Children's Home run by Darlington Borough Council in Darlington

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Relationships between staff and young people are very good. The Registered Manager and staff provide a nurturing environment and have high hopes and aspirations for all young people. Feedback from all social workers, other professionals and young people see positive relationships as one of the best things about living at the home.  Young people receive high quality individualised care that meets their needs. All young people are progressing and achieving in all outcome areas. The management of transitions into and from the home is excellent. Partnership and inter-agency working is very well planned and effective.  Staff actively engage young people and take their views, wishes and feelings into account. Young people are included within, and contribute to, their local community. Activities are structured and young people gain a wealth of positive experiences.  Young people are and feel safe. Behaviour is managed positively with good

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The children's home provision is good because:

results. There is no bullying and complaints are taken seriously. Good risk management safeguards young people who have the potential to be involved in risk taking behaviours.   The Registered Manager leads a strong, committed staff team who put young people at the heart of what they do. Monitoring is effective and supports the home’s development objectives.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard:

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child and that that home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child (Regulation 13 (2) (c) and (d)) 31/08/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure staff can access the appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. In particular, attachment training (Guide to children's homes regulations page 53, 10.8)

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Information about this children's home

The home's is registered to care for 3 children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is operated by the local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

12/02/2015 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

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good

Young people are and feel safe. The Registered Manager and staff see safety as a priority and pro-actively reduce young people’s risks and risk taking behaviours. A local police officer said, ‘This is a fantastic home. I have got to know the young people over the years and they are safe. We have never had a complaint about the home from anyone, ever, which is amazing.’ Robust child protection procedures safeguard vulnerable young people. A young person said, ‘I think it is safe to live here, I feel safe.’ Agreed inter-agency protocols protect young people who are at risk of going missing and staff are aware of the signs of possible exploitation. The independent monitoring visitor for the home said, ‘I feel the home is amazing. I would let them look after my child which I wouldn't say about any other home. Staff will do anything to keep young people safe and well. They are proactive and want what's best for the children.’

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good

Complaints are taken seriously. Young people feel they can talk to staff about any worries and know how to complain. This gives young people a voice. A young person said, ‘Staff showed me the young people’s guide and how to complain. I talked to the manager about staff taking another young person’s side. She had quiet word with the staff and it stopped.’

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good

Behaviour is managed positively with good outcomes. Clear consistent boundaries help young people learn socially acceptable behaviour. The use of lots of praise and positive incentives increases confidence and self-esteem and sanctions are very rarely used. A reviewing officer said, ‘It is a credit to the staff of the home and particularly the manager that difficult behaviour is not met with blaming and criticism but support and consistent boundaries. The staff seek support appropriately when in doubt about how to manage behaviour.’ Judgement grade

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good

The Registered Manager is a committed practitioner with a wealth of experience. She has the right skills and qualifications to positively undertake her role. Leaders and managers consistently prioritise the needs and wishes of young people and put young people at the heart of their practice. This is demonstrated by young people thriving and achieving.

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good

The Registered Manager understands strengths and weaknesses and the development plan in place signifies ongoing improvement. Monitoring is effective, which supports ongoing progress. Staff are supported and mentored through effective supervision and staff morale is very good. A reviewing officer said, ‘Leadership is child centred. The staff approach is warm and open with good levels of support. The staff team are very committed and have had some very significant successes with young people.’

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good

Staff have formed very positive relationships with outside agencies and other professionals, which enhances the care and support provided. All feedback from social workers and other agencies is consistently exemplary. A social worker said, ‘Practices at the home are personalised. Staff are very genuine, honest and authentic. They come to work and do more than a shift. They work very well with other workers. I am very happy with the home.’

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good

The home actively challenges any perceived shortfalls in practice or support. The ethos of the home is young people deserve the very best. Any challenges are undertaken in a professional manner, which ensures positive multi-disciplinary working is maintained. This approach enables young people to receive high quality care.

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good

There are shortfalls in staffing adequacy; namely staffing numbers. The home has historically operated a lone-working rota but a change in young people’s needs has led to increased staffing levels. The staffing compliment does not provide for increased staffing over a prolonged period of time. As a result, there is an increased usage of casual staff and regular staff are consistently working long hours. This is impacting on consistency and long working hours potentially impacts on staff performance.

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good

The overall training and development of staff is good. Statutory training is regularly updated and staff feel they receive adequate training. Some staff attend additional specialist training and the home access good training provided by the local authority. There are some training shortfalls identified, in particular a lack of planned attachment training. This is relevant as young people currently accommodated are receiving external therapeutic support for attachment problems.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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