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

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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. It provides care for up to five children who may have social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities and/or mental disorders.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living at the home at the time of the visit.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager in place. A manager has been appointed but has yet to be registered with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a full inspection on 14 and 15 June 2022 and judged the home to be inadequate. Serious and widespread failures were identified in relation to relationships between the children, the safety and protection of the children, and the leadership and management of the home. Ofsted issued three compliance notices under regulations 11, 12 and 13.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to monitor the action taken by the provider in response to the compliance notices. The inspector found that, since the last inspection, the provider has taken significant action to improve the service. All compliance notices have been met. Regulation 13 has been reissued in part as a requirement.

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This monitoring visit

All staff have undertaken training to help them identify and challenge bullying behaviours in a way which benefits all children involved. Staff now feel more knowledgeable and confident. There have been two incidents of bullying, both of which were appropriately challenged, and direct work was subsequently undertaken. As a result, all children could see that bullying will not be tolerated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061439 2 The children have been educated about bullying in a variety of ways and all have engaged in the work. A child and member of staff have been identified as ‘positive relationship advocates’ to ensure the issue of bullying remains an ongoing focus. The children told inspectors that there has been no bullying for several weeks. One child said they felt ‘much happier’. There have been no further incidents of self- harming linked to bullying.

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This monitoring visit

While self-harming incidents have reduced for all children, there have been two occasions whereby staff did not follow the children’s safety plans. This resulted in a significantly increased risk of harm to the children involved. Both incidents were addressed swiftly by the manager, with action undertaken to further strengthen the safeguards in place.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk assessments have been updated and are regularly reviewed. The manager has devised a new system which has meant staff have an improved awareness of the children’s main risks. In addition, individualised strategies are in place to help staff manage and reduce risks. One child said that ‘staff understand me much more’ and this means ‘they can help me better’. A professional said of another child that, ‘The home understands [NAME] and has adjusted to [NAME’s] needs. [NAME’s] parents are very pleased with the care [NAME] receives.’

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This monitoring visit

Staff now have a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities. The manager has ensured that staff know what they need to do in the event of a serious incident and when children go missing. This is communicated in focused one-to-ones which take place weekly with all staff, supervision, team meetings, debriefs, daily handovers and emails.

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This monitoring visit

The frequency and quality of staff supervision has improved. Staff told inspectors they are provided with the knowledge and guidance to deliver better care and support to the children. Staff benefit from regular debriefs following a serious incident as it gives them an opportunity to reflect, learn and adapt or change their practice. Staff feel valued and very well supported by the manager and senior leaders.

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This monitoring visit

Direct work has increased significantly. This helps the children talk and learn about things which are important to them and reduces risky behaviours. The manager ensures that actions identified are followed through. As a result, children feel listened to and cared for.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are being trained in understanding and recognising self-harming behaviours, ligature use, safeguarding, and nurturing and attachment. Team meetings have focused on the behaviours and issues which are relevant to the children who live in this home. This means that children are safer and their needs are better met.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has oversight of a number of critical documents such as risk assessments and safeguarding incident recording. She has developed several trackers to monitor areas of service delivery. However, she has not had oversight of Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061439 3 them all and therefore has missed gaps in recording. She has also failed to evidence oversight of important documents such as daily handovers and monthly key-worker sessions, and is unaware of the content of direct work being undertaken with the children. As a result, she is not able to have a full understanding of areas for development.

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This monitoring visit

The remaining five requirements raised at the full inspection were not reviewed as part of this monitoring visit. They will be assessed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061439 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/06/2022 Full Inadequate 28/09/2021 Full Good 27/08/2019 Full Good 31/07/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061439 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c)) 7 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. (Regulation 7 (1)(c)) 7 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; 7 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061439 6 promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(viii)(x))b))

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(f)(h) 20 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 7 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061439 7 there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5)) 7 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061439 8

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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: SC061439 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Young Foundations Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Emma Ridley, Social Care Inspector Victoria Metheringham, Her Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061439 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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