Children's Home run by Darlington Borough Council in Darlington

Inspection report children’s home: SC037861 1 SC037861 Registered provider: Darlington Borough Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager was registered with Ofsted on 10 January 2014

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC037861 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/06/2017 Full Good 26/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 11/05/2016 Full Good 14/10/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC037861 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; promote opportunities for each child to learn informally; raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met; children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to— achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans; understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the 07/06/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC037861 4 options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding; take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being. (Regulation 10(1)(a)(b)(c) and (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

With particular reference to one young person.

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Recommendations

 A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulation including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people live in a home that is well furnished and decorated to a good standard. The living spaces are small, but help to generate a close supportive environment in which young people can grow and develop. Privacy is mostly limited to young people’s bedrooms or the garden area. The maintenance of the home is carried out by a ‘handyman’ who is known to the home and has a positive relationship with the young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people in placement are being supported in their individual progress. The residential placement plans are child friendly and the quality of recording is good. The staff record robustly and ensure that records are up to date. The staff are very supportive and are good role models for the young people. The mix of experience and gender is conducive to meeting the needs of young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Not all of the young people are attending full-time at their respective educational provisions. The manager and staff are proactive in identifying and requesting support from multiple agencies when some young people struggle to attend. However, departmental evaluation of agreed plans does not take place in a timely manner. This could impact on young people’s opportunities in life and limit their potential academically.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are encouraged to spend time with their friends and to take part in a range of activities that promote healthy living and well-being. Key workers help young people with activity planners and support them in social environments that they may find Inspection report children’s home: SC037861 5 challenging. The young people enjoy activities such as swimming, badminton and the gym, which are essentially about being healthy and having fun. However, plans are not always formalised to promote young people’s understanding of a healthier lifestyle.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and her staff are very good at promoting contact with parents and extended families. They facilitate transport and support at considerable distances. A social worker said, ‘They go above and beyond in terms of contact support.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are encouraged and supported to develop their independent living skills. Each young person has their own individual memory book that, as well as capturing moments of achievement linked to skills attained, also captures enjoyable moments experienced as a group and individually. This promotes a sense of belonging and shared memories that builds resilience for young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team works collaboratively with social workers and professionals from the local authority to promote independence and facilitate moving on from the home. Plans are meaningful and creative. The use of ‘taster flats’ enables young people who have the desire and confidence to experience a period of time in an independent environment. The staff support from a distance and are accessible at all times. Personal advisers to young people monitor progress and offer support. This provides an opportunity to sample ‘real’ life, safely.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff help young people to understand risk and how to stay safe. They provide consistent messages to young people and implement boundaries that reduce the potential for harm.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff team works with a range of professionals associated with the management of risk in line with young people’s individual risk assessments. Staff use key-worker sessions and the home’s theoretical model to manage behaviours demonstrated by young people. Relationships are built on trust and respect between staff and young people. This supports positive change in negative behaviours.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Missing episodes have seen a significant reduction since the last inspection. The staff are committed to the safe welfare of young people and are skilled in safeguarding procedures. Safety is maintained by following clear individual risk assessment protocols and knowledge attained through specific safeguarding training.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have been no new staff since the last inspection. The stability in the workforce provides young people with consistency in their care. Procedures and practice are robust, and the young people benefit from a well-organised and motivated staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is appropriately qualified and experienced. She has a thorough understanding of the needs of young people and how to meet them. She is supported by Inspection report children’s home: SC037861 6 a senior residential worker and a member of the staff team with additional responsibilities. This leadership and management system supports a stable and well- balanced staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff receive effective supervision and have ‘champions’ among their team who have added responsibility in areas such as cyber bullying and child sexual exploitation. This promotes practice development and ensures that training is tailored to the specific needs of young people. Individual supervision does not specifically discuss safeguarding as an individual agenda point. This reduces the opportunity to enhance knowledge and develop practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The theoretical model, which is evident in the staff team’s practice and recording, is well researched. This provides the base from which young people can make progress and can be supported in a nurturing environment. The staff are knowledgeable and use their understanding of the model to reflect on practice, ensuring that young people are provided with opportunities to express their feelings in a safe environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management and leadership team uses good internal monitoring procedures and is able to reflect on evaluative reports from the independent external visitor to identify areas for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses a range of systems and techniques to access views and opinions on the service from a range of stakeholders, including young people and their families. An example was a Christmas party that was held in the home which enabled families and care professionals to meet together. The purpose was to have fun and celebrate, but also to share ideas, views and opinions informally on the quality of the home and its provision. Staff are very supportive of maintaining family relationships and support the collaboration of the care of young people where appropriate.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC037861 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Darlington Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, Feethams, Darlington, County Durham DL1 5QT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jane Kochanowski

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Inspector

Michael Dack, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC037861 8 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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