Children's home run by Durham County Council in County Durham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035247 1 SC035247

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Durham County Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This short-breaks children’s home is operated by a local authority and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven children or young people who have learning disabilities.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 16 May 2018. This monitoring visit has considered the progress made since the three requirements were made. Two of those requirements were subject to compliance notices. The home has met the requirements of the compliance notice under regulation 13. Shortfalls remain under regulation 12. This means that the requirements under the regulation 12 compliance notice have not been met. This will be considered further at the home’s next full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

There is now an effective system in place to record and evaluate what actions are taken when young people present with unknown injuries. The manager monitors and reviews incidents to ensure that appropriate actions are followed through and recorded. The manager has developed a monthly monitoring system to monitor practices in the home. The effectiveness of this is not yet known as it is newly established. Safeguarding now features in staff supervisions and team meetings. This provides a more effective safeguarding culture in the home. The staff team has received safeguarding training that is specific to children and young people who have disabilities. Staff are not yet being effective at recording and evaluating wider safeguarding concerns in risk assessments. This means that there are shortfalls in identifying clear strategies to mitigate risk of harm. Strategies read as ambiguous and lack clarity. This is likely to increase the vulnerability of the children and

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This monitoring visit

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035247 2 young people accessing this provision. This will remain an area of compliance. The staff team is scheduled to receive training on how to complete risk assessments.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/05/2018 Full Inadequate 25/07/2017 Full Good 20/12/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/05/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035247 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that 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. (Regulation 12(2)(b)) In particular, ensure that risk assessments are individualised and that they reflect areas of risk and include clear strategies to mitigate risk of harm to safeguard children and young people. 15/08/2018

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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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d) and (e)) In particular, the registered manager should ensure that there are robust monitoring systems in place to ensure that safeguarding protocols are implemented and followed. 15/08/2018

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. Ensure that any care that is arranged or provided for a child 15/08/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035247 4 that— relates to the child’s development (within the meaning of section 17(11) of the Children Act 1989) or health; and is not arranged or provided as part of the health service continued under section 1(1) of the National Health Service Act 2006(a), satisfies the conditions in paragraph (3). The conditions are— that the care is approved, and kept under review throughout its duration, by the placing authority; that the care meets the child’s needs; that the care is delivered by a person who—

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Requirement Due date

has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care; and is under the supervision of a person who is appropriately skilled and qualified to supervise that care. (Regulation 6(2)(d)(i)(ii) and (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) In particular, ensure that risk assessments are kept under review and amended following any significant events.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are 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.

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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

Jacqueline Tate, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035247 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

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