Children's Home run by A Significant Other Limited in Durham

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC429995 1 SC429995

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private organisation and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged as requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection, which took place on 26 June 2017. Following an earlier inspection on 16 May 2017, a restriction of accommodation was served on the provider that is due to expire on 18 August 2017. Following this monitoring visit, the restriction of accommodation has been lifted.

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This monitoring visit

A further compliance notice in relation to Regulation 12, the protection of children standard, has been issued. The provider agreed to a reduction in numbers of children or young people from six to four.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 26/06/2017 Full Requires improvement 16/05/2017 Full Inadequate 05/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 26/04/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC429995 2 An inspection was carried out on 15 August 2017 to monitor the restriction notice issued on 18 May 2017. In addition, the seven requirements issued following the inspection on 26 June 2017 were also reviewed. A range of records examined during the inspection demonstrated that there had been improvements in the content of care planning documents, and the introduction of a child-friendly plan is positive. This requirement was deemed met by these improvements. Observations during the visit and the content of daily files indicated that the relationships between children, young people and staff have also improved. The young person has made measurable progress from the last inspection, particularly in

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Recent inspection history

relation to engagement in education and improved family relationships. An examination of the recruitment files showed improvements in practice that follow the ‘safer recruitment’ guidelines. However, there are still omissions in the recording of pertinent issues discussed during the interview and therefore this requirement is issued again at this inspection. The turnover of staff has been high in the last 12 months. Since the last inspection, two members of staff left and two have been recruited. To provide appropriate staffing levels for a full home, extra staff are required to reach a full team complement. To address this, along with the need for the newly appointed team to develop a cohesive approach, the provider has agreed to reduce the number of children and young people that can be admitted. Four of the seven requirements raised at the last inspection were deemed to be met. At this inspection, three requirements have been raised again and a compliance

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Recent inspection history

notice has been issued regarding two incidents in connection with medication and use of the internet. (Regulation 12) Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC429995 3

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

* The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;and

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Requirement Due date

the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12(2)(a)(v)(vi)(b)) 15/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home…

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; 15/10/2017 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC429995 4 the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32(2)(a)(3)) The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it;

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Requirement Due date

* This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC429995 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: A Significant Other Limited

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Inspector:

Susan Atkinson-Millmoor, social care inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC429995 6 to 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

T: 0300 123 1231 Text phone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

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