Children's Home run by Darlington Borough Council in Darlington

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people continue to make excellent progress. They are happy living at the children’s home, and they have very positive relationships with the staff. They are all progressing and achieving their full potential.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A young person said: ‘The staff are great and my key worker is great.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A member of staff said: ‘I am so proud of the girls, they are doing so well. [Name] has really turned the corner and she is coming on leaps and bounds, and [name] is doing so well, and is a lovely young woman. Our new young person is settling in really well. They are a nice group of young people, and this is a happy house.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Educational outcomes are outstanding. All the children and young people are in full-time education and they have 100% attendance. This is significant progress from their starting points. Feedback from their school is very positive, and there is very good joint working between the staff team and teachers. This cohesive way of working has impacted very positively to support the children and young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A young person said: ‘School is going okay, I like going and the staff help me.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people enjoy a wide range of activities, which helps them to make friends locally and gives them confidence in their abilities. During this inspection a young person returned from school having just won a trampoline competition. She said: ‘I am so excited that I won, it was really great.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two young people are also members of the local authority ‘Children’s Care Council’, where they contribute their views about how it is to live in a children’s home. They also interview new staff and share their experiences with local authority employees to help to improve outcomes across all children’s and young people’s services.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people are highly involved in their local community and their contributions are commendable. For example, a young person is actively involved in a scheme that supports other vulnerable children and young people who have witnessed domestic abuse. The young person recently went to London to talk to a group of politicians about the work she has done with the scheme, and the positive outcomes this work has generated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and the staff see the children and young people’s safety and welfare as paramount. Risk management is very good. When incidents have occurred that have involved the children and young people’s safety, these have been addressed without delay. The children and young people know about the risks associated with e-safety and being exploited. This educates and informs them. The staff manage behaviour positively. There have been no restraints since the last inspection, and sanctions are not used. Behaviour management is based on praise and rewards, which encourage and guide the children and young people. This nurturing approach empowers them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A student social worker said: ‘This is a lovely place for children and young people. The staff are so caring and the manager puts the young people first. It is very nurturing. I am doing some work around e-safety, which is going really well.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leadership and management of the home are robust. The registered manager and the senior residential worker have formed a strong, effective partnership that places the children and young people at the heart of their practice and drives improvement. The staff team is fully committed to ensuring good outcomes, and it feels valued and supported. This gives the children and young people a stable environment where they thrive and flourish.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A staff member said: ‘Everything is great. The young people are doing so well, and the manager and the staff are very supportive. This is a good home because we all care about the young people, and the manager is all for the children.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are no new requirements or recommendations.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care and accommodation for three children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/06/2016 Full Outstanding 07/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/06/2015 Full Good 12/02/2015 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 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 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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