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

Inspection report children’s home: SC000803 1 SC000803

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Registered provider: Pear Tree Projects Limited

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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 home is run by a private organisation and is registered for the care and accommodation of up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager has been registered since 2014 and is appropriately qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 25 to 26 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: SC000803 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/08/2018 Full Good 19/03/2018 Full Good 23/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 13/12/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC000803 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people receive a very good standard of care. Care plans are bespoke and tailored to each child’s and young person’s care requirements. Children and young people are making good progress in most areas from their starting points. A professional commented, ‘The team [members] are very good at working together with other professionals. They are approachable, open to discussions and very supportive of the young people. Education is given a priority. There is a sense of young people being invested in.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care planning and admissions are based on careful consideration of each child’s and young person’s needs. This means that children and young people have positive experiences when entering the home. When children and young people move on, this is done in a planned and considered way. Some children and young people have benefited from accessing independent advocates to help aid their transitions. Contact is maintained with children and young people when they move on. This enables them to continue to benefit from the support of the adults whom they have trusting relationships with.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time with children, young people and their families is supported well where it is safe to do so. This allows children and young people to develop a sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people are very well consulted. In this way, they can contribute to the care that they receive. Children and young people benefit from accessing a wide range of activities. This is balanced with their spending free time away from the home in line with individual risk assessments. This enhances their experiences and provides opportunities for them to develop friendships and to promote their independence skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Independent living skills are very well supported in line with each child’s and young person’s stage of development. Progress is regularly reviewed to ensure that the appropriate level of support is provided. The use of photographs helps to capture the achievements and special memories for children and young people. This helps them to recognise their own progress.

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

Risk assessment and risk management processes are effective. Appropriate training is received to ensure that the right support and care are provided to children and young people on an individual basis. Where there have been safeguarding concerns, the registered manager and his team are confident and effective in addressing matters.

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

Missing from home episodes are not currently an issue. The registered manager ensures that there is no complacency in practice, and missing from care protocols are in place and regularly reviewed. Furthermore, he maintains positive working relationships with the police to ensure that appropriate responses can be in place, should there be a need to report a child or young person as missing from home. Inspection report children’s home: SC000803 4 Children and young people are helped to keep themselves safe. This was well evidenced through key-worker sessions. The adults caring for the children and young people recognise the need to support independence and educate the children and young people to make safe choices. Support is balanced between keeping children and young people safe and recognising that they need to take measured risks to develop appropriate skills. One young person has increased unsupervised time in the home because risk

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

Low-level disruptive behaviours are responded to with de-escalation techniques. Proactive working and positive reinforcement are favoured strategies by which to manage behaviours. Physical interventions have not been used in this home for several years. Regular training is provided to ensure that practice is up to date and in line with guidelines. The registered manager reviews all records to monitor practice. Children and young people are encouraged to embrace diversity. This helps children and young people to develop pro-social behaviours that enable them to participate and make a positive contribution.

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

Safeguarding is included as a stand-alone agenda item. This demonstrates that safeguarding is at the forefront of thinking. There is evidence that children and young people are effectively safeguarded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is appropriately qualified and very well experienced for the position held. He is supported in his role by a small and stable staff team. This enables children and young people to benefit from consistent care and support. A professional commented, ‘I was delighted when I heard that [Name] was going to [manager’s name]’s home. I feel that [he] and the team go above and beyond. I cannot fault them in any way.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager recognises the benefits of having a stable staff team. He effectively utilises the varying skills within the team to deliver good standards of care. Training opportunities, qualifications and professional development are well supported. Regular staff supervisions and team meetings provide opportunities for professional development and to discuss the care provided to children and young people. The team feels motivated and valued as a result.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager demonstrates insight into the home’s strengths and areas that could be further improved. His motivation and enthusiasm are effective at sustaining and driving improvements forward. Additionally, he welcomes feedback from his independent visitor and inspector to improve practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and his team work effectively with other professionals and agencies to ensure that the very best care is provided. Where there are external shortfalls in the quality of care offered to children and young people, the registered manager is assertive and appropriate in his challenge of other professionals and Inspection report children’s home: SC000803 5 agencies. His ability to advocate well on behalf of the children and young people means that they receive the appropriate care and support when they require it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has good monitoring systems in place. He regularly reviews the quality of care. He is very present in the home. This enables him to monitor and observe practice. Children and young people also benefit from being able to communicate any concerns or issues directly with him.

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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: SC000803 6

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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

Jacqueline Tate, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC000803 7 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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