Children's Home run by Interactive Development Residential Limited in Durham

Inspection report children’s home: 2534102 1 Registered provider: Interactive Development Residential Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by an independent provider. The home provides care for up to four children who are aged between 10 and 17 years.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2019 and is suitably qualified for the role.

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Information about this children’s home

There are four children currently living in the home. The inspector spoke to two children during the inspection.

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Inspection date: 10 January 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 10 January 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2534102 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirements from the previous inspection have been met and there is a renewed positivity in the presentation of the staff. The children are all relatively new to the home and are at various stages of developing positive relationships with the staff and their peers. This positive living environment is helping the children to settle in quickly and to make good progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff and management team ensure that there is a well-planned approach to welcoming new children into the home. The children are visited before they make an informed decision as to whether they would like to come and live at the home. This often involves tea visits, with the opportunity to meet their peers and the staff. Children’s wishes and feelings are central to the decision-making process. As a result, the children feel valued and respected.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s care plans and risk management plans are well written. These plans identify and record the individual strategies to reduce the impact of risk and assess children’s vulnerabilities. However, the staff do not always record with the same clarity in risk assessments. This has been recognised by the registered manager and is an area for development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children are better protected because the staff now know where the children are when the children are out in the community. The staff have increased the number of welfare checks with the children while they are out in the local community and when they are staying overnight with their parents. The staff continue to work well with a range of professionals in the sharing of information. The local knowledge is enhanced by the positive relationship that the staff have with the police. This supports community awareness and helps to ensure that the children are increasingly safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All of the children are in some form of education. This is a particular strength of the home. A social worker commented on the massive improvement that one of the children has made with their education. The child who had not been attending education now attends, engages and is making progress. The social worker also expressed how positive it was to see the child taking part in key-worker sessions with the staff. This positive practice supports improved outcomes for the children and enables them to develop confidence and a positive sense of well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and the staff have made improvements in ensuring that the children’s bedrooms are homely and presentable. The staff have spent time with the children Inspection report children’s home: 2534102 3 in key-work sessions and children’s meetings to help with this process. The children express that they would prefer to maintain their own bedrooms. However, the children are now clear about the expectations in respect of the standards of cleanliness and hygiene that must be maintained. The staff offer support to the children when this is required, and the staff ensure that daily bedroom checks are maintained. As a result, children are developing self-care skills and a sense of responsibility. Inspection report children’s home: 2534102 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 2534102 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the staff record clear and accurate information in the risk assessments that highlight the strategies that are identified, and that these are cross-referenced with the children’s care and behaviour management plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: 2534102 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Interactive Development Residential Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3-5 Brenkley Way, Blezard Business Park, Seaton Burn, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE13 6DS

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Inspector

Michael Dack, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2534102 7 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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