Children's Home run by Park Blue Homes Limited in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453372 1 SC453372

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Monitoring visit 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 five children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager took up his post on 6 December 2019. He has applied to Ofsted to be registered.

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This monitoring visit

This unannounced monitoring visit was carried out in response to a complaint that was received by Ofsted. The complainant alleged several safeguarding concerns and staff conduct issues that potentially put the children and young people at risk.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector found that there have been occasions when the staff have not responded appropriately or consistently to situations where children and young people have been at risk. These include incidents where children and young people have gone missing and/or have had unauthorised access to the internet.

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This monitoring visit

Additionally, the staff have not always positively managed behaviour. As a result, a child and a young person were able to barricade themselves in a bedroom on one occasion and, on a separate occasion, a young person was able the barricade herself in a bathroom. The police were called on both occasions to manage the child’s and young person’s behaviour and to reduce the risk of potential harm.

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This monitoring visit

Staff reported that the child and young person were threatening to jump from an external first floor balcony and had smashed a window. The police were able to persuade the young people to come out of the bedroom. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453372 2 On the second police were called because a young person had smashed the bathroom window and accessed an external floor balcony. This put the young person at risk of significant harm.

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This monitoring visit

Staff conduct issues have negatively impacted the quality of care. One staff member was found to be driving dangerously when transporting a young person. Another vulnerable young person was left unsupervised due to two staff members being involved in a personal disagreement. Additionally, there is no clear guidance or risk assessments relating to any potential risks associated with family and friends working together.

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This monitoring visit

Failings in the internal and external monitoring of the home have led to the provider not adequately addressing the above concerns. As such, improvements to the operation of the children’s home have not been implemented.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/07/2019 Full Good 24/09/2018 Full Good 19/07/2017 Full Good 11/01/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453372 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 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. 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 statement of purpose; ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; ensure that the staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality and care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulations 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(h)) 19/06/2020

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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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 19/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453372 4 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 (13)(1)(a)(b)(2)(f))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

Ofsted is aware of the challenges that Covid-19 is currently posing to those we regulate. During this visit, the inspectors took into consideration the impact of any measures being taken to slow the spread of Coronavirus by the setting. This has included the effect these have had on staffing arrangements.

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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: SC453372 5

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Mr Richard Parker

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Inspector

Debbie White, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453372 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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