Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Durham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last 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 young people are settled and there is evidence that they are progressing from their starting points. One young person has left the home and this transition was successfully managed. The young person continues to maintain contact with the manager and staff. Three young people have been admitted since the last inspection. The admissions were appropriately risk assessed which helped to minimise the impact of the new young people on the existing group. The admissions of the young people into the home were planned and well managed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Attendance at school is variable but the staff from the home make every effort to support the young people by transporting them, and supporting their gradual re- introduction to education. One young person has improved their attendance since coming to the home and is achieving well. It is intended that this will lead to the young person taking exams this year and supports them to follow the plan in place for further education. This demonstrates that the staff are able to engage and change the behaviour of young people in relation to their education. A social worker said: ‘I am very pleased with the placement. They have been excellent with [young person]. [Young person] has really turned things around and is going to school.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is well decorated throughout and the manager has added many homely touches giving the home a positive, warm atmosphere. Adequate space for activities and privacy is available, giving the young people choice where to meet friends and family in the home. The manager and the staff make efforts to maintain the home to a high standard and the addition of quotations and a photograph wall have improved the look of the setting. However, repairs and replacements continue to be addressed slowly by the organisation, despite being raised promptly by the manager and staff. The means that certain rooms and areas of the home look unkempt.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Relationships between the staff and the young people were observed to be warm and caring, characterised by good humour but clear direction. Key working sessions are regular with all young people. Records of key work sessions demonstrate that the staff listen to and advocate on behalf of young people. Some sessions are planned while others address issues as they arise. The result is a reduction in negative behaviours of all the young people that were evident at the start of placements. A parent said: ‘I feel he is doing well and that the home are caring for him.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good quality care plans and risk assessments are a strength of the home. They are comprehensive and updated regularly. This demonstrates that they are seen by staff as ‘live’ documents used daily as a guide to meet the needs of the young people. Recording is of an overall good standard. However, some records contain generic phrases rather than specific wording to describe behaviours or incidents. The result is that what has actually occurred is sometimes unclear. This impacts on the ability of the staff to proactively prevent further episodes of such behaviours or incidents. In addition, this could prevent the young people from understanding their own records should they wish to read them now or in the future.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has completed the registration process since the last inspection and her impact is viewed positively by the staff, one of whom stated: ’[The manager] has brought consistency to the home and allows staff to have ideas. Everything is discussed in staff meetings and staff morale is good these days.’ The manager has completed the requirements and recommendations of the last inspection. Overall monitoring of the home is comprehensive and records demonstrate oversight and intervention by the manager when necessary in respect of practice of the staff in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recruitment procedures are robust and there have been two new members of staff since the last inspection. However, supervision records do not reflect individual strategies or direction given to the staff by their supervisor. The impact is that the improvements seen in the morale of the staff team could be affected if there is a lack of learning and direction from the leaders of the home. In addition, supervision is not held regularly enough to have a positive impact on practice. This is particularly evident for the new staff.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/05/2016 Full Good 08/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/10/2015 Full Requires improvement 18/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Staff supervision must enable staff to reflect and act upon how their own feelings and behaviour may be affected by the behaviour of the children they care for. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.15)  A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)  Regulations 35–39 detail the records that must be kept in children’s homes. All children’s case records (regulation 36) must be kept up to date and stored securely while they remain in the home. Case records must be kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the children’s

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Recommendations

homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (such as alarms and food hygiene). However, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression.(‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 that 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 whom 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 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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

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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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