Children's home run by Durham County Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2729914 1 Registered provider: Durham County Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a local authority. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children have lived at the home since the last inspection. One child was spoken to during this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted on 21 April 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2729914 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2729914 3

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outstanding

Staff have exceedingly strong and trusting relationships with the child. Their thorough knowledge of the child’s needs enables them to provide highly individualised and excellent care. Staff’s nurturing approach helped both children make excellent progress from their starting points.

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outstanding

Sensitive planning helps children to make positive moves to and from the home. The manager and staff’s meticulous practice involves children in the process, ensuring that introductions to the home are done at a pace most helpful to children. Staff receive comprehensive and bespoke training before a child moves in. As a result, the team is fully prepared to welcome children and provide effective care with immediate effect. Furthermore, staff advocate for children to have sensitively planned introductions to new professionals, helping them to develop relationships quickly.

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outstanding

The strong relationships in the home have been pivotal in helping one child positively engage with their education, leading to all-round improvements with their learning. The child now has friends at school, something they struggled with before moving to the home. The child’s support worker at school said, ‘Staff at the home have made [name of child] feel safe. [Name of child] is now absolutely thriving at home and in school.’

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outstanding

Staff help children develop confidence that enables them to have an abundance of enjoyable experiences. Children are supported to fully participate in activities that interest them. One child’s improved engagement in education has led to having increased opportunities such as horse riding in their spare time. These positive life experiences have contributed to improving the child’s confidence and self-esteem.

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outstanding

Significant importance is given to helping children learn and develop independence skills. For example, one child is being helped to learn how to care for their pets. This increased sense of responsibility has positively influenced the child’s self-care skills. The child who left the home developed a plethora of skills in preparation for their move to semi-independent living. Professionals said the excellent support from staff made this possible.

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outstanding

The home is warm and welcoming and entirely geared towards the child. Staff adapt the home to best meet the needs and wishes of the child. The child’s artwork and photos proudly displayed throughout the home enrich the environment, helping the child to feel that this is their home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2729914 4

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outstanding

Children experience highly individualised therapeutic care in a safe and secure environment. Staff understand the child’s triggers that lead to negative behaviour and respond positively and effectively to these. As a result, risk-taking incidents have greatly reduced for the child since they moved to the home. One professional said, ‘There is a strong trauma-informed culture. They are all about understanding behaviours.’

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outstanding

Excellent safeguarding training enhances staff’s practice and response to complex safeguarding incidents. Well-written risk assessments provide guidance about what actions they should take to keep the child safe.

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outstanding

When serious incidents occur, staff consistently follow agreed safety plans and respond appropriately to keep children safe. Robust management oversight and learning from incidents helps staff to develop positive strategies to care for children. Children’s risks reduce, and they learn how to keep themselves safe.

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outstanding

The child’s missing-from-home incidents have greatly reduced since moving into the home. When they do occur, staff follow agreed missing-from-home protocols and involve relevant professionals. They are tenacious when locating the child and return them safely home. Staff’s comforting approach welcomes the child warmly back. This helps to maintain trusting relationships and the child to feel well cared for.

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outstanding

One allegation about staff’s practice has occurred at the home. The manager responded effectively with vigour. A thorough investigation was completed, with outcomes shared with the child. Learning was taken from this event and shared with the team and other professionals. This gives children confidence to share their concerns and that adults will take them seriously.

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outstanding

Consequences are rarely given to the child. There is great emphasis on the child having individualised incentives and rewards. When consequences are used, they are reasonable and restorative in nature. Consequences are fully discussed with staff and the child, so they understand their purpose, increasing their effectiveness. This helps the child to reflect, learn and develop socially acceptable behaviour.

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outstanding

No physical interventions have been used in the home. The highest priority is given to developing positive and trusting relationships with the child. The manager is keen to share this excellent practice with others. She is part of a restraint reduction panel, which aims to improve practice in the provider’s other homes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is an inspirational leader who is well supported by a strong deputy and a highly committed team. Her strong leadership influences staff to continually develop their own practice. She sets high expectations not only for the Inspection report for children’s home: 2729914 5 child, but for staff and other professionals. Her leadership has galvanised a culture of high aspiration and positivity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff hold the manager in high regard. They respect the management team. One staff member said, ‘Working here has been amazing. I have learned so much from the managers. As a management team, they have always been there to support me, which has made my confidence grow so much.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Daily debriefs provide opportunities for healthy debate about decision-making about care practice. Regular practice-related supervision sessions and team meetings enable staff to maintain open lines of communication and evaluate their work. Furthermore, monthly development days provide opportunities for staff to reflect on their experiences. The manager uses these days to deliver training that enhances the team’s therapeutic approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s quality assurance systems ensure that she has a comprehensive oversight of the home, to evaluate strengths and identify areas she wants to improve. The manager’s impact on practice extends beyond the home. Examples of how staff respond to risk are shared with the provider’s other homes and by external colleagues to guide practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The provider’s decision-making processes when reviewing serious incidents do not always ensure that the regulator is notified when necessary. This did not impact on their actions to safeguard the child but prevented the regulator from having oversight of some serious incidents. Inspection report for children’s home: 2729914 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should reconsider thresholds at which they notify the regulator of a serious incident affecting the welfare of a child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.11)

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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: 2729914 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 5UL

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Inspector

Mark Cryer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2729914 8 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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