Children's home run by Pear Tree Projects Limited 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 improved effectiveness . The overall performance of the children's home has improved in various ways since the previous inspection four months ago.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make good progress. They are doing well in education and are maintaining 100% attendance. They are thinking about their longer term futures and making sensible decisions to enhance life chances in adulthood. The registered manager and staff act as good parents would. They have improved advocacy arrangements for young people where necessary. This helps young people feel supported and brings in independent help to ensure their best interests are put forward.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people behave well. The staff rarely need to impose sanctions for negative behaviour and they have not had to use physical restraint since the previous inspection. Where relevant, young people are keeping to the requirements of conditions set by the court. Young people never go missing and enjoy living at the home. There has been one significant incident since the previous inspection and the registered manager and staff responded to this appropriately. The team of staff are effective in providing high quality care that promotes and protects young people's safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The team of staff work effectively with other agencies to help ensure young people’s needs are met. This includes effective communication with independent reviewing officers, social workers, schools, local police officers and families.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has met the requirement and recommendations made by Ofsted at the previous inspection. As a result, arrangements to promote safety are more robust. This is because the registered manager has followed government guidance about his annual safety assessment of the home’s location. He has written to a variety of local agencies to gain information about risks in the neighbourhood and is starting to written receive written responses from them. He has also improved safety arrangements because young people’s risk assessments are now more comprehensive. The capacity for continuous improvement has increased because the registered manager now writes an action plan to address any shortfalls identified in his ongoing monitoring of the quality of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The care monitoring arrangements remain strong and effective. An independent person makes an unannounced visit to the home once a month to evaluate and report on the quality of care. They make recommendations where necessary and assess whether these have been met at the next visit. The registered manager also oversees how well the home is operating on an ongoing basis and writes monitoring reports once a month. Young people are fully involved in contributing to decisions about the home and about their own care plans. This raises their esteem by helping then to feel valued and respected.

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and operated by a private company. It is registered with Ofsted to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/02/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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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