Children's home in County Durham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to be effective in helping young people achieve positive outcomes. Systems that were being established at the previous inspection are now bedded in and operating effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since that inspection, a young person has successfully moved into adult accommodation as a result of reaching the home’s upper age limit. This transition was planned carefully to help ensure the right placement. Staff continued to provide support after the transition to help the young person settle in and feel comfortable in their new surroundings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

New children have now been admitted to the children's home. New admissions only take place after a careful assessment process. This helps to ensure their needs and those of the current residents can be met safely.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people are settling in and the staff have responded appropriately to any challenges in behaviour as they arose. Such behaviour is decreasing as the young people come to feel secure within the day-to-day routines and build relationships with the staff. Young people are making good progress. They are gaining independence skills and becoming more confident in the community. School attendance has improved to 100%; social skills are developing, as are skills in personal hygiene and self-care. Important milestones have been achieved, such as a young person having their hair cut at a barber’s for the first time, or allowing the staff to help them have a shave.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff are effective in promoting children’s safety. Occasionally they have had to restrain young people when behaviour has been unsafe. The frequency of such occasions is decreasing. The staff record these incidents in good detail and the registered manager monitors them to ensure they are appropriate. Incidents of significant concern are rare but when the do arise the registered manager and staff inform all necessary parties immediately. Good staffing levels and a dedication to meeting children’s needs effectively helps young people to make ongoing progress. The registered manager and staff work effectively with other agencies to help ensure children’s needs are met. For example, they have forged effective partnerships with schools and education professionals; with the local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service; a psychiatrist and physiotherapist. Improvements have taken place as a result of meeting the requirements and a

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

recommendation set by Ofsted at the previous inspection. Young people have security of relationships and routines as staff turnover is now minimal. Young people now make much better progress to achieve independence skills because the registered manager has implemented a well-designed independence programme which the staff follow carefully. There is now full accountability for the use of restraints because of comprehensive recording of incidents. And, staff development arrangements are now robust because of the development of a workforce plan which clearly sets out relevant information including the mandatory and optional training for each staff role. The home has a good capacity for continuous improvement because arrangements for monitoring the quality of care are robust. An independent person makes unannounced visits once a month. They assess all relevant aspects of care and gain the views of young people, parents and staff. They make recommendations

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

where necessary and review these at their next visit. The registered manager also monitors the quality of care on an ongoing basis and, in accordance with legal requirements, sends a monitoring report to Ofsted every six months. These reports are not fully robust because they do not include an evaluation of the views of young people, parents, residential staff and social workers. It is important to record these views as a check to identify any shortfalls in care quality. A further development since the previous inspection is that the organisation’s responsible individual also visits the home, monitoring and reporting on the quality of care every three months.

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and operated by charitable organisation. It is registered with Ofsted to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people with learning disabilities.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/02/2015 Interim Improved Effectiveness

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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

Ascertain and report on the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and persons working at the home when conducting the quality of care reviews. (Regulation 45(5)) 30/04/2016

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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