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:

 Children and young people have very positive relationships with staff. They have meaningful experiences during their short breaks. Activities are varied, and increase children’s and young people’s social interactions.  Children and young people gain new skills and progress as a result of their short breaks. Taking into account their views promotes their rights. Children and young people are safe and feel emotionally secure. Feedback from parents and social workers at this inspection is very positive.  Children and young people enjoy their short breaks, and are happy and relaxed. Behaviour management is good, and children and young people are treated with dignity and respect.  The home meets the needs of children and young people by being homely, comfortable, and decorated and furnished to a high standard. Appropriate aids and equipment provide good care for children and young people who have additional needs and disabilities.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Good, individualised care meets children’s and young people’s needs. However, the written short-breaks plans do not fully reflect how children’s and young people’s needs are met on a day-to-day basis. Nor are they in a format that is understandable to children and young people. Neither do the plans include all the elements listed in the statutory guidance for short- breaks care.  Leaders and managers are experienced, and prioritise the needs of children and young people. Staff are enthusiastic, and feel valued and supported. The registered manager and staff actively engage with other agencies and professionals.  Children and young people, their families and professionals are consulted as part of the home’s monitoring. Regulation 45 reports are meaningful and focus on outcomes and progress. The current development plans do not fully show how the home intends to improve services and outcomes for children and young people.

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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 that there are effective care planning and regular placement reviews of each child's short-breaks placement, in line with the short-breaks statutory guidance. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.2)  Ensure that children's plans form the basis of their care, and that children's wishes and feelings are taken into account. In particular, ensure that, where applicable, children's plans are written in a format that is appropriate to their age and level of understanding. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 21, paragraph 4.2)  Ensure that the registered person makes the best use of information from the independent and internal monitoring of the home to ensure continuous

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Recommendations

improvement. In particular, ensure that written development plans identify areas of development and how these will be addressed. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Information about this children's home

This home provides short-breaks care and accommodation for five children and young people with physical and learning disabilities and sensory impairment. It is operated by a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

13/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.5

Good

Children and young people have very positive relationships with staff, based on mutual respect. Staff genuinely care about the children and young people, and have high aspirations for them. This has led to highly nurturing care and support that meet children’s and young people’s needs. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘This is a lovely home. I have visited my child in placement a number of times, and he is very comfortable and relaxed. The staff are lovely, and have very good relationships with the children and young people.’

p.6

Good

Good, individualised care enhances children’s and young people’s lives. They progress and develop as a direct result of their short-breaks care. There are numerous examples of when children and young people have significantly improved their independence skills, which prepares them for later life and adulthood. A member of staff said, ‘We focus on teaching children and young people a range of independence skills. One young person could not bathe himself and would only be dried with a hairdryer. He now happily gets in the bath, washes himself and uses a towel. This is a great achievement.’

p.6

Good

Positive day-to-day experiences are a strength. Children and young people look forward to their short breaks and happily wave goodbye to their parents upon their arrival. They feel very much at home, greeting staff and helping to prepare their bedroom for the night. Activities are varied and wide ranging, and are instrumental in helping children and young people to develop their social interactions. A parent said, ‘My child loves it here and it is very sociable. The home is like an extended family.’ Another carer commented, ‘[Name] loves coming and is moving towards having sleepovers. The activities are very good, and he gets to meet his friends and have fun. That’s what children do.’

p.6

Good

Although parents are responsible for their children’s education, staff have links with schools to maintain consistency, and to help to support children and young people. This shows good, proactive inter-agency working that improves outcomes. A teacher said, ‘The short-breaks service is invaluable. Communication is very good and families couldn’t cope without it. We share plans and strategies, and contact each other if there are any issues. This works really well.’

p.6

Good

Children and young people are consulted in accordance with their age, understanding and abilities. Staff are familiar with using a range of communication aids and have a very good understanding of non-verbal cues. Children’s and young people’s views are very much listened to and taken into account. This promotes children’s and young people’s rights, inclusion and independence.

p.6

Good

Transitions are a strength. Newly referred children and young people are introduced to short breaks at their pace and in line with their needs. Parents are fully involved, which significantly reduces any undue stress.

p.7

Good

Planned introductory visits ensure that children and young people do not experience undue separation anxiety. As a result, children and young people see coming to stay at the home as a very positive move. A parent said, ‘I am very new to all of this. It is our first experience of a children’s home. The staff here worked very closely with the staff at my son’s last unit and they came to our home to meet us all. They were very reassuring and my son settled straight away. I trust them 100%.’

p.7

Good

Young people moving into adulthood are extremely well supported. Robust transition plans are in place and the registered manager works closely with the manager of the adult setting to ensure that young people’s needs and wishes are fully understood. Staff are involved in working with the new staff team to share care and management plans, and they accompany young people on introductory visits.

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Good

This detailed, planned way of working ensures that young people see moving into adulthood as a positive experience. The manager of the adult setting said, ‘We work really well together to support young people. We regularly communicate, so we understand young people’s care plans. This is very important to us. Staff are very helpful and supportive.’

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Good

Children and young people are safe. Observation and supervision levels are very good. This provides opportunities for children and young people to play and try new, age-appropriate, childhood experiences in a safe environment.

p.7

Good

Individual risk assessments ensure that staff are aware of known risks to children and young people, including risks associated with their health and disabilities. This foresight promotes children’s and young people’s welfare. A parent said, ‘I have every confidence that my child is safe. I trust the staff and I know that they would ring me if they were worried about my son.’ A social worker said, ‘Children are very safe. I have no concerns about safety.’

p.7

Good

There have been no child protection referrals since the last full inspection. Staff receive regular safeguarding training and know what to do if they have any concerns about children’s and young people’s safety or welfare. Behaviour management is positive. Consistent guidance and encouragement teach children and young people to understand good behaviour. Ongoing praise and rewards contribute to the very good progress that they make. The home does not use sanctions or any form of punishment, and there have been no restraints.

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Good

Regular environmental and fire safety checks ensure that children and young people have their short breaks in a safe environment. All utilities are serviced and maintained. Planned reviews and updates to health and safety risk assessments promote safe outcomes.

p.8

Good

There have been no new staff employed since the last full inspection. The current staff are suitable to care for vulnerable children and young people, are honest and have integrity. Risks to children and young people are reduced by the local authority carrying out periodic safety checks. All visitors are checked and vetted, and sign the visitors book. This vigilance keeps children and young people safe.

p.8

Good

Leadership and management outcomes are good. The registered manager has worked for the local authority for a number of years and was registered as the manager for this home in December 2013. She has the right skills, experience and qualifications to undertake her role.

p.8

Good

Leaders and managers put children and young people first and continually work towards improving outcomes. The registered manager oversees all care practice, and has a good knowledge of the children’s and young people’s needs and progress.

p.8

Good

The staff are experienced and all have a level 3 childcare qualification. Additional training ensures that staff practice is in line with the aims and objectives identified in the statement of purpose. All statutory training is up to date. This ensures that all staff have the knowledge and skills to provide high-quality care consistently.

p.8

Good

Staff feel valued, appreciated and listened to. Morale is very good. Regular supervision and annual appraisals support continuing professional development. A staff member said, ‘I love my job and I love working here. We all get along as a team and support each other.’ A parent said, ‘I have every confidence in the staff. They know what they are doing.’

p.8

Good

The registered manager and staff go ‘over and above’ to support parents, carers and families. This holistic approach contributes to good outcomes for children and young people. Brothers and sisters are very welcome when they visit, and they have formed good bonds with the staff. A parent said, ‘I get lots of support from the staff; they can’t do enough. They give me lots of reassurance. My other children love to come here. It’s very relaxed and they start playing as soon as they come in.’

p.8

Good

Supportive relationships with other professionals have resulted in children and young people accessing the services that they need. All the professionals consulted during this inspection were very complimentary about the staff team and the services offered to children and young people. Comments include, ‘they are all about the children, and communication is very good’, and ‘staff keep me up to date, and we work really well together’.

p.9

Good

Monitoring is effective and there is good consultation about the operation of the home. Issues raised by external monitoring are quickly addressed. The home’s records are scrutinised and discrepancies are challenged. There are elements of future planning to develop services further, but these are not recorded in a written development plan to ensure that ongoing improvements are closely evaluated.

p.9

Good

The home is in the process of developing its written short-breaks care plans. This work started as a result of a previous requirement and there are improvements. While children’s and young people’s needs are met, the new plans are onerous, which makes it difficult to pinpoint specific, personalised needs. Also, the plans include all the elements as listed in the statutory guidance for short-breaks care planning. The current format is not child friendly or written in a way that is attractive or understandable by children and young people. This reduces their involvement in their planning and outcomes. There is no immediate impact on children and young people or the care and support that they receive. This is because the staff have a very good knowledge of the current children’s and young people’s needs, wishes and aspirations. However, for new children and young people, their care and support may be compromised where planning is not clearly

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Good

There is some confusion about the frequency of reviewing short-breaks placements. The services provided are reviewed at children’s and young people’s annual overall care review, but the placing authority has not carried out six- monthly reviews as per short-breaks statutory guidance. This oversight compromises a full, effective, placement review for each child and young person to ensure that they continue to be appropriately placed.

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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’. 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

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What the inspection judgements mean

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 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 ‘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 0300 123 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, work- based 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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