Aycliffe Secure Services

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035648 1 SC035648

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Durham County Council

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority manages this secure children’s home. It is approved by the Department for Education to restrict children’s liberty. The children’s home can accommodate up to 38 children aged between 10 and 17 years. It provides care and accommodation for up to 18 children placed by the Youth Custody Service and has 20 places for children accommodated under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 who are placed by local authorities. The admission of any child under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 who is under 13 years of age requires the approval of the Secretary of State. The commissioning of health services in this home is the statutory responsibility of NHS England under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Education is provided on site in dedicated facilities.

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This monitoring visit

On 18 January 2018, Ofsted received a report under regulation 44 from an independent person who visited the home on 7 December 2017. In the report, the visitor provided details of an incident of physical restraint. The visitor recommended that the registered manager investigate this incident as, in the visitor’s view, it was questionable whether the intervention was necessary. Ofsted contacted the home and asked for further information. The assistant manager reviewed this incident and reiterated staff’s rationale that failure to physically intervene may have compromised the staff’s ability to undertake welfare checks on the other young people.

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This monitoring visit

After assessing the information provided by the deputy manager, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit. The records of the incident including closed-circuit television (CCTV) were examined. The rationale provided in reports and through interviews with managers was that the staff member who carried out the physical restraint received instruction from the night care manager that the child needed to be placed in their room as welfare checks on other children were being affected. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035648 2 The record of this incident contained shortfalls and concerns. A debrief carried out by a house manager following the intervention reflected the staff member’s views and the rationale for engaging in physical restraint. No concerns about the restraint were identified or noted in the record by the house manager. A further process of quality assurance and monitoring by a senior manager reiterated the rationale

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This monitoring visit

provided by staff involved and again raised no concerns about the use of physical restraint. There is no indication of whether the child’s views were obtained in relation to the incident, which would help to prevent a future occurrence. A recommendation was previously raised about obtaining children’s views at the interim inspection on 16 January 2018.

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This monitoring visit

The regulation 44 report had been provided to the home with a recommendation to review this incident. No concerns had been identified by managers following this recommendation.

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This monitoring visit

The information reviewed by the inspector and interviews with relevant managers evidence that the child was not preventing welfare checks from being carried out on other children and that the grounds for staff using physical intervention as defined by regulations were not justified. Physical restraint was used by staff in order to secure compliance and was in breach of regulations.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/06/2017 Full Good 15/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/09/2016 Full Good 15/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035648 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) 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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(2)(f)(h))* 02/04/18

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing— injury to any person (including the child); serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home. Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(2))* 02/04/18

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035648 4

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up on a matter raised in a report provided to Ofsted under regulation 44 of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015.

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Information about this inspection

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

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Durham County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Durham DH1 5UL

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Inspector:

Shaun Common, lead professional secure estate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035648 5 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 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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