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

Inspection report children’s home: SC000803 1 SC000803 Registered provider: Pear Tree Projects 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 organisation. It provides care for up to three children who have social, emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector spoke with all three children individually during this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2020, and is appropriately qualified.

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Inspection date: 9 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 29 September 2021

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Inspection date: 9 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 9 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC000803 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 improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good-quality transition plans have resulted in positive experiences for children arriving at and leaving the home. Since the last inspection, a child has moved into the home and settled in well. A young person has successfully moved on, into their own home, after reaching adulthood.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The relationships between the staff and the children are good. The children reported that they feel safe in the home. If they are concerned, they seek out and talk to the staff. The children are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas with the staff. Consequently, the children are listened to, and they feel valued and enjoy a sense of belonging.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the full inspection, the manager has increased the level of staffing and ensures that a duty manager is present to support the children’s evening and weekend routines. This means that the children are offered a higher level of supervision. As a result, the children are better protected.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The alarms on the children’s bedroom doors are now only used when the children go to bed. This means that the children enjoy appropriate freedom within their home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of the children’s risks and how to manage them effectively. Some children can display behaviours that present a high level of risk. Good-quality risk assessments provide the staff with clear strategies so that they can manage these risks effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff help the children to stay connected with their family members, which reinforces the children’s sense of identity. For some children, this is a complex matter that the staff sensitively manage in the least intrusive way possible.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children are making progress. Potentially harmful and risky behaviours are less frequent, and the children are enjoying new experiences such as bouldering, and work experience on a farm. Education is promoted by the staff, and the children are all engaged in learning through a variety of means, with activities including animal care and learning self-care skills. As a result, the children are supported to develop their own identities and resilience.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The physical environment of the home feels and looks like a family home. Visual artwork and the children’s pictures are on display. However, the home is looking tired cosmetically. There are several repairs to be carried out. For example, the Inspection report children’s home: SC000803 3 window in the games room and the headboard in a child’s bedroom need repairing, and the carpets in the child’s bedroom and the games room need replacing. The current state of the home does not encourage children to have high aspirations for their future living environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has failed to notify Ofsted of two significant incidents quickly. This oversight has prevented Ofsted from scrutinising how significant incidents and potential safeguarding matters are addressed and investigated in a timely manner. Inspection report children’s home: SC000803 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/09/2019 Full Good 07/08/2018 Full Good 19/03/2018 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC000803 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, 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vii)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the overall appearance of the interior decoration and individual items of furnishing being updated and replaced in a child’s bedroom and the games room, which requires new flooring. 10 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 24 March 2022 Inspection report children’s home: SC000803 6

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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: SC000803 7

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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

Cherie Chen, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC000803 8 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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