Children's Home run by Duty of Care Limited in Durham

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC392549 1 SC392549

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Registered provider: Duty of Care Limited

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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 owned and managed by a private provider. It offers care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home. No children were home during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2016.

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Inspection date: 30 September 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 30 September 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC392549 2

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Findings from the inspection

Ofsted did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection. However, concerns remain regarding the provider’s leadership and management arrangements at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children continue to be settled at the home. They are well supported by staff in their daily lives. Some children have successfully moved on to college or high school, settling into their new routines. When there are issues with attendance, staff are supportive in helping children overcome their barriers.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff assist all the children in participating in activities they enjoy and visiting their friends and family when they wish.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been a couple of behavioural incidents. The child involved has been well supported in understanding the consequences of their behaviour and how it affects others. Other professionals have also been having conversations with the child to offer their support. The manager’s oversight of the situation has identified some small areas for staff development, and plans are in place to support staff’s practice.

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Findings from the inspection

A plan of home improvements was identified following the last inspection. Some of the tasks have been completed. However, there is significant work in the kitchen still to be done, to create a space for the children that is refreshed and welcoming.

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Findings from the inspection

The safeguarding policy has been reviewed and is up to date and more accessible for staff. They can access it any time, even when out of the home. This will help the newer members of staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities while they develop and embed their safeguarding practice.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been improvements in the team of staff and how they feel. Team morale has improved, and staff say they feel more appreciated. The management and leadership team achieved this through small incentives, recognising various achievements during the month.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual has been in the home more often. He has been supporting staff by helping with the care of the children when needed. This has helped the responsible individual to have a better understanding about day-to-day practice. Furthermore, a consultant is working with the provider to help make improvements. They have helped to progress some change, such as rewriting policies and creating an audit checklist. However, change is slow, and the more in- depth issues remain unaddressed, meaning the provider’s infrastructure remains weak.

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Findings from the inspection

Concerns remain that the manager still does not have time dedicated to her managerial role, and she continues to be overstretched. She continues to cover the Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC392549 3 rota to help with consistency for the children when there are staff shortages, as well as manage a second home. This is a serious vulnerability that the provider has not addressed, and it puts at risk the continued management of this home and the quality and continuity of the children’s care.

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Findings from the inspection

The provider has an idea about how they wish to proceed to rectify the managerial concerns. However, progress is very slow. There is no formal plan to demonstrate how the concerns are going to be addressed. Therefore, timescales for change are unclear, and the manager remains concerned about the plan. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC392549 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/06/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/06/2024 Full Good 05/03/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/02/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC392549 5

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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;

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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 the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

Understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)(f)(g)(i)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that management arrangements for the home give the manager sufficient time and capacity to fulfil their role. 30 November

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— 30 November Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC392549 6 if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation (5)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii)) 30 November

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b)) 30 November Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC392549 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Duty of Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 13 Front Street, Staindrop, Darlington, County Durham DL2 3LZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: David Heartfield

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Inspector

Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC392549 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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