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

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were three children living in the home. The inspector spoke to all three children 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: outstanding

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outstanding

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/03/2023 Full Outstanding 16/02/2022 Full Good 25/06/2019 Full Good 27/11/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 3

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outstanding

Some children have lived at the home for many years and make exceptional progress. This provides them with security and stability, with staff helping children to address the trauma from their past experiences. Staff have high aspirations for the children and speak in high regard for them. One staff member said, ‘We want the children to be the best that they can be.’

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outstanding

Those children that have recently moved into the home have settled well and are already beginning to make progress from their starting points. Children say that they are supported by staff. One child said, ‘It is the best place I have lived,’ while another said, ‘They care about me, do the best for me and listen to me.’

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outstanding

When children move out of the home, they are well supported by staff. A child that has left the home spoke of how the staff painted their flat and made new furniture for them. Children remain in communication with staff after leaving. The photos in the home demonstrate the long-term commitment of staff. For example, photos of one young adult who is now working in the Armed Forces inspire the current children. A child living in the home said, ‘Staff supported [name of child] and I know they will do the same for me.’

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outstanding

All children attend full-time education. The manager advocates strongly to ensure that children access the right education provision. As a result, for one child there has been a reduction in the times when they struggle to manage their emotions at school. Staff take a keen interest in children’s academic achievements. There are close working relationships with education providers. The staff’s support has resulted in all children making good progress at school.

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outstanding

Children access a wide range of activities and opportunities. This includes children going to farms, skate parks, trampolining and football. The manager and staff know the importance of giving children a chance to make new and positive memories. This helps the children to begin to trust adults again. Furthermore, staff recognise that immersing children in these experiences helps them to develop social skills.

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outstanding

Photos of the children’s experiences are plentiful and displayed throughout the home. Staff support children to make their own memory books. This allows children to capture their memories alongside having a record of the progress that they make. One social worker said, ‘[Name of child] has experienced so many firsts since living in the home.’

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outstanding

The manager and staff promote the children to develop independence skills. Children have responsibilities in the home and have specific tasks that they do. Children who are older say that staff treat them like adults. Staff praise the children and have a parent-like approach. One older child was allowed to have time alone in Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 4 the home to gradually prepare them for the move to their adult home. This allows children to see that adults around them are supportive, ambitious and want them to do well. One child said, ‘Since [name of manager] has been here he wants us to be independent and progress.’

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outstanding

All children have comprehensive risk assessments and care plans that are regularly reviewed. Staff also have briefer ‘Snapshot of care’ documents that capture the main risks and vulnerabilities of the children. This enables staff to have an excellent overview of the children’s individualised risks. The clear strategies are followed by staff and this has resulted in risks reducing, even for some children that have only been living in the home for a few months.

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outstanding

There is a strong focus on a risk-tolerant approach. This means that staff support children to take age-appropriate risks gradually. This is in line with the children’s individual care and risk plans. Caring adults support and educate the children to manage crisis situations that may arise, for example how children would respond if a staff member became unwell at work. This enables children to develop a sense of responsibility and helps them to mature.

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outstanding

Children’s needs are well understood by the manager and staff. Staff recognise the trauma children have experienced and the impact this has on their presenting behaviour and emotions. The manager has developed his knowledge of trauma to share with the wider team. Consequently, staff rarely need to physically intervene when a child is in crisis. When a child has needed to be held, this has been to support their safety. Additionally, staff take time to understand children’s personalities and develop personalised strategies. This helps staff to take a proactive approach and they are excellent at de-escalating situations.

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outstanding

Children receive appropriate consequences. These are mainly used when the children’s behaviour has an impact on the other children. Staff focus on educating the children about the impact of their actions on others. As a result, staff help children to learn appropriate social behaviours, which leads to harmonious living.

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outstanding

Children do not go missing from the home. The manager creates mock situations to ensure that staff know how to respond if this happens. Children said that they can talk to any staff if they have worries and described that staff listen to them. This consistency enables children to develop trusting relationships with adults caring for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is innovative and strives to improve to make sure that there are positive outcomes for the children. He is motivational and has the children at the forefront of his practice. Staff and children speak of the manager in exceptionally high terms. Children can speak to him and he has a clear presence in their lives. Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 5 All staff say that they love working in the home. Their commitment is demonstrated in that there have been no members of staff leave in the last year. This means that the children are cared for by a stable and cohesive staff team that provides consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular reflective supervision. Additionally, staff describe there being an ‘open door policy’. The manager has a focus on career development to enhance staff members’ skills. One staff member said, ‘He is always pushing the team to do better.’ This includes staff accessing training in line with the presenting needs of the children. The children are cared for by skilled and understanding adults that know the children incredibly well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that children and staff are part of the decision-making for the home. This includes the manager seeking regular feedback from the children about the quality of their care. This promotes staff and children to feel valued and listened to. The manager chairs the ‘house meetings’ and this gives him oversight of children’s requests. One staff member stated, ‘It is a team, not a manager and staff.’ One social worker said:

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

‘[Name of child] challenged his independent reviewing officer when they described [name of children’s home] as a children’s home with [name of child] correcting them to say, “No we are like a big family.”’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has monitoring and auditing tools, so that he has effective oversight of the children’s plans and risk assessments. These tools clearly demonstrate that children make sustained progress from their starting points.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals speak highly about the care afforded to the children. This includes the manager being tenacious in receiving support for the children from external agencies. Professionals speak of the manager having a holistic care approach, in that he effectively and quickly implements agreed changes within the children’s care plans. Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 6

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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: SC418605 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pear Tree Projects Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Jess Elliott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 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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