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

Inspection report children’s home: SC429995 1 SC429995 Registered provider: A Significant Other Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A private provider operates the home. The manager has been registered since July 2018.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has recently been taken over by a larger organisation and this has enabled the manager to make positive changes to the building. This means that the home is now free from damage and is welcoming, with furniture and carpets having been replaced in all rooms.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team and the staff have worked hard to drive improvements forward. Since the full inspection, three children and young people have been admitted to the home. These admissions were well assessed from a risk perspective. For two children there is clear evidence of progress in all areas of their lives. It was difficult to track measurable progress of the other child at this inspection, due to the fact that the placement is in its early stages. There is clear evidence that children and young people experience a good standard of care from the staff team. Inspection report children’s home: SC429995 2 Training has improved since the last inspection and another member of the senior team is now qualified. The staff team has increased its knowledge and skills in a range of subjects including radicalisation, self-harm and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This ensures that the staff are able to meet the needs of individual children and young

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

people. However, the overall number of staff who are qualified remains low and needs to be addressed.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The health needs of children and young people are responded to appropriately. Support is offered so that they can attend appointments. Children and young people did not engage with health professionals before they lived in this home, but they have started to do so since coming to live here. Children and young people can access a range of activities that help support a healthy lifestyle as well as providing opportunities to enjoy themselves and gain a sense of achievement.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are comprehensive and identify children’s and young people’s individual vulnerabilities. Strategies for mitigating risks are identified. It is clear that children and young people are consulted about the care they receive through the range of plans they contribute to, which include ‘what makes me happy?’ ‘how do I want to be looked after?’ and ‘how do I manage my risks?’

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Key-worker sessions are planned monthly and are informed by individual placement plans and risk assessments. The staff team also offers sessions on a more flexible basis to respond to issues and concerns as they arise. Written records of each session demonstrate the proactive ways in which children and young people are supported to make progress.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the full inspection, the registered manager has developed an efficient system for gathering data that enables him to monitor patterns and trends. He has made effective use of the information gathered to support his review of the quality of care in the home. The data seen during the inspection demonstrated that, with the exception of an incident that occurred in the last few days, the home has been settled and children and young people have been progressing. This recent incident resulted in one young person leaving the home the day before this inspection.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Missing-from-home episodes have reduced in number. When children and young people go missing from home the appropriate protocols are followed to ensure their safe return.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recruitment processes have improved and the staff team is the most stable that has been in place for some time. This offers children and young people consistency and adds to their feelings of safety and positive well-being.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Supervision of staff has improved, in particular with reference to the recording of reflective practice. However, the recording of other aspects of supervisions are brief and do not give a clear overview of what has been discussed.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection report children’s home: SC429995 3

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/04/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/02/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 26/06/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/05/2017 Full Inadequate

p.3

Recommendations

 Any registered manager placed in charge of a children’s home or staff member in a deputy or supervisory role such as ‘shift leader’ should have substantial relevant experience of working in a children’s home and have successfully completed their induction for the home in which they are employed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.21)  It is good practice for a note of the content and/or outcomes of supervision sessions to be kept and to ensure that both the person giving the supervision and staff member have a copy of the record. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4) In particular, the notes should be expanded to give a clear understanding of what has been discussed.

p.3

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.

p.3

Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

p.3

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 Inspection report children’s home: SC429995 4 children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’.

p.3

Children’s home details

Registered provider: A Significant Other Limited

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Green Towers, Thistlewood Lane, Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland, County Durham DL13 3HQ

p.4

Inspector:

Susan Atkinson-Millmoor, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC429995 5 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.

p.4

Inspector:

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspector:

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Inspector:

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

p.5