Children's Home run by North Yorkshire County Council in North Yorkshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034235 1 SC034235

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North Yorkshire County Council

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 under the No Wrong Door model. The home provides care for up to six children between the ages of 13 and 18 years with social, emotional or mental health difficulties. The home can also care for a further two children in separate accommodation for up to 28 days.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this monitoring visit, the home was providing care for three children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2019.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was undertaken to monitor two compliance notices and a notice of restriction issued on 8 February 2023. The evidence demonstrates that the compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13 have been met and therefore the notice of restriction has been lifted.

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This monitoring visit

The quality of the risk assessments for children has improved. All the known risks have been identified and there are appropriate actions in place to mitigate those risks. Staff can articulate the content of those risk assessments, demonstrating their knowledge of how to respond to safeguarding concerns. Consequently, children’s risks can be managed and their risk of harm is reduced.

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This monitoring visit

One child has been discharged from the home and there has been a notice of restriction in place to prevent any more children from being admitted. Children have reported that their home is quieter and more settled since the last visit. This has meant that one child’s requests for medication have reduced, and another child’s incidents of challenging behaviour in the home have stopped. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034235 2 The staffing arrangements are adequate to meet the needs of the children currently living in home. There have been no reported incidents of challenging or violent behaviour and no missing-from-home episodes. This demonstrates that the children currently living in the home can do so harmoniously with the support of staff. Children can be assured that those adults are able to keep them safe.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has introduced systems to maintain better oversight of staff practice and any incidents of concern in the home. This includes reinforcing the expectation on staff to keep records that are factually accurate and give a full account of incidents and the actions taken to support children. A debrief will capture reflections, actions and learning from any incidents and all incidents will be subject to the review of the registered manager. This offers assurances that the quality of recording will improve and that any shortfalls in practice will be identified and addressed.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager did not inform Ofsted of one serious incident involving children. This prevents the regulator’s independent scrutiny of any actions taken to safeguard children and young people. A requirement has been raised in this regard.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted has carried over a requirement in relation to regulation 14 as this was not reviewed as part of this visit as a notice of restriction was in place. This will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034235 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/05/2022 Full Inadequate 15/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/09/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034235 4

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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 with 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; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(iii)) 14 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or 14 April 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034235 5 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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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: SC034235 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North Yorkshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Northallerton DL7 8AD

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Inspectors

Deb Duffy, Social Care Inspector Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034235 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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