Children's Home run by Durham County Council 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 judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection there have been a number of changes at the home. A new manager has been appointed and was registered in November 2016. Some staff have left and the manager is now recruiting to fill these vacancies.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person left and another was admitted, but left after a short placement. Neither of these young people engaged particularly well with staff. Both young people missed a great deal of education and went missing at times. As a result, they made little progress during their placements. However, staff have supported both these young people to return to their families and so this has been a reasonable outcome. Two other children and young people have been admitted more recently.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is currently settled, and one young person who has been involved in a significant number of missing incidents, as well as misuse of alcohol and substances, has now settled down.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Currently all the children and young people living at the home either attend school or college appropriately, or have planned activities and work experience. Most of the children and young people have some external specialist support and are currently accessing this well. This is contributing to their current progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team has been able to settle the home and now needs to ensure that more proactive work is put in place for all the children and young people, as some key work and planning is not being completed in sufficient depth.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three requirements were made at the last inspection. Staff had to improve school attendance and reduce the numbers of missing incidents. While these requirements were not met in the stated timescale, they have now been met. A requirement to ensure that admissions were appropriate was met. A recommendation to review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises has not been met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three requirements have been raised at this inspection: to improve the quality of personalised work, to improve care planning by ensuring that personal education plans and pathway plans are in place as required, and to review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises.

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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 of up to four children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/07/2016 Full Good 10/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/09/2015 Full Good 10/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

6. In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, with particular reference to key work and direct work, ensure that children receive care from staff who:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b)(iv) provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. 09/06/2017

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Requirement Due date

14. In order to meet the care planning standard, with particular reference to ensuring that all children have personal education plans and pathway plans as necessary, ensure that children:

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Requirement Due date

(1)(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. 09/06/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purpose of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard) (Regulation 46 (1)). 09/06/2017

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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 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 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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