Children's home run by Duty of Care Limited in County Durham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476602 1 SC476602 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

This home is privately run. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living at the home at the time of the visit. The inspector spoke with the child during the visit.

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This monitoring visit

At the full inspection on 29 October 2025, inspectors found the home to be inadequate. Failures in safeguarding, leadership and the management of the home impacted on the safety and wellbeing of children. In response, Ofsted issued compliance notices under regulation 11, the positive relationships standard, regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. Ofsted also raised a further 6 requirements.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was to review the actions taken by the provider to meet the steps in the compliance notices. The inspectors found that the steps in the compliance notices have been met. Requirements around fire precautions and privacy and access were also reviewed and were found to be met. The remaining 4 requirements made at the last inspection were not reviewed and have been restated.

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This monitoring visit

Relationships between the child and staff have improved. The child can identify some staff whom they like to spend time with. The child also said they now like living in the home. This has been achieved through the child spending more time in communal areas, playing games and enjoying dancing with staff. This is a positive change and has helped the child feel more settled. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476602 2 Staff have a better understanding of how the child feels and of their experiences prior to living at this home. Staff have considered how these affect the child, particularly when the child is showing unwanted behaviours. Their support for the child during these times has helped the child to feel safer.

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This monitoring visit

The child asked for a pet. The manager has listened, and the child now has a pet rabbit, which they chose. The child is responsible for caring for their rabbit, and this is going well. This has enriched the child’s experience of living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The child is being helped with their return to school. This is significant, as they have been absent from education for a long time. Progress is steady, and there is a plan in place to increase attendance and hours of learning over time. This is helping the child to reconnect with all that a school environment has to offer.

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This monitoring visit

Work has been carried out to reaffirm with staff their safeguarding responsibilities. All have had refresher training on the provider’s safeguarding policies and procedure. The manager has taken this further by discussing individual scenarios with staff, gathering their answers and reviewing these with them. The manager has ensured that where there are gaps in knowledge, staff understand what is expected of them.

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This monitoring visit

There is clear progression, with several risks for the child reducing from their starting point. However, the child’s risk assessment does not fully reflect their current needs. Guidance for staff in this document lacks clarity, and information is not fully tailored to the child.

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This monitoring visit

Restrictive practices have lessened, with restrictors being taken off doors. There have been no other unnecessary issues around restrictive practices since the last inspection. This has improved the homeliness of the environment. While the use of a bedroom door alarm remains, it is anticipated this will end shortly.

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This monitoring visit

Steps have been taken to improve team culture. However, changes are in their infancy. The manager recognises that these need to be embedded for them to be reassured that the change is permanent.

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This monitoring visit

Repairs to the home have been completed. Inspectors did not identify any health and safety concerns. Some rooms have new carpets, fresh paint and new furniture. The staff now have a suitable place in which to sleep. Overnight arrangements no longer affect the communal living space, which is free for the child to use at any time. Improvements have made the environment more comfortable.

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This monitoring visit

The manager is no longer working additional hours in the home to cover the staff rota. She has been able to focus on her managerial role and address the concerns found at the last inspection. There are new staff due to start at the home, which will add further stability and ease pressure on the team. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476602 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/10/2025 Full Inadequate 12/11/2024 Full Good 20/10/2023 Full Good 15/08/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476602 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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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)) 31 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child).

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b) (2)) 31 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a)) 31 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to 31 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476602 5 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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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: SC476602 6

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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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Inspectors

Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector (lead) Gary Smithson, Social care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476602 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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