Children's Home run by Enhanced Young Persons Care Limited in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2715200 1 Registered provider: Enhanced Young Person’s Care Limited

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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. It provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties and who may have mental health difficulties, learning disabilities, and alcohol or drug dependence.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since January 2024; however, the deputy manager has been successfully appointed as the manager. She is still to submit her application to become registered.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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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: 31 October 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2715200 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2715200 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When a new child is due to move in to the home, the manager supports the staff to understand the child’s needs. She shares the information about the child and recognises any further training that the staff team might need. The manager also has discussions with any children already living in the home to ensure that they are prepared for a new child moving in. The manager considers the needs of each child before agreeing to a new child moving in. This means that each child is welcomed into the home in a sensitive manner, even in an emergency.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children leave the home in a planned way. Staff support the children to transition into their longer-term homes. Some children remain in contact with the staff team after they have left. When leaders and managers recognise that they are no longer able to meet a child’s needs, they contribute to multi-agency working. This ensures that there is a safe plan for the child to move home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children only live at the home for up to 12 weeks while their longer-term needs are assessed. During this time, some children have shown steps towards progress. This mainly relates to a reduction in behavioural concerns, and accessing education. When talking about a child, one family member said, ‘His behaviour improved; they did amazing with him.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children access education and recognise the difficulties that children may have that would impact on their attendance. When children are not in school or college, staff offer them educational activities, such as trips to museums. Furthermore, the manager advocates on behalf of the children to ensure that they can access an education provision. This has resulted in some children’s engagement with education improving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is generally well maintained. When damages occur, the staff ensure that repairs are carried out in a timely manner. Some identified areas of repair were completed during the inspection. The manager has plans to further refurbish the home.

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

The manager ensures that each child has a risk assessment, which captures the child’s current and relevant historical risks. When completing these, the manager takes guidance from other professionals who are working with the child. The assessments provide staff with a clear understanding of identified triggers and strategies. This ensures that there is a consistent approach to managing the concerns for each child.

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

Staff take a proactive response when a child is missing from the home. They actively search known locations and liaise with other professionals and family members. This results in children being safely returned to the home. The manager recognises when Inspection report for children’s home: 2715200 4 there is a need for a legal framework to prevent children from leaving the home to ensure their safety. She liaises with the placing authority and immediately implements the agreed safeguards. This means that children are kept safer.

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

When staff have needed to hold children, this has been to prevent risk to the child and others. Staff have discussions with the children to seek their views following these incidents. This supports children to reflect on their behaviour and raise any concerns. There is timely management oversight of all incidents.

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

Managers quickly address allegations made by children about staff. The managers notify relevant partner agencies and ensure that an investigation is undertaken. This allows children to feel that their concerns are acted on and that they are listened to.

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

There is no non-prescribed medication for pain relief readily accessible in the home. This means that when a child is in pain there is a delay in them accessing such medication. Although pain relief medication was purchased while the inspector was at the home, the necessary consent for administration needs to be sought from the placing authority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak about the manager in positive regard. They said, ‘She listens to staff, and she is approachable.’ In her absence, staff said that they can approach senior leaders. This means that staff feel supported and comfortable in seeking advice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff access training to further their knowledge and skills. The manager identifies training when the children’s needs change. Staff receive regular reflective supervision sessions. During these meetings, the manager identifies themes and patterns about staff’s practice. As a result, she implements larger reflective group discussions. These help to develop the staff team’s practice and provide continuity of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring and auditing systems to help her to have oversight of documents, such as the children’s care plans and the daily records. Another manager within the organisation also completes audits. This provides a level of independent scrutiny. This management oversight ensures that practice issues are identified and addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is keen to learn and values the feedback she receives. Leaders and the manager recognise the areas of service development. As such, they intend to change the statement of purpose to reflect their learning to date. This means that managers strive to ensure that the service continues to provide positive outcomes for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2715200 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they make suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. These are fundamentally the same sorts of arrangements as a good parent would make but are subject to additional safeguards. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35 paragraph 7.15)

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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: 2715200 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Enhanced Young Person’s Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Fox Street, Sunderland Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE10 OBD

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Inspectors

Jess Elliott, Social Care Inspector Tina Ruffles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2715200 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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