Children's Home run by Darlington Borough Council in Darlington

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC037984 1 SC037984 Registered provider: Darlington Borough Council

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 local authority. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties. Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the home in January 2022. A new manager is in the process of applying to register with Ofsted.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 22 and 23 August 2022. This was because the manager failed to take appropriate action to protect children from serious harm. Ofsted issued four compliance notices under regulation 11, 12, 13 and 14. Ofsted also raised a further two requirements. Actions taken to address these two further requirements have not been considered as part of this monitoring visit.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit on 11 October 2022. The purpose of this visit was to review the progress and the actions taken to meet the compliance notices. This monitoring visit included a review of documents, a tour of the building, and discussions and interviews with children, staff and a parent.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Concerns with regard to staff training identified at the last inspection have not been resolved. For example, some staff have completed trauma and attachment training, and other staff, including agency staff, are still to do this. This means that some staff do not have an understanding of trauma-informed practice and cannot apply this to providing better care to the children, or to building effective relationships. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC037984 2 One child continues to struggle to manage their health needs and this has a detrimental impact on their health. The manager stated that all staff have received e-learning training for this specific health need. However, agency workers at the home have not completed this training, and necessary face-to-face training by a medical professional has not yet been delivered. This means that the child continues to be at risk of harm due to staff not being appropriately trained.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Children’s risk assessments have improved. They provide staff with clear actions to follow to manage the risk of self-harm. The risk assessments did not include when staff should check on a child following an incident of self-harm. The manager acted swiftly on this and amended the risk assessment. This means that the child receives a consistent approach during difficult times.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager has introduced a new missing-from-home document. This includes each child’s missing-from-home protocol and what actions staff need to take to locate the child as quickly and safely as possible. Furthermore, staff have completed missing-from-home training.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The concerns around staffing have been rectified. The home now has a staff member working through the night. Staff reported that this has made a positive difference to the running of the home.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Processes have changed around the admission of children into the home. The manager now has more autonomy over this process, and can now professionally challenge senior managers before the child moves into the home if there are concerns over matching. This means that children will be better matched and that they will not experience unnecessary disruption in their lives.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The inspector concluded from this monitoring visit that progress had been made and that the compliance notices under regulation 12 and 14 were met. Compliance notices 11 and 13 have not been fully met and have been reissued in part. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC037984 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/08/2022 Full Inadequate 01/03/2022 Full Good 14/08/2019 Full Good 15/05/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC037984 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.4

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (1)(b) (2)(ii)(vii)) 25 September

p.4

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.4

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)(iv)) 25 September

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

mutual respect and trust; and 27 November 2022 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC037984 5 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.5

Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(c) (2)(a)(viii)(b))

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.5

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(g)(i)) 27 November 2022

p.5

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC037984 6

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.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC037984 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Darlington Borough Council

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, Feethams, Darlington, County Durham DL1 5QT

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Bell

p.7

Inspector

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC037984 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.

p.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8