Children's Home run by Durham County Council in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2624251 1 Registered provider: 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. It provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There are two registered managers at this home. One manager has been absent since October 2023. The second manager registered with Ofsted in August 2024.

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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

On 17 April 2024, Ofsted issued a notice of decision to vary the conditions of registration of the home. The home was not in operation and there were no plans to admit children to the home. The variation to the conditions was that the local authority must inform Ofsted of their intention to admit children and young people three months before a child or young person commence living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The local authority advised that they wished to accommodate children again, therefore, this monitoring visit was undertaken to look at whether children could move into the home again.

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This monitoring visit

Significant improvements have been made to the home conditions. The home has benefited from extensive refurbishment throughout. The newly registered manager is keen to ensure that children and the staff team contribute to further personalising the environment.

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This monitoring visit

There is a core staff team working at the home, and some staff are progressing through safer recruitment checks. Leaders and managers have an ongoing recruitment process in place to fill the vacant posts. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2624251 2 The home intends to accommodate younger children. Staff are benefiting from training and support as this is a change from the age range of children who have previously lived in the home.

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This monitoring visit

A case review held on 27 August 2024 determined that the previous notice restricting accommodation has now ended. A decision was made that the condition can be removed so that the home can care for children again. The requirements raised at the last inspection could not be reviewed and remain in place. 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(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 with the given timescales.

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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))

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Requirement Due date

This has been restated. 19 November 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))

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Requirement Due date

This has been restated. 19 November 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; 19 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2624251 5 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

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

This has been restated. 19 November 2024

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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; 19 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2624251 6 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))

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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

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

This has been restated. 19 November 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: Durham County Council, Resources, County Hall, DURHAM DH1 5UL

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Children’s home details

Registered managers: Cheryl Bearpark and Michaela Myers

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Inspector

Jess Elliott, 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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