Children's Home run by North Yorkshire County Council in North Yorkshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC034235 1 SC034235

p.1

Registered provider: North Yorkshire Council

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a local authority under the ‘No Wrong Door’ model. It provides care for up to six children aged between 10 and 18 years with social, emotional or mental health difficulties. The home can also provide care for a further two children in separate accommodation for up to 28 days.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, the home was providing care for five children. One child was spoken to during the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2019.

p.1

Inspection date: 14 October 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 14 October 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspectors have 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: SC034235 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

This assurance inspection was completed after the home was judged as requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff are attentive to children’s care needs and demonstrate a commitment to understanding these needs through ongoing self-development. When staff identified that a child was facing both mental health difficulties and bullying, they responded proactively by ensuring that the child received appropriate support and swiftly involved relevant external services. The staff implemented a restorative approach and ensured that the child felt heard and supported.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Regardless of how long a child stays at the home, staff consistently strive to provide a warm and welcoming introduction while placing equal emphasis on supporting children as they transition out of the home. One professional shared feedback about a child placed at the home in an emergency, saying that the child spoke positively about their short stay at the home. The professional commended the care provided by staff for the child and described it as compassionate and nurturing and highlighted that the positive impact on the child was significant and should not be underestimated.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Incident records clearly reflect management oversight and thoughtful reflection on each event. These incidents are further explored during individual supervision sessions and team meetings and support a lessons learned approach that informs and strengthens future practice.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children’s safety plans identify a range of risk areas and include impact risk assessments. These records demonstrate clear management oversight and show evidence of both routine and crisis-driven reviews. The missing-from-home plans are thorough and provide staff with clear guidance on the steps to take and the follow- up actions required if a child is reported missing from the home.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children are encouraged and supported to attend education by staff. When children are experiencing difficulties in attending education, staff will liaise with the education provider and virtual schools to advocate for the child and attempt to explore alternative solutions.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Key-work sessions with children are focused on addressing identified risks and reflect the strong and trusting relationships between children and staff. These sessions are recorded in a way that allows children to revisit and reflect on their experiences and help to preserve and reinforce their understanding over time.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The registered manager is well supported by a strong team of deputies and portfolio leads. Staff spoken to during the inspection expressed feeling well supported by Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC034235 3 leaders and managers and highlighted that access to training opportunities has significantly helped them to meet the needs of the children in their care. Staff training is given high priority and is closely overseen by managers to ensure that all team members have the appropriate skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the children.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

When a child with complex or diverse needs is admitted to the home, the manager acts promptly to arrange additional training to help increase staff knowledge of the child’s needs.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

All staff, including relief workers, have access to regular supervision sessions. These sessions provide valuable opportunities for reflection and discussion around individual children’s progress, and for staff to identify and communicate their training and development needs.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Safer recruitment processes are in place, with management oversight to evidence that all required checks have been undertaken to ensure that the staff employed in the home are safe to work with children.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Since the previous inspection, management oversight has notably strengthened with improvements clearly reflected across key documentation. Additional audits have been introduced by managers to help maintain and monitor the consistency of care provided to the children.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Records of physical interventions include details such as the date, type and rationale for the restraint. These records also demonstrate the proactive steps taken by staff to de-escalate situations and avoid the use of restraint wherever possible. The records of physical intervention document the follow-up actions taken and management oversight. There needs to be a continued effort to ensure the accuracy of recording for consistency and clarity across all recording systems.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The most recent quality of care review report includes the views of other professionals and services and reflects feedback from children. The report identifies progress made over the previous six months and any further areas for development.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The registered manager and staff have addressed the requirements and recommendations made at the previous full inspection and these have been fulfilled. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC034235 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Full Requires improvement to be good Good

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/05/2022 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC034235 5

p.4

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on accurate record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC034235 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: North Yorkshire Council

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8AD

p.6

Inspector

Lisa Finch, Social Care Inspector Ali Owens, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC034235 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7