Children's Home run by Durham County Council in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2624251 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. The home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager and the home registered with Ofsted in March 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection. The inspector spoke with both of the children.

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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: 1 November 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2624251 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2624251 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s experiences of living in this home are positive. They have made progress from their individual starting points. For one child, the progress is life changing. Staff know the children well and speak warmly about them. There is a commitment from staff to provide the children with stability and security.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have strengthened their understanding of children’s adverse childhood experiences. They are in the early stages of using a therapeutic parenting model of care, and they use this in their daily routines with the children. As a result, children feel more connected and understood by the adults caring for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Over time, children develop close and trusting relationships with staff, which for some is the first time that they have trusted adults. Because of this, the children feel able to share their worries, and they trust that staff will listen. Staff empathise with the children, which helps the children to talk things through. The children are reminded of their potential and how much they are cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff help the children to develop self-care skills. They promote good health and hygiene and encourage children to attend health appointments. The manager shares information with health agencies so that the children receive specialist input quickly when this is required. This supports the children with their more complex needs and helps them to keep safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager works with education professionals so that all children are now in education. For one child, this is exceptional as before living in this home, the child did not have any formal education for a significant period of time. Incentives are used to encourage children to attend school when they find this difficult. The promotion of education and attending school improves children’s life chances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff actively support the children to see people who are important to them. They maintain regular communication with children’s friends and family members. This helps the children to maintain their identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children are ready to leave the home, the staff support them to move on. The children’s progress and achievements are celebrated. The staff continue to support children for as long as they feel it is necessary. Children stay in touch with the staff at the home. One care leaver said, ‘I will always keep in touch. They are my extended family, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them all.’

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

The staff know the children and their risks and vulnerabilities well. Staff know what to do when a child is at immediate risk of harm. Risk assessments are well written and personalised for each child. Children’s plans identify clear steps for the staff to Inspection report for children’s home: 2624251 4 take, which reduces the risk of harm to children.

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

Staff are skilled in de-escalating situations where children are upset. As a result, staff rarely need to hold or guide children, and this only takes place as a last resort by staff who are trained to do so. During and after these incidents, children are reminded of how much they are cared for. The manager has oversight of when staff need to physically intervene to ensure that it is proportionate and safe.

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

When a child makes an allegation, action is taken by managers, and the appropriate agencies are informed. Protective measures are put in place to safeguard children. The manager acts in accordance with the guidance from the local authority designated officers. Discussions take place with children so that they understand what is happening during the process, and they are informed of the outcome.

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

There has been a significant improvement in the children’s emotional well-being since they moved into the home. Staff help the children recognise how they feel. Children have a better understanding of their own past trauma.

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

Discriminatory behaviour is challenged to help children understand and treat others with respect. Children are encouraged to participate in meaningful discussions, which allows them to reflect on their behaviour.

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

Staff do not consistently carry out restorative work with children to help them understand their behaviours. In addition, staff sometimes use punitive consequences, for example, one child received a financial consequence for not attending education.

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

The use of consequences to help children learn about the impact of their behaviour on others is inconsistent with the parenting style used by staff. The staff’s understanding and recording of the use of these consequences are poor. Additionally, the staff do not always speak to the children about the decisions made.

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

CCTV devices have been fitted to the home externally. However, this is not reflected in the children’s safety plans, and there is no risk assessment. Because of this, staff are not clear on the purpose of the devices and how they are to be used, if at all, in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good knowledge of children’s starting points and what they have achieved since living at the home. She is fully involved in the children’s lives and is clear about the progress they are making. The manager is enthusiastic in her efforts to be a trusted person for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff receive regular supervision that considers children’s progress as well as staff’s well-being. The manager provides debriefs for staff following challenging incidents. Regular team meetings offer a forum for staff and managers to consider how practice can be improved. Good support for the staff helps to create a Inspection report for children’s home: 2624251 5 supportive environment for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have a visible presence in the home, which allows them to readily monitor staff practice. The managers make themselves available to staff for guidance and advice. Consequently, staff said that they feel supported by their managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular training that is specific to the children’s individual needs and risks. The manager invites guest speakers to staff meetings. This supports the staff’s knowledge and understanding to develop the skills that they require to meet the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals said that there is good and effective communication. They are always kept up to date with information relating to the children. A family member was very complimentary about the manager and how staff help them to remain involved in their child’s life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children make good progress, and their experiences are positive. However, records do not always reflect this. Furthermore, records do not capture the good practice by staff, or all of the good work that they undertake with the children. Records do not always give clear or explicit guidance to staff. Leaders are aware that an improved recording system is needed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2624251 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, The 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

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child.

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Requirement Due date

The following measures may not be used to discipline any child—

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Requirement Due date

imposing a financial penalty, other than a requirement for the payment of a reasonable sum (which may be by instalments) by way of reparation. (Regulation 19 (1) (2)(f)) 6 September 2023

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35(3)(a)(iv)(vii)) 6 September 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and 6 September 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2624251 7 the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that case records reflect children’s everyday lives and the work that is conducted with them. The records should reflect their achievements and clearly relate to the plans for their futures. The registered person must ensure that the style and clarity of records increase children’s understanding of their histories, background and experiences. 6 February 2024

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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: 2624251 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 5UL

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Inspectors

Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2624251 9 regulates and 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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