know they can talk to staff if they are worried about anything and social workers regularly visit to monitor children's welfare. There is no bullying and no children have gone missing.

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This inspection

The staff team are committed to improving outcomes for children. They are trained to a high standard and provide a range of resourceful care strategies that fully support children. A staff member said, 'Staff training is really good. I have learned so much.'

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This inspection

The home has improved in a number of areas since the last inspection, which demonstrates good progress. Monitoring activities are robust and leadership and management arrangements are consistently strong. This provides a stable, organised home for children.

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This inspection

The home has improved by meticulously carrying out a review of how they manage admissions and discharges. These transitions can be a very difficult time for children. The outcomes from the review are excellent. Planning for all transitions is highly detailed, which enables children to fully understand where they are moving to and why. Comprehensive multi-agency assessments provide staff and carers with vital information to support children moving into the home to ensure their complex needs will be met. Additionally, dynamic inter-agency working provides children with a host of specialists that put each child at the centre of their practice.

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This inspection

Work has been undertaken to make children's documentation more child-friendly, with good effect. This engages children in their care and encourages them to access their files. Regular key worker sessions provide one to one time for children and children's meetings are used to ascertain children's views about the home. This shows children they are important and their ideas are listened to.

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This inspection

There are no previous requirements or recommendations from the last inspection and no new ones arising from this visit. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three children. It is registered to care for young people whose main needs arise from emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/01/2015 Full good 23/01/2014 Interim good progress 06/08/2013 Full adequate 13/12/2012 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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