Children's home run by Durham County Council in County Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC035247 1 SC035247 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 short-break children’s home is owned and managed by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to seven children who have learning disabilities. The home also provides care for children who may require accommodation on a longer-term basis.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in March 2023.

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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: 21 February 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC035247 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2023 Full Good 15/06/2021 Full Good 30/07/2019 Full Good 28/08/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC035247 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress from their starting points. This varies and is influenced by how frequently the children come to stay in this short-break home. One child is now brushing his teeth; for another child staying away from home is a huge achievement; and another child is becoming more confident with their personal care. Children have opportunities to spend time with their friends, and the registered manager tries to accommodate this where possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children stay in a well-equipped home with ample play equipment. Staff have developed social stories and use signs and pictures to make information displayed around the home easier for children to read and understand.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive a well-planned introduction to the home before their short-break stay. Staff work well with families and professionals to understand children’s individual needs. This ensures that children receive tailored care and that staff have the right skills to care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prepare each child’s chosen bedroom before their stay in the home. This includes personalising the room with photos, pictures, and any resources the child may need. This supports children to have familiar, personalised items during their stay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to build positive and trusting relationships with staff. Children were seen and heard to arrive for their stay; they sounded happy and keen to engage in activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consult with health professionals to understand children’s complex health needs. Training is provided to ensure that staff have the skills to administer medication, and this is safely managed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to access activities that provide them with new opportunities. These may be in the home, such as having new tastes, new feelings, and sensory experiences. Additionally, children have trips in the community or access activities that may not be available to them at home. The staff capture these experiences in photos that parents can access through a secure social media group. This helps families see their children’s experiences in addition to the feedback that they receive from staff.

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

Children’s care plans and risk assessments are detailed and up to date. Staff understand how to provide care for each child and manage any known risks. This ensures that children receive consistent responses from those who care for them. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035247 4 Children are helped to stay safe in the home. Staff ensure the environment is well maintained and free from hazards. Staff supervise children at all times to ensure children can explore their environment safely.

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

There is an effective system in place to ensure the safe storage and administration of medication. Staff understand how each child’s medication should be administered and are creative in the ways they achieve this, particularly with children who are reluctant to take their medication. This approach ensures that staff continue to meet children’s health needs as safely as possible.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership of the home is effective. The manager is enthusiastic about her role and has a clear vision for developing the service. She is supported by an assistant manager who is equally invested in the home’s journey. The manager has a strong presence in the home and makes sure that she spends time with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager cares about and supports the children and families who visit the home. Professionals and families describe the registered manager as having a flexible and responsive approach. Communication is a strength of the staff team. Staff are enthusiastic and are keen to develop and improve the home further.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff recognise the achievements that children make, and how important these are to children and families. They are beginning to monitor how staff capture these achievements and build on them. This helps children to continue to develop skills and become more independent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and deputy manager use learning from their own experiences alongside feedback from families and professionals. This helps to further develop and improve the experiences of children. The registered manager is insightful of the strengths and weaknesses of the service. Feedback from parents and professionals is overwhelmingly positive about the registered manager and the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular supervision. However, the quality of these sessions is not consistent for all staff. Some staff do not receive reflective supervision. Similarly practice issues are not always addressed. As a result, the manager misses opportunities to develop the whole staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager does not ensure that children are given consistent opportunities to engage with the independent visitor about their experiences of their short breaks. The independent visitor has not observed or consulted with the children for a considerable time, with most of the visits taking place while the children have been at school. This limits opportunities for children and parents to feel listened to and valued. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035247 5

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff supervision must enable staff to reflect and act upon how their own feelings and behaviour may affect the behaviour of children they care for. The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff receive supervision which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. 1 September 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b)) 1 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC035247 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: SC035247 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 5UJ

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Inspector

Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC035247 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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