Children's Home run by Durham County Council in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035220 1 SC035220

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Durham County Council

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 local authority. The home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living in the home at the time of the visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2022.

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This monitoring visit

At the last full inspection on 12 and 13 April 2022, this children’s home was judged inadequate.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place to determine whether the provider had met the requirements raised at the last inspection, and to ensure that the outcomes for children have improved.

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This monitoring visit

This visit included a review of the children’s documents, and discussion with the child currently living in the home, the registered manager, staff and other relevant professionals.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last full inspection, and following a review of one child’s care plan, that child has now been supported to move on from the home in a planned way. As a result, the home is settling. This means that the child who remains in the home is making some progress as they are now provided with a stable environment.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a massive reduction in the need for agency staff due to the changes in the home. When the need does arise, the registered manager uses the two staff known to the child. This has improved their continuity of care. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035220 2 The staff follow clear guidance that sets out the actions that they must take to check the identity of any visitors to the home. This includes agency staff when required. This promotes the child’s safety.

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This monitoring visit

There is now an in-depth induction process for agency staff to complete before they work in the home. This ensures that they are fully familiar with the home’s policies and procedures, and the child’s records. The induction process is signed off by a senior member of the team. This process ensures that the child’s welfare and safety are promoted as the agency staff are now fully aware of their day-to-day responsibilities.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager now ensures that Ofsted, as well as all other relevant agencies, is notified of any serious incidents. This enables Ofsted to evaluate and monitor the safeguarding arrangements for the child. This supports the safe care and well-being of the child.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager now receives supervision from their senior manager, in line with the commitments identified in the home’s statement of purpose. This process enables the manager to reflect on, and monitor, the quality of care provided to the child.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has reviewed the missing-from-home documentation. These documents now clearly record any evaluations drawn, and management comments. This supports good monitoring.

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This monitoring visit

Children are supported in their education and health. Staff advocate on their behalf, and engage with education and health professionals to improve outcomes for the children. When children do not attend education, staff ensure that home-schooling is undertaken. This supports children to maintain routines with clear boundaries. Children are provided with educational resources from schools, and individual interests are promoted by the staff. This supports and encourages learning.

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This monitoring visit

Two of the requirements raised at the last inspection have been carried forward. As no children have moved into the home since the last inspection, the provider has been unable to demonstrate how their processes for admitting children into the home have improved. In addition, there is no system in place for the manager to satisfy themselves that the employment of agency staff in the home has been done safely.

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This monitoring visit

A further requirement has been issued as not all staff are provided with supervision, or a copy of the final record of their supervision. This does not support staff development or the evaluation of staff practice to meet the needs of the children.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit did not provide enough evidence to secure an improved inspection judgement; therefore, a further full inspection will be undertaken. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035220 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/04/2022 Full Inadequate 11/05/2021 Full Good 05/11/2019 Full Good 16/10/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035220 4

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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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out on the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that, when they complete an impact risk assessment for a child that moves into the home, the risk assessment suitably evaluates and considers all the child’s known risks and emerging needs and evaluates how these may affect the children already living in the home. 30 June 2022

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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

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character; 30 June 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035220 5 the individual has the appropriate experience, qualifications and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purpose of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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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) (2)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the manager having a system in place that enables her to have direct oversight and full evaluation of employment checks undertaken.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This refers specifically to the staff receiving regular formal supervision and receiving a signed and dated copy of the record of the supervision. 30 June 2022

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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: SC035220 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Durham County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Durham DH1 5UJ

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Inspector

Michael Dack, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035220 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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