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

Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC034741 1 SC034741

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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

The home is run by a local authority, and is registered for the care and accommodation of up to five children and/or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager was registered in November 2017.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was undertaken to monitor the compliance notice issued on 17 January 2019, and to consider the restriction notice issued following the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The evidence demonstrated that the compliance notice and requirements issued at the last inspection have not been met. In addition, there was evidence of increased risks around the home that had not been recognised by staff or responded to.

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This monitoring visit

Care plans, including those addressing health needs, and risk assessments did not identify all of the needs of, or risks to, the children in placement. For those risks that were identified, the strategies were ineffective in guiding staff in their day-to-day practice. Staff were observed to have pleasant relationships with children, but these did not assist staff in supporting children to deal with past trauma and address negative presenting behaviour. There were no links made in children‘s plans between known presenting behaviours and underlying needs. It was difficult to identify any progress for children as this was not mapped and monitored in the plans.

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This monitoring visit

Recording overall is of a poor standard and would not help children to understand their journeys throughout their time in the home or the achievements they have made.

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This monitoring visit

There was a lack of evidence to demonstrate that the manager had made any effort to address some of the underlying practice issues within the team. Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC034741 2 Three compliance notices have been issued along with four additional requirements. The restriction notice will remain in place.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/01/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 01/05/2018 Full Good 30/05/2017 Full Good 07/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC034741 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 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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff— provide personalised care that meets each child‘s needs, as recorded in the child‘s relevant plans, taking account of the child‘s background; help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect; ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6(1)(2)(b)(iv)(v)(c)) 07/04/2019

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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 are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10(1)(a)(c)) 07/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 07/04/2019 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC034741 4 that staff— meet each child‘s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child‘s relevant plans; help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child‘s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful; understand how children‘s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour, and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation

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Requirement Due date

11(1)(2)(a)(i)(vi)(ix)) *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 staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child‘s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; 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(1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(b)) 07/04/2019

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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. lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home‘s statement of purpose; 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. (Regulation 07/04/2019 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC034741 5 13(1)(2)(a)(f)) *The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children‘s home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are

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Requirement Due date

within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home‘s statement of purpose; that the child‘s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child‘s relevant plans is requested, if— the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child‘s needs. (Regulation 14(1)(2)(a)(e)(i)) 07/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (―case records‖) for each child which— include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(b)(c)) 07/04/2019

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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. Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC034741 6

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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

Susan Atkinson-Millmoor, social care regulatory inspection manager Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC034741 7 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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