Children's Home run by Acorn Care (UK) Limited in Darlington

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 sustained effectiveness . The home has experienced some changes since the previous inspection. There have been four admissions and five children and young people have been discharged. There have also been periods of disruption during this time, but the home is more settled again now. Two of the admissions were for short-term placements and both of the children and young people have moved on as planned. One of the other admissions was discharged in an unplanned way after an incident involving another young person at the home. The fourth admission was very recent and this young person appears to be settling well. The other two young people to leave also left in unplanned ways. One was following an incident in the home and the other took place after their behaviour in the community, which involved drug taking, became unmanageable.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three young people have remained at the home since the last inspection and all have made steady progress. Of particular note is that staff have been able to support these young people to have much better school attendance and consequently they are achieving better educational results. The staff have also made improvements with the amount and relevance of key-work sessions so that the children and young people are offered more personalised support. This, combined with referrals to external specialist workers, means that the children and young people are also making good progress in other areas of their lives. The staff have also developed some better recording systems, which include a much more organised approach to encouraging independence skills, and most of the current young people are learning new skills. There have been some safeguarding concerns. The number of missing-from-home incidents has risen, but staff have addressed these issues well and it is clear that

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

these incidents are now reducing again. The two incidents between young people which led to placements being terminated only caused minor injuries but were clearly serious incidents. Staff have dealt effectively with them and it is noted by the inspector that both incidents would have been difficult to predict and avoid. Some of the young people have engaged in taking drugs and in some criminal behaviour away from the home, but this is now reducing. At the previous inspection, four requirements were made. Three have been met. All the young people now have appropriate education placements, better key working is clearly evident and the damage to the home has been made good so that the home is now in good condition. A requirement to ensure that all the young people have a pathway plan in place has not been met and this has been issued again. It is noted that the registered manager has made efforts to put this right but they

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

have not yet been successful. The registered manager continues to lead and manage the staff team well and provides a positive role model for other staff.

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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 five children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

19/03/2015 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) meet(s) the Care Standards Act 2000, the 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

14. In order to meet the care planning standard, with particular reference to ensuring that placement plans are sufficiently detailed, the registered person must ensure that children – (1)(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. 15/05/2017

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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 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 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. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the

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Information about this inspection

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, 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,

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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

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

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