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. There is a new manager in post who is not yet registered but has experience of managing children’s homes.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was undertaken to monitor the compliance notice issued on 28 February 2019, and to consider the restriction notice issued on 14 January 2019 following the interim inspection. Following the last inspection, a new manager was appointed who has been in post several weeks. The evidence demonstrates that the compliance notices under regulation 13 and 14 have been met. This reflects the manager’s ability to take swift action to address the shortfalls. There are elements of regulation 12 that have not been met and a compliance has been re-issued. This is because 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. This potentially leaves children vulnerable. Records showed that some mandatory training had not being completed. The

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This monitoring visit

manager is addressing this. Additionally, she has sought training for all the team around trauma and attachment. This is likely to help staff develop the skills required to support the children in their care. Recording remains of a poor standard in some documents. This prevents children fully understanding the actions and decisions made by the adults that care for them. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034741 2 The manager has ensured that immediate action has been taken to address the poor condition of the property. The quality of some work completed is poor or requires further attention to detail. The manager has a plan to address shortfalls in this area. There is one compliance notice issued along with two additional requirements and one recommendation. The restriction notice has ended.

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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)) 04/07/2019

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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 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 04/07/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034741 4 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)) The leadership and management standard is that the

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Requirement Due date

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 – 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; ensures that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (Regulation 13(1)(2)(a)(e)) 04/07/2019

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 5

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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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Inspectors

Susan Atkinson-Millmoor, regulatory inspection manager Jacqueline Tate, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034741 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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