Children's home run by Pear Tree Projects Limited in County Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC000803 1 SC000803 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 owned and managed by a private provider. The home provides care for up to three children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector spoke with three children who live at the home and one child who has moved on during the inspection period.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2020.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Enforcement action since last inspection: none

Inspection report for children’s home: SC000803 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/07/2022 Full Good 09/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 29/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC000803 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is very welcoming and comfortable for the children. The children’s bedrooms are well-furnished, personalised and clean. There are celebrations of the children’s achievements on display around the home. This shows that the staff and children are proud of their achievements. One child said, ‘My Scotland trip was the best day of my life.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive a positive experience when moving into the home. Risks are adequately assessed before admission. The manager ensures that transitions are taken at the child’s pace. The manager challenged the placing authority when this was at risk of being brought forward. Visits take place to build relationships and provide opportunities for the child. This approach reduces the anxiety for the child and parents for the eventual move into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have made progress from their starting points. There is a notable increase in educational attendance, engagement and attainment for all children. One child has stayed on at school to complete year 12 studies and exams. The manager and the staff work with the virtual school to support and motivate children into training and employment opportunities once they reach school leaving age.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to understand and manage difficult feelings. The staff focus on positive relationships and mutual respect to engage children in meaningful discussions. There have been no incidents of self-harm or missing-from-care episodes during this inspection period. There has only been one physical intervention, which was low-level and supportive. This approach has reduced children’s risks and increased their engagement in more positive activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are celebrated for what they have achieved throughout the year. In addition to many community activities and outdoor pursuits, the children are involved in rugby teams, the cadet force and enjoy horse riding. The children’s many achievements are awarded at an annual ceremony. The children and the staff dress for the occasion and enjoy a night of celebration. This creates a sense of achievement and pride.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are supported to make friends outside of the home and school environments. The staff deliver good relationship advice and learning for the stage of development of the children. The staff have good relationships with the parents and promote family time while maintaining appropriate supervision and support of the children. Children’s friendships and personal relationships are allowed to flourish safely because of this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Bedroom door alarms are used for all children despite a lack of safeguarding reasons for this practice. Children say ‘I hate them. They go off if someone goes to the toilet at three or four in the morning’ and ‘I would feel safe if the alarm wasn’t on and I Inspection report for children’s home: SC000803 4 could sleep better’. The use of the alarms does not reflect the individual children’s current risks or vulnerability. The alarms are therefore disproportionate, intrusive and unnecessary for some children.

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

When children first move into the home, they are supported to understand the home’s structure, routine and boundaries. The staff meet with the children regularly to ensure that they are supported, able to express their views, and are made aware of their plans. This gives the children a sense of safety and understanding in their initial days and weeks of moving into the home.

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

The children are supported to learn and understand tolerance and acceptance. The children have different personalities and interests, and their diversity is celebrated. The staff encourage harmony between the children in group activities and events. The children can manage difficult feelings, accept defeat in games, and support others to do well. This allows the children to develop resilience and respect for others.

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

The children’s plans are clear, and risks are managed well. The staff know the children, their experiences and stressors. For staff who are offering emergency cover, there is a quick reference guide to understand the children. The manager keeps clear guides and procedures for times when children need immediate support. This ensures that children’s risks are reduced and staff respond quickly and appropriately to their needs.

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

Children learn from their behaviour. Intervention work is targeted towards the child’s risks, needs and aspirations. The manager has developed a restorative learning journey, free from shame. Nationally recognised awards are received as part of the intervention and learning process. This changes what can be a negative process into one of positivity and learning.

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

The manager and the staff ensure children have access to the support they need. The manager and the staff liaise with the children’s social workers, agencies and organisations to progress referrals. This means children can access specialist services as quickly as possible.

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

Important information from a child’s records were not included in the home’s plans. Consequently, some staff need further training on self-harm and suicidal ideation, and a referral needs to be made about substance misuse. Furthermore, the home’s risk assessments need to be updated to reflect the child’s level of vulnerability, as assessed by the clinical psychologist and youth justice agencies. This means the staff were not aware of the child’s potential triggers, which may have increased his level of vulnerability. Inspection report for children’s home: SC000803 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager. The members of the staff team have worked together in the home for over three years. In this time, there have been no new employees recruited to the staff team. This aids a culture of positive and familiar relationships and continuity of care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The local policing team is an integral part of life at the home. The police visit the children and the staff regularly to have lunch, play games and address potentially criminal behaviours. The police officer stated, ‘I am here regularly to build relationships and break those barriers down. The home is very open, and it is refreshing to see.’ This familiarity helps to improve relationships and address behaviour before it escalates.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses data analysis tools to monitor the children’s progress. The information is then shared with the staff to update and inform the children’s plans. The same information is used to evidence the progression of children as part of their looked after reviews. The manager can ensure that actions are taken which have the greatest impact on children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Parents and professionals say their children are safe and making progress. The parents have said ‘I would have my child back there tomorrow’ and ‘the care is brilliant; he is doing really well’. The staff send regular reports to families and professionals. This keeps those who are important to children up to date and aware of their child’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has embedded a culture of reflective practice throughout the home. This was observed in daily interactions, staff supervisions and team meetings. This provides many platforms for staff to reflect and learn. The regularity with which children are discussed ensures ongoing learning. The children’s plans are continually updated with new information and knowledge gained from this practice. This means the children continue to receive care that is pertinent to their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is currently addressing language that is blaming and stigmatising. The manager is completing training and awareness sessions to increase staff understanding of this subject. The manager is also delivering single-subject supervisions with individual staff members. This means that the learning process and implementation into daily practice is achieved more quickly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff sufficiency and cover have been managed well during this inspection period. The children are in good routines, which makes current arrangements manageable. Should all three children remain in the home, there is a duty manager available to offer support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

One child is due to move on in the coming weeks, and one child has recently moved into the home. This transitional phase may increase the level of support needed to provide safe care to children and support to that one member of staff. If a child or Inspection report for children’s home: SC000803 6 member of staff requires immediate assistance within the home, this support would be 10 minutes away once that call has been made. This means children may be at an increased risk of harm during that period. Inspection report for children’s home: SC000803 7

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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

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—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) 27 March 2024

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c)) 27 March 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; the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1) (a)(d)) 10 April 2024

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Recommendations

 Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. Inspection report for children’s home: SC000803 8 (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC000803 9

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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

Lee Riley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC000803 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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