Children's Home run by Young Foundations Limited in Darlington

Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: SC061439 1 SC061439 Registered provider: Young Foundations Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to five children who may have social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities and/or mental disorders. There were five children living at the home at the time of the visit. There is currently no registered manager in place. A manager has been appointed but has yet to be registered with Ofsted.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to investigate potential breaches of regulations, following information shared with Ofsted that indicated risks of harm to children.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The visit included a review of the children’s documents, observations of a child’s bedroom, and separate discussions with a child, the manager and staff.

p.1

This monitoring visit

There has been a deterioration in the standards of care that children receive. Children who are at risk of self-harm have not been adequately protected.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The manager and staff are aware that children bring items into the home for the purpose of self-harming. Children then hide these items in their bedrooms and later use them to self-harm.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff guidance around when and how to carry out a room search lacks clear instructions. This guidance is also generic despite the different self-harming behaviours of the children who live at this home. As a result, room searches are not carried out properly or consistently and children are able to store up items. Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: SC061439 2 In addition, most room searches are not recorded in detail. This means that management oversight is poor. It also means that children’s views are not obtained and their voice is not heard.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff have a good understanding of the children’s individual risks, triggers and warning signs. Risk assessments are regularly updated and the manager communicates swiftly to all staff following a significant incident or change to a child’s care plan. However, children are not always supervised in line with their care plans. When children have stated that they feel suicidal or have recently self-harmed, they have sometimes been left alone. Children have then gone on to self-harm. On one recent occasion, this was so serious that the child required hospitalisation. One child told the inspector that she felt ‘unhappy’ with staff that she had been left alone.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff have failed to remove items from children which they have used to self-harm. Children have gone on to self-harm again with the same items. This does not help children feel valued or cared for.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Children are not always helped to learn about the impact their behaviours may have on others. They are not provided with different coping strategies. As a result, behaviours continue. This is a lost opportunity for positive change to be made in a child’s life.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Newer staff are not trained to respond to children’s self-harming behaviours. This was addressed during the inspection by the manager, with training booked for all outstanding staff members. In the interim, there are always experienced and trained members of staff on every shift. This means that the children have access to staff who are knowledgeable and skilled.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Following the inspection, the manager provided Ofsted with a plan which provides actions to address all of the shortfalls identified. This is a positive step.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The previously issued requirements from the last full inspection were not reviewed at this monitoring visit. They will be considered at the next full inspection. Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: SC061439 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/09/2021 Full Good 27/08/2019 Full Good 31/07/2018 Full Outstanding 11/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: SC061439 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.4

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.4

Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.4

Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(v)(b)) 5 June 2022

p.4

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if 5 June 2022 Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: SC061439 5 necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.4

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

p.5

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.

p.5

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: SC061439 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Young Foundations Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 7 Grosvenor Street, Chester CH1 2DD

p.6

Inspector

Emma Ridley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: SC061439 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7