Children's Home run by Durham County Council in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2684203 1 Registered provider: Durham County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager and the service registered with Ofsted in June 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the home has been registered, it has cared for three children. It now operates as a solo provision, and the child was spoken to during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: Not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2684203 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2684203 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s progress is mixed. Thorough planning ensures that children are welcomed into the home sensitively. Staff ensure that when the children leave the home, positive endings are promoted. When children move on quickly, positive relationships are maintained, and the well-being of the children remains paramount.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The assessment and matching of the children’s needs are ineffective. The strategies recorded to address any competing behaviours are vague, and the overall evaluation is limited. As a result, one child has moved out of the home quickly. The staff could not keep this child safe from their escalating behaviours that placed themselves, the other child and the staff at risk. However, the provider’s immediate response to this ensured that the children were supported, and they are now making good progress in their respective homes. This has led to the home reverting back to a solo provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to continue with their education. The staff are proactive in helping the children to find the right college environment and career support. The staff help the children to gain opportunities, and a council-run internship has been accessed for the children. This enables the children to bridge the gap before commencing a college course through a clear educational pathway. This also helps the children to take part in a constructive routine and helps to build their confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well met. The staff support the children to maintain a healthy lifestyle so that their emotional and physical needs are met. A child commented on how much they enjoyed regular visits to the gym, where they enjoyed a range of classes that included dance and body combat. Staff also encourage the children to enjoy and take part in creative artwork and going on walks. As a result, children’s emotional, mental and physical health is promoted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children value the time spent with their families, and the staff encourage and support this time well. The staff plan these activities well, and they ensure that their communication with the children and their families is clear and effective. When additional support is required, the staff are there quickly. This enables the relationships to be maintained and the welfare and safety of children to be at the centre of practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff model appropriate behaviours and how to be respectful towards one another. However, while the statement of purpose clearly identifies how the children’s identities and cultural needs will be celebrated, the staff have missed an opportunity to demonstrate how they routinely do this in practice. This limits the children’s views of the world and their appreciation and respect for one another as unique individuals. Inspection report for children’s home: 2684203 4

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children’s individual risk assessments are comprehensive. The staff understand these risks, and they endeavour to support the children when they are in crisis. The staff are trained in de-escalation techniques and how to physically restrain the children safely when this is required to keep the children safe from potential harm. The staff ensure that these records are well written and that the child’s voice is heard. This ensures that the children are supported to understand why an intervention was necessary, and it respectfully considers their views to establish if any changes to their care plan are necessary.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff understand their responsibilities in promoting the children’s safety. The staff work with all safeguarding agencies, including the police, when the children and the staff are potentially at risk of harm. To avoid unnecessary criminalisation of children, the implications of the police’s involvement are clearly explained to children. However, children have been arrested after assaulting the staff and causing criminal damage. The staff continue to support the children through educative one- to-one discussions, which enable both staff and the children to reflect together on these incidents. This encourages and supports positive change that improves the relationships between the children and the staff.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When children go missing from the home, the staff immediately respond. High staffing ratios enable the staff to follow the children. They complete a coordinated response and notify all relevant safeguarding agencies and the children’s family members. The staff maintain a clear written log of the events and the action taken. This, alongside clear recording of return home interviews, helps the manager to ensure that the strategies in place to reduce the time the children are away from the home are effective and evaluative.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Allegations made by the children are taken seriously and are appropriately investigated. This protects the children from any potential further harm.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff follow the specific strategies agreed by the child’s care team. The staff check the children’s use of electronic equipment to access the internet to ensure that this is appropriate. However, the staff do not maintain a record of when these checks have taken place. This prevents the care team from having an accurate and clear evaluation of the work that the staff do, and this limits the effectiveness of monitoring this behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff are positive about the support that they receive from their managers. The manager is supported by a deputy manager who is a qualified social worker. They are experienced and knowledgeable about the children. Together with the stable staff team, they provide a positive living environment for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals are positive about the quality of care that the children receive from the staff. They confirmed that good introductions and the welcome from the staff have Inspection report for children’s home: 2684203 5 made the children feel welcomed and wanted. This has enabled some of the children to develop positive relationships during their time at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and the staff work well with the local community. Children are supported to recognise how their behaviour may affect others. Children have acknowledged and shown empathy by responding appropriately to repair relationships when their behaviour has affected others. This genuine response helps children to maintain positive relationships in the local community.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers and staff receive monthly supervision that is supportive and offers them an opportunity to reflect on their practice. Staff spoke about the constructive feedback that they receive and the positive working environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a good mix of experience and knowledge among the staff. They access a range of online and face-to-face training that supports their awareness of the children’s needs and specific areas of vulnerabilities. This supports the staff’s awareness of children’s presenting behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership and management team holds regular team meetings. The records of these meetings provide a detailed overview of the children’s experiences, including the analysis of any significant incidents. These meetings support the staff to share and reflect on their practice in a safe environment. This child-centred, reflective process helps the staff to develop their practice to ensure that the children receive good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership and management team has monitoring systems in place, and the team engages positively with the independent person who completes their monthly visits. However, there is no clear system in place to record how the children’s agreed targets are monitored. This oversight prevents the managers from being assured that the staff monitor the children’s progress consistently, and this prevents the children from reflecting on and being inspired by the progress that they make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose was not accurate and required amendment and review. This was amended by the leadership and management team during the inspection. This needs to be sent to Ofsted as required by the regulation. Inspection report for children’s home: 2684203 6

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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 (10 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 the children from which it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the children’s risk assessment identifies their known risks and that this is effectively evaluated. This should also identify the steps the staff must take to support the reduction of the risk. 22 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 22 March 2023

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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; and

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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. 22 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2684203 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the staff support the promotion of ethnicity, culture and diversity in the home as stated in the home’s statement of purpose.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. In particular, the staff should monitor and record any safeguarding checks that are completed in accordance with the child’s relevant safeguarding plans. This is to support and manage any assessed risk on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that the staff are ambitious for every child in the home and gain skills and experience that enable them to actively support each child to achieve their potential. In particular, the staff should agree developmental targets with children that are measurable and ensure that their progress is recorded and mapped. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.5)

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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 for children’s home: 2684203 8

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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: 2684203 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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