Children's Home run by Darlington Borough Council in Darlington

Inspection report children’s home: SC037861 1 SC037861 Registered provider: Darlington Borough Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three children or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a local authority. The home is located within the local community, close to schools and local amenities.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 12 to 13 September 2019

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC037861 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/05/2018 Full Good 20/06/2017 Full Good 26/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 11/05/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC037861 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—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

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)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i)) 30/11/2019

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Recommendations

 Children must be consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, and due consideration should be given to the child’s cognitive ability. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.10) In particular, staff should ensure that children’s plans are written in a format that is appropriate to the age and understanding of each child.  The registered person should ensure that relevant plans for a particular type of care or intervention are delivered by staff who understand the purpose of the care and the way past experiences may manifest themselves in the day-to-day life of the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.15) In particular, staff should ensure that children’s plans are worded in a way that does not imply that they are to blame for behaviours that may relate to past

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Recommendations

experiences. Inspection report children’s home: SC037861 4  The registered person must specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff to support the child on return to the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28) In particular, staff should offer children the opportunity to talk about the reasons that they went missing, and what support a child feels would help them to reduce the likelihood of going missing from care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff deliver purposeful, meaningful individualised care and support to the children. There is no doubt that living at this children’s home positively impacts on the children’s progress and outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A visiting therapeutic social worker said: ‘The staff were very proactive to arrange for me to see [Name of child]. They do everything that they can to support [Name of child] in every way. The staff’s relationship with [Name of child] has significantly contributed to his progress.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The relationships between the staff and the children are exceptional. The staff strive to form strong bonds with the children that enable the children to thrive and flourish. Over time, the children have learned to trust the staff. This has resulted in the children being much more settled and relaxed in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff prioritise seeking the children’s views and wishes. There is a strong emphasis on talking to the children and involving them in their care and support. This inclusive way of working enables the children to understand why they are in care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

However, the children’s residential plans do not always reflect the good work that the staff are undertaking. The plans are not written in a child-friendly format, which makes it difficult for the children to understand some of the written text.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Additionally, the language used in the plans is not always positive. This could inadvertently lead to the children developing feelings of blame and shame.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff work tirelessly to ensure that the children have access to the services they need. The staff have very good inter-agency relationships with other professionals and they strongly advocate on the children’s behalf. Consequently, the children are attending school and accessing additional therapeutic support services. This high level of support enhances the children’s positive development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is currently in need of redecoration and refurbishment. There are obvious signs of wear, tear and damage throughout the house and the area at the front of the Inspection report children’s home: SC037861 5 house looks neglected. This gives the children a poor impression of their home, particularly when they first arrive.

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

Risk management is thorough. The staff, in consultation with the children’s social workers, consider all known and potential risks and how these will be minimised. Key workers involve the children in the management of their risks so that the children know the staff will do what they can to keep the children safe. This provides the children with emotional security and promotes their well-being.

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

A social worker said: ‘The staff have stuck by my young person and have built up important relationships. [Name of child] has slowly learned to trust the staff and he knows that the staff want the best for him. He has matured and made fantastic progress.’

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

The staff are experienced practitioners who understand the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and young people. The staff work alongside local police to share local intelligence, which keeps the children safe. The police regularly visit the home, on an informal basis, so that the children understand the police are there to help and protect them.

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

There have been instances when children have been missing from the home. The staff follow the home’s missing procedure, which includes searching the local area and contacting the child’s family, friends and known associates.

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

When children return, the staff carry out welfare checks and arrange for the children to see an independent visitor. However, should a child refuse to speak with the independent visitor, it is not always apparent that the staff have fully engaged with the children. Engaging with the children will help staff to ascertain the reasons why they went missing, or what more can be done to prevent further missing episodes. This is a missed opportunity to gather potentially important information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been in post since 2014. She has the appropriate skills, knowledge and experience to carry out her role. The registered manager is currently away from the home and the home’s senior residential worker has assumed the role of acting manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has made progress by meeting two previous requirements and a recommendation. The children are accessing high-quality education and the children’s health needs are being met. Staff supervision is now up to date.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The acting manager and the staff are a united team which has high aspirations for Inspection report children’s home: SC037861 6 children and young people. All staff feedback on working at the home is extremely positive. The acting manager has fully embraced her new role and she is driving improvement and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is highly motivated to provide the best possible care. The staff receive the training and development they need to fulfil their roles and they feel valued and supported. The staff’s enthusiasm and commitment are very evident. This creates a positive, happy environment for the children. The staff have also developed good relationships with the children’s parents, families and significant others. This enables the children to maintain important family bonds.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The acting manager is developing her skills to provide good oversight of the home and its development. She is carrying out regular monitoring of the home and of the staff’s performance. Feedback from the home’s independent visitor is considered and the acting manager consults with the children, staff and professionals to seek their views on the home’s operation. The acting manager involves the staff in the home’s development plans, which demonstrates her open and inclusive management style.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The children’s equality and diversity are fully recognised, respected and acted upon. This promotes the children’s rights and well-being.

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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 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: SC037861 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Darlington Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, Feethams, Darlington DL1 5QT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jane Kochanowski

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Inspector

Debbie White: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC037861 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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