Children's Home run by Durham County Council in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC449096 1 SC449096 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

This home is operated and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home at the time of this inspection. All the children were present during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC449096 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/08/2022 Full Good 31/01/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC449096 3

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outstanding

Children flourish because of the excellent support that they receive from a nurturing staff team. The 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 the children’s experiences and helps to ensure that they feel well cared for.

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outstanding

The children know that the staff have an unconditional positive regard for them. Children trust them and tell them their biggest worries. The safe and consistent care that the children receive helps them to make significant progress, taking into account their starting points. One child said, ‘Staff are always there for me. They have helped me so much emotionally. With their help, I have grown from a boy into a young man with a purpose in life.’

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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.

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outstanding

The staff help the children to develop independence skills that prepare them for adulthood. They also support the children to prepare for work and to develop the necessary skills for employment. This means that the children are instilled with confidence, and reminded that they can overcome barriers that they face. Consequently, one child has successfully completed and passed a number of assessments to join the Armed Forces.

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outstanding

The staff immerse themselves to ensure that they understand the children’s lived experiences. Care is provided holistically to the children, which includes involving those people who are important to them. The staff go above and beyond, particularly with the precision of the work undertaken to repair the children’s relationships with others. As a result, and where appropriate, reunification of children with their families is successful. One parent said, ‘[Staff’s name] is superwoman. They have changed our life; we are a family again. I can’t thank them enough.’

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outstanding

Children successfully move on from the home, exceeding the outcomes identified within their care plans. The staff continue to stay in touch and provide emotional support to the children. A young adult who recently moved out into their own home said, ‘They are my family and I am forever grateful. I don’t think I’d be here today. It just shows, there are good adults out there.’

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: SC449096 4 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 journal of their phenomenal progress.

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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. Highly effective planning allows the children to take age-appropriate risks and to make measured choices, in line with their growing maturity. The staff’s intervention has resulted in numerous examples of a significant reduction in the children’s risk of harm. This leads to a sustained improvement in the children’s lives.

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outstanding

The children’s risk assessments are clear, thorough, regularly reviewed and updated. These comprehensive plans are in place to manage the children’s risks. The staff familiarise themselves with these plans, and there is regular communication with the manager. As a result, the staff have an excellent understanding of the children’s risks and provide them with a consistent approach.

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outstanding

The ethos of the home is one of a family environment that puts the children at the centre of all the decisions made. The staff encourage positive behaviour, kindness and respect. The staff are skilled and meticulous, and they have a detailed understanding of the children’s needs. This includes the staff having 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.

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outstanding

When managing the children’s risks, the staff take great care in being respectful of the children’s wishes and feelings. This helps the children to feel in control and more willing to follow the safety plans that they help to create. As a result, children rarely go missing from the home. This means that the children are better protected from harm.

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outstanding

The staff speak to the children about bullying to ensure that they understand the signs and effects of these behaviours, and how these behaviours may have an impact on others. This proactive work helps the children to consider their actions towards others and helps to ensure a safe home environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a highly effective and motivational leader. Her creativity has resulted in extensive progress and improvement since the last inspection. The manager uses her position to advocate for children, challenging professionals when necessary and in the best interests of those in her care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager works in partnership with an equally dedicated deputy manager. Together, through creativity and commitment, they continually develop the home Inspection report for children’s home: SC449096 5 and embed a shared vision. This ensures that the children receive exceptional care and support from the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular and comprehensive supervision to drive improvement forward. Staff development days are held regularly. The manager uses role play exercises of children’s experiences to make sure that the staff understand their complex needs. This thought-provoking work allows the staff’s good practice to be acknowledged and shared, while presenting opportunities to discuss, and make further improvements for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from professionals is exceptionally positive. The manager and her 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.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager uses research to inform practice and to improve the outcomes for the children. The home’s model of care is embedded into all aspects of the care that staff provide. The language that the staff use is therapeutic and meaningful, and is understood by the children. This practice gives the children opportunities to gain the skills that they need to problem-solve and express their emotional needs. Inspection report for children’s home: SC449096 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records which are kept electronically can be easily accessed by anyone with a legitimate need to view them and, if required, be reproduced in a legible form. Information about children must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 61, paragraph 14.2)

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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: SC449096 7

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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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Inspector

Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC449096 8 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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