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

Inspection report children's home: SC453372 1 SC453372 Registered provider: Park Blue Homes 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 a private provider. The home provides care for up to five children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2021.

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Inspection date: 2 February 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 2 February 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC453372 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. 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

Improved advocacy for the children helps them to achieve their set targets. The leadership team challenges relevant authorities when the children do not have access to the support that they require. This leads to better outcomes for the children because of the support that they receive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children benefit from living in a clean and comfortable home. The provider has made some structural repairs to the home to improve the building. These include replacing the roof and fitting new window restrictors as a safety measure. Decoration of the home and new carpets have improved the conditions in the home. There are plans in place for the lounge area to be refurbished and decorated next. Improved living conditions provide the children with positive messages about acceptable standards of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The daily lived experiences of the children are improved. This is because the manager’s systems to monitor the quality of care that the children receive are effective.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no incidents that have required the staff to hold the children. The manager is working to a plan to further improve practice should the staff need to physically intervene to support the children. She has sourced refresher training for the staff so that they are up to date with the current crisis intervention techniques.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvements to the staff rota and the staffing arrangements mean that the children receive support which is in line with their assessed needs. The manager risk assesses situations to ensure that the children receive a consistent approach from the staff. Additionally, the manager now ensures that there is always one member of staff on duty who is trained in first aid. This helps to increase children’s safety and welfare should there be the need for first aid intervention.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An inconsistent approach to the safe recruitment of staff has the potential to expose the children to the risk of harm. One member of staff has undertaken their induction process in the home, without the provider completing all of the full and satisfactory checks. However, this has not affected the care that the children receive. This insufficient process means that the provider is not fully assured that only adults who have been fully vetted and have been deemed to be safe, provide care to the children. The provider has amended their recruitment policy and they plan to review their recruitment procedures to address this shortfall. Inspection report children's home: SC453372 3 Safety plans are in place to provide the staff with guidance and strategies on how to keep children safe. At times, some language used in these documents makes it unclear what action the staff are to take in some situations. A recommendation is

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

made to address this issue to ensure that the staff take a consistent approach to managing risks to children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has taken effective action and addressed the seven requirements and three recommendations that were raised at the last inspection. Inspection report children's home: SC453372 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/07/2019 Full Good 24/09/2018 Full Good 19/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC453372 5

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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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d)) 2 February 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered provider should ensure that the children’s risk assessments clearly detail the steps that the staff will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to- day basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: SC453372 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Park Blue Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fairfield Lodge, Evenwood Gate, Bishop Auckland DL14 9NH

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Inspector

Jacqueline Tate, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC453372 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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