Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Durham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are settled following a challenging period in the home. Lack of proactive planning means that while staff clearly meet young people’s needs well on a daily basis, the resulting short term gains of improved behaviour are not sustained in the longer term. This is a barrier to young people’s continued progress. One young person left and another has begun living at the home since the last inspection. These transitions were well managed and the staff show good insight into the needs of young people new to the home. This improves the experiences of young people allowing them to settle quickly.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

School attendance is variable but staff make every effort to support young people by transporting them, and supporting their gradual re-introduction to education. Despite young people achieving some progress from their starting points the impact of this support on attainment is limited. One young person who was out of education for two years now attends, albeit sporadically, with the help of staff.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are warm and caring towards young people. Key working sessions are regular and demonstrate staff advocate on young people’s behalf. In particular, contact with family and friends is recognised as important for young people even in difficult circumstances. Staff strive to support young people to make choices with contact arrangements that are flexible and realistic. The impact is a supportive network for young people as they leave and move to independence. A parent said, ‘The staff are great with (Name)’.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Life skills form an important part of the work undertaken with young people. Staff support young people to learn how to budget, apply for jobs or training, cook and do their own laundry. This equips young people well for their move to independence.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make allegations against staff. All are robustly investigated and all have been found to be unsubstantiated. Staff are supported by the registered manager to repair relationships with young people. One allegation against staff was investigated and reported to the local authority but not Ofsted. This inconsistency makes it difficult for the regulator to ensure appropriate actions are taken.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s behaviour remains erratic with continued damage to the home and local community. The registered manager and staff work well with the local police to minimize the effects of this in the surrounding area with varied results. The management of behaviour focuses on the use of finance either through incentive or sanction. This addresses the immediate behaviour but there is little evaluation of such methods and their impact on learning and change. This results in behaviours and their outcomes being repeated.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is well decorated throughout. Young people have chosen décor for their bedrooms and contributed to the choices for the communal areas. Young people are in the process of adding art work to their bedrooms promoting a sense of ownership and belonging. Adequate space for activities and privacy is available giving young people choice where to meet friends and family within the home. The registered manager and staff make efforts to maintain the home to a high standard but repairs and replacements are not always addressed quickly. Young people are vocal in their unhappiness at this and state that this is ‘not right’. The impact is that young people interpret the lack of response as uncaring and a comment on their worth. Young people’s meetings take place regularly but tend to focus on the management of behaviour. The opportunity to seek and make use of young people’s views on how to improve the home is therefore lost.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has responded in part to the requirements and recommendations of the last inspection. Monitoring of the home overall is comprehensive. There are gaps in signing off documents completed by others such as induction of new staff and addressing shortfalls in the building. The impact is that there has been a slow development in improvements in the home.

p.3

Information about this children's home

The home provides accommodation for up to three children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private provider.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

18/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

p.5

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard, with particular reference to maintaining the home as fit for purpose the registered person must:

p.5

Requirement Due date

2(b)(vii) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably; (c) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— (i) meet the needs of each child; 8/04/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40(4)(c) 8/04/2016

p.5

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Young people's meetings should record their views about the home's care to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. (The Guide to Quality Standards page 22 paragraph 4.11)  Sanctions and rewards should be restorative in nature and not be wholly financial. Sanctions and rewards should be reviewed to ensure the impact on behaviour. (The Guide to Quality Standards page 46 paragraph 9.38)  The registered manager should have a system in place to review the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact is having on outcomes and improvements for the children, with particular reference to the signing off of processes undertaken by other staff. Reviews

p.5

Recommendations

should be underpinned by the Quality Standards as described in regulations 5 to 14 (The Guide to Quality Standards page 65 paragraph 15.2)

p.5

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.

p.7

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.

p.7

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 .

p.7

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,

p.8

Information about this inspection

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

p.8

Information about this inspection

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

p.8

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

p.8