Children's home run by Durham County Council 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 previous registered manager left this post at the end of November 2016. One of the existing senior workers has been appointed as interim manager while the permanent post is advertised. She has a great deal of experience of this home and has previous management experience. She has the full support of the staff team. The interim manager has made a good start and has maintained good continuity of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people visiting this home for short breaks continue to enjoy the experience and continue to make progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A number of young people have stopped attending the service as they have reached their 18 th birthdays and they have moved on to adult care provision. The staff make good efforts to make this transition as smooth as possible but are sometimes hampered by a slow or poor response from adult services. The manager and other senior staff continue to see this as an area to further develop.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been an increase in children and young people who have started to use this service. The staff ensure that a full assessment is carried out prior to offering a placement and take great care to introduce these children and young people in a series of planned visits. This works well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff ensure that the needs of the children and young people are met well and have comprehensive placement plans that give full information and that also include the agreed goals and targets. These targets mostly relate to gaining independence skills. The children and young people make clear progress and the staff are becoming more proficient at recording and evidencing this although it is still an area that the manager would like to develop further.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people are kept very safe at this home. Supervision levels are good and there have been no concerning incidents at all in the period since the previous full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have used a few physical interventions but these have been minimal and they have all been appropriate. The staff do not use sanctions but rely on their excellent relationships with the children and young people and on providing clear boundaries and expectations to ensure behaviour is appropriate.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Many of the children and young people have complex health needs and these are managed well by the staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to work closely with families and carers and with external workers and services in order to provide the best care possible.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were no requirements or recommendations made at the previous inspection and none have been made at this one.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a local authority and is registered for the care and accommodation for up to seven children who have learning disabilities for short breaks.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/05/2016 Full Good 02/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/10/2015 Full Good 05/03/2015 Interim Improved 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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