Children's Home run by Darlington Borough Council in Darlington

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068000 1 SC068000

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Registered provider: Darlington Borough Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. There were three children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 28 March 2021 and is appropriately qualified for this role.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068000 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Children enjoy positive and trusting relationships with staff, and staff know and understand them well. Staff provide children with support around structure and boundaries. This helps children to settle into the home in a short period of time.

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The care of children

Children are supported to access specialist help when there is an identified need for a child’s emotional well-being to be assessed. When children are involved in substance misuse, they are able to access local services for support. Staff work closely with these services and this increases the likelihood that children will enjoy improved health in the future.

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The care of children

Children’s experiences of education are mixed. The registered manager and staff understand that some children’s emotional well-being and mental health are a barrier to them making progress in their education. There is a multi-agency approach to planning and supporting children to return to school. This helps children to recognise the importance of education.

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The safety of children

Children’s risk assessments provide staff with clear actions to follow to reduce the risk of harm. Each risk has existing and further control measures in case the identified risk escalates. Staff review these risk assessments each month. This helps staff to identify children’s progress and any patterns of concern.

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The safety of children

Staff want to know and meet the children’s friends. This forming of relationships provides staff with additional insight around potential risks. It also acts as a safeguard should a child go missing from the home.

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The safety of children

Staff follow the joint-working protocol in place if children go missing from home. They continually search the local area, and further afield, and, on some occasions, have located children and returned them safely home. Staff work closely with the police and social workers during these missing-from-home episodes. Return home interviews routinely take place and these give children the opportunity to discuss any concerns that they may have. This approach means that occasions when children go missing from the home are reducing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager is suitably qualified and supported by a deputy manager. They have addressed some of the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. It was Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068000 3 not possible to review the requirement regarding safer recruitment at this inspection, and this is carried forward.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

All staff hold the level 3 diploma in caring for children and young people, with all training areas kept up to date. This includes training around first aid, safeguarding, medication and behaviour management. This means that staff have the skills they need to support the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There is a strong multi-agency approach to the management of risks for children. The registered manager has confidently challenged others to ensure that children are receiving the right support in line with their care plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Monitoring systems have been developed. These include internal monitoring by leaders and managers, and external monitoring by the independent person. This enables the quick detection of shortfalls, which are promptly addressed. This supports managers to ensure that the quality of care provided to young people is maintained to a high standard. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068000 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/11/2021 Interim Declined in effectiveness 23/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/12/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068000 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

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(a)) 24 June 2022 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068000 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Darlington Borough Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Bell

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Inspector

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068000 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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