Children's home run by Pear Tree Projects Limited in County Durham

Inspection report children‟s home: SC418605 1 SC418605 Registered provider: Pear Tree Projects Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private organisation and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager was registered in July 2018 and is appropriately qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 27 to 28 November 2018

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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

Date of last inspection: 14 November 2017

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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: SC418605 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/11/2017 Full Good 16/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/11/2016 Full Outstanding 29/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children‟s home: SC418605 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— maintain regular contact with each child‟s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child‟s education and training and to maximise the child‟s achievements. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(vi)) In particular, ensure that children‟s abilities are accurately assessed and recorded in plans and ensure that the most suitable education provision is provided. Ensure that the placing authority is challenged if required. 31/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain (“case records”) for each child which are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(b)) In particular, the registered person must maintain personal education plans for each child. 31/12/2018

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has remained settled since the last inspection, with only one young person leaving and one child being admitted. The previous registered manager left to move to another job within the organisation and the new manager was promoted into the post and was later registered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff at the home create a nurturing environment and form good relationships with the children and young people. The staff provide a structured environment, with clear routines and expectations. This means that the children and young people receive a good education and that they are able to stay busy, with a range of healthy and interesting activities. The provider offers an excellent range of resources and activities, Inspection report children‟s home: SC418605 4 including a working farm and a number of workshops which the children and young people are able to enjoy and benefit from. The experience of living in the home is very good and includes opportunities to take part in many activities, trips and interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children who attend school have good attendance and are making progress. A requirement has been made to ensure that one child, who has recently been admitted, has his educational needs fully met. Two young people, including one who has recently left, have attended a local college. Both have passed level one further education courses and are studying for level two qualifications. These are significant achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people are referred for specialist assessment and support and are offered individualised work by the staff to help them deal with past traumas and offending behaviour. Some of the children and young people are making good progress with these issues and this has helped them to improve their confidence and self-esteem. However, others have not engaged so well and have made less progress in these areas.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff provide good-quality care for the children and young people. They have worked well with some of the families of the children and young people. This has been positive in improving relationships with families. They have also ensured that the children and young people have good opportunities to practise and acquire the necessary independence skills.

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

The home is a safe place for the children and young people to live. Those children and young people spoken to by the inspector confirmed that they felt safe and said that there was no bullying. The staff make good assessments of risk and put in appropriate controls to minimise these.

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

There are clear boundaries in place and staff work on an individual basis with the children and young people on safeguarding issues and on safe relationships. The staff have not used any sanctions or any physical interventions. They are able to use their relationships, advice and guidance to influence the children‟s and young people‟s behaviour.

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

There have been no incidents of children and young people going missing from the home since the previous inspection.

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

There have been some concerns about the inappropriate behaviour of some of the young people and the staff have worked closely with the local police and other services to address these.

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

Some of the children and young people have made clear progress with dealing with their offending behaviour, while concerns have remained around others. The staff have obtained assessments from specialist external workers and this informs ongoing work. Inspection report children‟s home: SC418605 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has made a good start to his new role. He is well organised and is effective in his work. He has good relationships with the children and young people and understands their needs and he is clearly child-centred in his practice. He is ambitious for all of the children and young people in his care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since starting in the role, he has made a number of positive changes and has plans for continued development. He has a strong commitment towards supporting his staff to develop and offers good supervision. He has also ensured that staff receive additional training when this has been required to meet the needs of the children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has reviewed and overhauled the recording system and these are good. There is a need to ensure that every child and young person had a personal education plan in place. One young person had not had this for some time and there is a concern that this may hinder their education planning. A requirement has been put in place to address this issue.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has made good links with external agencies and has referred a number of children and young people for specialist assessments, which is positive. He has also worked closely with placing social workers and with the local police.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is well supported by his line manager and the organisation. He has access to good resources and is able to develop some of his ideas. He has clearly involved the children and young people in the day-to-day running of the home and listens to their requests and preferences. He has ensured that their wishes and feelings are acted on and has participated in a number of activities with them. Of particular note, is his support to a number of the children and young people to complete a coast to coast cycle ride. A considerable achievement for them.

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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 Inspection report children‟s home: SC418605 6 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: SC418605 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pear Tree Projects Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Peartree House, Bolam, Darlington, County Durham DL2 2UP

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Inspector

Colin Imrie: social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC418605 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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Inspector

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