Children's Home run by Durham County Council in Durham

Unique reference number SC034686 Inspector Bill Drumm 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 Mark James Proffitt Date of last inspection 05/01/2015 2 of 5 Inspection date 25/03/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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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

At the last inspection in January 2015, the overall effectiveness rating of the home was good. Two recommendations were made at that inspection and both have been fully met. The home has improved effectiveness since the last inspection.

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This inspection

All young people have continued to make progress. The attendance of some young people at school has in the past been infrequent. The home’s manager, staff and senior managers within the local authority have taken a proactive approach in encouraging their attendance. Regular meetings take place between staff at the home and head teachers. The purpose of these meetings is to look at different strategies that can be used to ensure the regular attendance and good behaviour of young people within the school setting. This approach has been successful in maintaining young people’s attendance at school and in ensuring a consistent approach to managing their behaviour is achieved. Other young people regularly attend college or training courses. They have developed friendship groups with young people who are not in the looked after system and their confidence and self- esteem has improved. All have career aspirations for the future and to seek full-time

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This inspection

The first recommendation was to ensure each child’s placement plan is monitored by a key-worker. They must ensure that the requirements of the plan are implemented in the day-to-day care of that child. The Registered Manager has, through staff meetings and individual supervision sessions, reiterated with staff the importance of undertaking key-worker sessions with young people. All young people now have regular key-worker sessions, the content of which is fully recorded. Staff spoken to during the inspection said that young people were engaging more with staff and are happy to discuss their anxieties and concerns. They went on to say that young people have also become more involved in discussions relating to their risk assessments. Young people have developed an understanding of the hazards they 3 of 5 face and how to keep themselves safe.

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This inspection

The second recommendation was to contribute to the development of each child’s care plan, including the pathway plan for eligible care leavers, and for staff to work collaboratively with the young person’s social worker or personal adviser in implementing the plan. Each young person who is old enough and eligible has a pathway plan in place. Staff and young people have been fully involved in helping to identify what the individual needs of each young person are in relation to moving into independence and adulthood, and how those needs will be met. Pathway plans support this process and help to ensure young people are supported into adulthood.

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This inspection

The home has also made progress in a number of other areas. The negative behaviour of some young people has been managed effectively by staff. They use their personal knowledge of the young person and their skills in diverting them toward more positive actions. This has resulted in there being no restraints being used, no young people going missing and no notifications to Ofsted since the last inspection.

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This inspection

Staff have also been proactive in encouraging young people to participate in consultation events and teenagers to work schemes. This has helped young people to find work experience placements in local garages, care settings for older people and a local cafe. Staff and young people are also planning to raise money for charity by cycling from coast to coast. This is a distance of over 150 miles and something for which they should be commended. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to 5 young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is provided by a local authority.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/01/2015 Full good 06/03/2014 Interim good progress 29/10/2013 Full good 15/01/2013 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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