Children's home run by Duty of Care Limited in County Durham

Inspection report children’s home: SC476602 1 SC476602 Registered provider: Duty of Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to three children or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The staff work alongside a psychologist to deliver a therapeutic parenting model of care and support that aims to increase the children and young people’s sense of safety and security. The home is operated by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

The deputy manager has recently been promoted to be the registered manager. She has the appropriate skills, qualifications and experience to manage a children’s home.

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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: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit was undertaken on 5 September 2019 to review a compliance notice that was issued at the last inspection. The compliance notice, to improve safeguarding arrangements, was judged as met. Inspection report children’s home: SC476602 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/07/2019 Full Inadequate 12/02/2019 Full Outstanding 13/03/2018 Full Good 16/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC476602 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, the 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 registered person must prepare and implement a policy which is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect and sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (2), the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular, provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the actions taken in response. (Regulation 34(1)(b), (2)(d)) 30/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(v)) 30/11/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC476602 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have progressed since last inspection, and they are achieving good outcomes. The children have recently returned to school after their summer holiday break and have adapted well to the change in the school that they attend and in their class teachers. The registered manager and the staff work closely with children’s teachers, which enhances good, consistent care and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children continue to have good relationships with staff, who provide nurturing, caring support. Trusting relationships are pivotal for the staff to deliver their therapeutic model of care. The psychologist, who oversees the delivery of therapeutic services to the children, regularly carries out clinical supervision with the staff. The professional oversight and joint-working are impacting positively on the children’s progress and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are regularly consulted and involved in appropriate decision-making. Each child has a key worker who carries out one-to-one sessions when the children can talk about any worries or concerns that they may have. During regular children’s meetings, the children are asked their thoughts and ideas about how their home operates. This inclusive way of working respects the children’s views and wishes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s health needs are met, which includes their emotional, psychological and mental health needs. The children access all local primary healthcare services and they can access additional specialist counselling and support, funded by the provider. This provides the children with the services and support that they need to thrive and flourish.

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

The provider has improved, since the last inspection, by meeting a compliance notice relating to how the children are kept safe. Changes in the way that new staff are recruited now ensure that all recruitment and safety checks are carried out before they have access to the children and their private records. This safeguards the children from being potentially exposed to unsuitable adults.

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

The staff manage the children’s behaviour positively by using reward and incentive schemes. These schemes help the children to learn and develop good behaviour and social skills in a fun way. The staff are good role models, which helps the children to learn about positive relationships and positive interactions.

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

Restraints are used, on occasion, when children are experiencing periods of emotional unrest. All the restraints used are monitored by the registered manager, the psychologist overseeing the children’s therapeutic care and the children’s social workers. These additional safeguards protect the children from being unnecessarily restrained.

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

Records of each restraint are kept, however the current format and recording do not Inspection report children’s home: SC476602 5 meet regulation. Specifically, the staff are not recording the measures taken to reduce the need for, or likelihood of, a physical restraint taking place. Incomplete recording compromises how the provider is scrutinising each restraint to ensure that restraint is used as a last resort. There are no concerns that any child is being restrained unnecessarily, however a lack of good, thorough recording potentially compromises the children’s welfare.

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

All the staff receive regular child protection training and know what to do if they have any worries or concerns about a child. The registered manager and the responsible individual regularly liaise with local safeguarding officers to maintain good inter-agency working. Safeguarding concerns are recorded in individual children’s case files, but currently there is no system to record in the home’s records any allegations or suspicions of abuse and the actions taken in response. This oversight could potentially impede future child protection investigations if good-quality child protection records are not readily available.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager provided several examples of how the home has improved since the last inspection. This shows good progress in the children’s outcomes and in developing the home’s operation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Progress has also been made by the provider in meeting five previous requirements. The home’s internal monitoring systems have been strengthened and are monitoring the quality of care and the children’s experiences better. The statement of purpose has been updated, making it factually correct. The children’s private records are now stored securely, and the staff duty rosters clearly set out the staff shift patterns and the actual hours that the staff work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager leads a committed staff team which shares the home’s ethos to put the children at the centre of its practice. The staff describe morale as being very good, and the staff consulted during this inspection all agreed that the team works consistently and in accordance with the children’s individual plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff training is up to date, and the staff receive regular supervision and appraisals. Monthly staff meetings focus on reviewing each child’s care and therapeutic plans. Regular clinical supervisions give the staff opportunities for reflective practice and developing their knowledge and skills to deliver the home’s therapeutic model of care. This way of working supports the staff to meet the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and the staff have good working relationships with the other professionals and agencies that are involved in the children’s support plans. The good communication and joint-working provide the children with effective, holistic care that increases the likelihood of continuous improvement and positive development. Inspection report children’s home: SC476602 6

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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 difference 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: SC476602 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Duty of Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 13 Front Street, Staindrop, Darlington DL2 3LZ

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Inspector

Debbie White: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC476602 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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Inspector

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