Children's Home run by Durham County Council in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2777607 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 operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. Both children were spoken with.

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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 good

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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

Date of last inspection: 17 December 2024

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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: 2777607 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/12/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2777607 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The excellent care provided to children helps them to flourish, enjoy and exceed in all aspects of their lives. The manager and staff are ambitious for children, which supports the progress that children make.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children develop strong and trusting relationships with a nurturing staff team. Staff know the children’s needs, likes and dislikes exceedingly well, which underpins the bespoke care that children receive. For some children this has enabled them to access the therapeutic support that they require. This has contributed to the significant progress they have made from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Advocacy for children is a particular strength. Staff champion children’s views, which enriches children’s experiences. Additionally, children have the benefit of independent advocates. Children’s participation is founded in daily function which ranges from learning essential life skills and enjoying the vast range of activities they attend, to being integral to the local children’s council. Children feel valued and have a sense of belonging as a result.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make progress in education. Staff attend events in schools and have regular contact with education professionals. Collaborative working has contributing to improving children’s all-round learning, engagement and achievements. For one child who was not in full-time education, staff replicated a school environment, so they could homeschool the child. This has helped the child to return to school full-time and make progress both academically and with their behaviour. An education professional said, ‘Staff at the home have made [Name of Child] feel safe. It is phenomenal how their hard work and input have enabled [Name of Child] to be in full-time education and enjoy learning. I share this type of practice as exemplary with others. This home should be replicated.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are very much part of their local community. They participate in a number of charitable events and activities including litter picking, holding coffee mornings or doing something kind for a neighbour. This helps children develop a sense of achievement through their positive contributions, which in turn helps them to be happy and thrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children are healthy and benefit from a healthy lifestyle. Where children have required additional support with their health needs or required specialist assessments, staff have been highly influential in how children access that support. One professional said, ‘The staff are relentless. They go above and beyond for those children. This has led to one child having the support needed that will assist in the longer term not just the here and now.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The life-story work completed with children is applied with sensitivity. This helps children to understand their own individual journey. Children develop a healthy image of themselves, as well as understand their own culture and identity. For one child the Inspection report for children’s home: 2777607 4 impressive work completed by staff, involving their family has supported increased time spent with loved ones. This child is happier and more settled, as they know that staff will support them to see people who are important to them.

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

Children say that they feel safe and are happy living in the home. Staff understand what can lead children to display unwanted behaviours, and staff respond in a nurturing way. The discussions that staff have with children, helps them to understand their own emotions and behaviours and to better communicate their needs in a positive way. One professional said, ‘The team are good and practice in a trauma-informed way. They know the children so well that they can intervene before matters escalate.’

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

The use of physical intervention for one child has increased. When holds are used, they are proportionate to safeguard the child and others. A lot of work has gone in to understanding what causes the child to require the use of physical intervention, and to look at improved ways to help the child communicate their needs. Following the use of holds, there is management oversight and scrutiny of staff practice to ensure that it remains safe and improves how the child receives support.

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

Safeguarding is embedded throughout staff practice. Whistleblowing and safeguarding are included as an agenda item in team meetings and staff supervision sessions. Furthermore, safeguarding training is linked to a range of safeguarding topics enhancing staff practice and their responses to safeguarding incidents.

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

Clear and well-written behaviour support plans and risk assessments provide guidance to staff about what actions they should take to keep children safe. This provides continuity of care to children and better protects them.

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

Children receive support to help them to understand risks and how to better protect themselves. Individual support plans identify tasks and areas to develop children’s awareness of certain risks and how to make informed choices.

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

There is one reported incident of children being unkind to one another. This was taken seriously by staff who are skilled to recognise and respond to negative or bullying behaviour effectively. Restorative work was completed with the children to help repair and rebuild the relationship, along with children completing work around anti-bullying.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is an inspirational leader and leads by example. Staff practice is exemplary, because of her leadership. Staff feel well supported under her leadership and gain satisfaction in their roles because of the support that they are given. Expectations and shared goals help children make progress and have positive daily lived experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professional development for staff is high on the manager’s agenda. She is astute in how she promotes and upskills her staff, helping them to feel empowered. Champion roles Inspection report for children’s home: 2777607 5 help staff feel valued and have some autonomy on how they develop practice in the home. The manager has developed residential training programmes that are highly effective. This has been disseminated within the local authority’s residential services, for other managers to use with their staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Regular practice-related supervision sessions and team meetings enable staff to discuss and evaluate their work. The manager promotes a culture for staff to positively challenge each other and be accountable for their own practice. Team events encourage staff to bring in new ideas looking at legislation, regulatory frameworks and approved theories based on research. As a result, staff understand their roles and purpose very well. This benefits children, as the care that they receive is well thought out and tailored to their individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Highly effective monitoring systems that the manager has developed provide her with thorough oversight of what happens in the home on a daily basis. This helps her manage the home to a high standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is a strong force in advocating for children. She challenges other professionals to ensure that children receive the support that they require, whilst maintaining positive working relationships. A professional said, ‘The manager is incredibly proactive. It is clear the love and care that children receive. She and the deputy manager advocate so well for the children, and the communication is fantastic.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were raised following this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2777607 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: 2777607 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: Fostering & Adoption Team, Spectrum 8, Spectrum Business Park, Seaham SR7 7TT

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Inspector

Jackie Tate, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2777607 8 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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