Children's home run by Pear Tree Projects Limited in County Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 1 SC418605 Registered provider: Pear Tree Projects Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to three children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There are three children currently living in the home. The inspector spoke to two children during the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2020.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 16 February 2022

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/02/2022 Full Good 25/06/2019 Full Good 27/11/2018 Full Good 14/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 3

p.2

outstanding

Children flourish because of the outstanding support they receive from a nurturing staff team. Staff are committed to improving the experiences of children in their care. They are good role models and adopt a parent-like approach to their daily interactions with the children. The care provided enhances children’s experiences and helps to ensure that they feel well cared for.

p.3

outstanding

Children love living in this family-orientated home. Activities are plentiful and chosen by the children. They are encouraged to spend time with one another. One child said, ‘I absolutely love that [name of child] comes to support me in my football matches, we are one happy family.’ As a result, children have a strong sense of belonging to the home.

p.3

outstanding

The children develop excellent relationships with the adults who care for them. They trust them and tell them their biggest worries. One child said, ‘Staff are always there for me, they have helped me so much emotionally.’ The safe and consistent care that the children receive helps them to make exceptional progress, taking into account their starting points.

p.3

outstanding

The staff team uses innovative and creative ways to match children’s interests to educational activities. There are children who particularly enjoy outdoor learning and caring for animals. The staff provide opportunities to develop the children’s skills and enrich the experiences that they have.

p.3

outstanding

All children attend an education placement. This is a major accomplishment and an area of considerable progress for the children. The staff have high aspirations for children. The staff work hard to maintain positive working relationships with schools and colleges. Through highly effective partnership working, the children are on track to meet their educational targets.

p.3

outstanding

The children are helped to develop independence skills that prepare them for adulthood. There are examples of staff supporting children to apply for work and develop the necessary skills. One child said, ‘I am so proud. I sent an email to start my work placement.’ As a result, children have successfully secured employment and their confidence has grown.

p.3

outstanding

The children are celebrated and praised for their achievements. They are rewarded in a variety of ways, which gives them a strong sense of personal development and accomplishment. The adults who care for the children are immensely proud of them. Time is spent collating photos and life books for the children. This provides them with a catalogue of memories and a journey of their phenomenal progress. Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 4

p.3

outstanding

Risk assessments are clear, thorough, regularly reviewed and updated. Comprehensive plans are in place to manage the children’s risks. Staff familiarise themselves with these plans, and there is regular communication from the manager. As a result, staff have an excellent understanding of the children’s risks and provide them with consistency.

p.4

outstanding

The staff have received safeguarding training and developed significant knowledge, such as child sexual exploitation, harmful sexual behaviour, online safety and attachment theory. The application of such knowledge strengthens the strategies identified in risk assessments to mitigate the risk of harm.

p.4

outstanding

Staff routinely check children’s electronic devices and help them to learn how to be alert to online dangers. Where necessary, restrictions are put in place to help safeguard children. The manager carefully assesses any restrictions to ensure that the measures taken are in line with the children’s plans.

p.4

outstanding

The staff team has varying skills and experience. It has a clear understanding of the children’s adverse childhood experiences and trauma. The staff respond to children sensitively and in line with their personalised plans. This helps the children to feel safe and secure.

p.4

outstanding

Staff are highly skilled in de-escalating situations. They are attuned to the children’s individual personalities and are careful to respond and challenge in ways that are proactive. As a result, there has been no need to use physical intervention in over a year. This demonstrates that the children are settled and happy.

p.4

outstanding

When managing the children’s risks, the staff take great care in being respectful of the children’s wishes and feelings. This helps children to feel in control and more willing to follow the safety plans they helped to create. As a result, children do not go missing from the home. This means that children are better protected from harm.

p.4

outstanding

A strong safeguarding culture is embedded throughout the home. The manager is meticulous in the planning of the day-to-day arrangements for the children. This practice is worthy of wider dissemination. Highly effective planning allows the children to take age-appropriate risks and to make measured choices, in line with their growing maturity.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a highly effective and motivational leader. His creativity, which is often innovative, has resulted in extensive progress and improvement since the last inspection. The manager uses his position to advocate for children, challenging professionals when necessary and in the best interests of those in his care. Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 5 Staff receive regular and comprehensive supervision to drive improvement forward. Topics covered are explored further, when appropriate, in team meetings. This allows for good practice to be acknowledged and shared while presenting opportunities to discuss areas for improvement.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is constantly looking to learn and draws on the knowledge of those around him, also seeking input from other agencies. Through his work, he demonstrates a strong desire to improve the lives of children, sharing practice that may be beneficial to other providers.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures the children have a purposeful say in their own day-to-day care. They are aware of and involved in important decisions about their lives. This helps children to feel valued and respected. One member of staff said, ‘I am proud of the involvement our children have in decision-making that affects their experiences of living in the home.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from professionals is exceptionally positive. The manager and his staff team are held in high regard for the practice in the home. One professional said, ‘I love everything about this home and how dedicated the staff are. It is a special place for the children, in fact life changing.’

p.5

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: SC418605 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pear Tree Projects Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Peartree House, Bolam, Darlington, County Durham DL2 2UP

p.6

Inspector

Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 7 inspects 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. 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

p.6

Inspector

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