Children's Home run by Durham County Council in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2624251 1 Durham County Council

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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 is registered to provide 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 March 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

There are no children living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted received information of concern about the safety of the children living in the home. This resulted in an assurance visit being carried out on 5 December 2023 in response to those concerns. During the assurance inspection, Ofsted identified the following serious and widespread concerns:

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This monitoring visit

 Poor leadership and management  Significant shortfalls in the management of children’s behaviour  Inadequate home conditions  Insufficient staffing levels  Shortfalls in safeguarding practice

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted issued a notice restricting accommodation to the service on 6 December 2023, which expires on 27 February 2024. Requirements were also raised relating to Regulations 12, 13, 19, 24, 35 and 36.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out to review the provider’s compliance with the restriction notice. The inspector observed the conditions of the home and spoke with the service manager, as the registered manager was not present at the home during the monitoring visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2624251 2 No children have moved into the home since the restriction notice was issued. The local authority has therefore not breached this notice. One child recently left the home. This was a planned move, and staff supported this child to move to an alternative home.

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This monitoring visit

The home has damage throughout, and repairs have not been made. The home environment is not a safe and suitable place for children to live. The local authority has a clear plan for the renovation work at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements raised at the last inspection could not be reviewed and have been restated. A decision has been made to issue a further notice to restrict children moving into the home for a further 12 weeks. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2624251 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/08/2023 Full Good 01/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2624251 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; and

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(vi)(b)(d)) 8 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 8 May 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2624251 5 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(d)(e))

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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)) 8 May 2024

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)((vii)) 8 May 2024

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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 8 May 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2624251 6 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 carried out 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 in records increase children’s understanding of their histories, background and experiences. 8 May 2024

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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: 2624251 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 City, Durham DH1 5UJ

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Inspector

Julia Hagan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2624251 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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