Children's home run by Duty of Care Limited 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 judges that it has improved effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to be very settled, and standards of care remain high. The registered manager continues to provide excellent leadership and management, and the development of the service continues to move ahead well.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection, one young person has left and has moved successfully to independent living. No other child or young person has been admitted. Two staff have left and two other staff have been recruited and have joined the team. Recruitment practices are safe and also involve the young people in the decision-making process.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person who has left has made good progress throughout their placement, gaining in confidence and self-esteem. They acquired a good range of basic independent living skills. They did take up some work experience opportunities but did not engage in education or training when it was available.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person who has remained at the home has made excellent progress from their starting point. They have been able to keep themselves safe and their confidence and self-esteem has grown tremendously. They have completed a good education at college, gaining a level 2 qualification and have been able to obtain an apprenticeship with a local law firm, which is an outstanding achievement. One other young person continues to make good progress at the home.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have worked hard to keep the young people safe, and there have been very few safeguarding issues and only a small number of missing-from-home incidents. The young people have shown some challenging behaviour, but staff have been resilient, have shown tenacity as well as commitment and skill and have helped young people to work through their emotional and behavioural difficulties and enabled them to settle, mature and grow.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have offered the young people high-quality personalised work, and this is backed up by excellent psychological advice and support and good-quality support from a variety of outside agencies and workers. The registered manager excels at finding appropriate external help and support for the young people. No requirements or recommendations were made at the previous inspection and none are made at this one either.

p.2

Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private organisation and is registered for the care and accommodation of up to three children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 03/05/2016 Full Good 20/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 29/07/2015 Full Good

p.4

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’.

p.5

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. Whenever 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.

p.5

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 .

p.5

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 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,

p.6

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.6