Children's home run by Pear Tree Projects Limited in County Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 1 SC418605 Registered provider: Pear Tree Projects Limited

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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 managed by a private company. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living at the home. The inspector spoke with both children during the inspection.

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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

Date of last inspection: 4 February 2025

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/02/2025 Full Outstanding 30/01/2024 Full Outstanding 18/03/2023 Full Outstanding 16/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There is significant evidence of change and improvement in the progress and experiences of the children living in the home. This is because of the excellent quality of care that is provided to them by the staff. The commitment of the staff enhances the children’s life chances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The registered manager and staff take pride in the home, which provides a welcoming and homely environment that is tailored to meet the needs of the children. Staff provide each child with a children’s guide personalised with their name. In addition, staff give children a ‘new start’ booklet featuring pictures of their first memories in the home. This is then used as life-story work, which captures in pictures the children’s experiences and memories of living in the home. This helps children to feel valued and included from the very beginning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children say that they are happy living in the home. They feel a strong sense of pride and belonging to their home. One child said, ‘Staff treat you like you are not in care, they treat you like their family.’ One child said the registered manager bought them a typewriter to enable them to communicate their feelings in the manner that they chose. Another child said the staff’s commitment and support when they were ready to move on from the home exceeded their expectations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The culture in the homes supports children to develop empathy and social responsibility. Staff actively encourage the children to participate in charity events and activities that give back to the local community. Children have even used some of their own pocket money to buy presents for charity donations. This teaches children to recognise the needs of others and to understand current social issues. One professional described the staff’s approach as, ‘Exemplary. The staff maintain excellence, they learn from mistakes, they have children at the centre of everything they do. It’s never done for professional reasons, but for the right reasons.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All children are in education and attend daily. Children are making excellent progress from their starting points, with one child working one school year above their chronological age. Children are encouraged to enjoy nature and to work with animals on the provider’s farm in line with the home’s therapeutic model. One education professional said that they attribute the education progress of the children to the strong and nurturing relationships staff have developed with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Parents say that staff go above and beyond for their children. They describe staff as ‘brilliant’ and ‘welcoming’. One parent said that they feel included in the care of their child, and the exceptional care and support given to their child has increased their child’s confidence. Another parent said that because of the excellent care, they anticipate a smooth and positive move back to the family home for their child. Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 4

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

Children say that they feel safe living in the home. Staff are highly skilled in managing children’s behaviours. They respond proactively and efficiently to ensure that children’s risks are well managed and reduced.

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

Risk assessments are in place and regularly reviewed for all children. The registered manager uses different tools to ensure that risk assessments are comprehensive, contain all known risks and have clear actions for staff to follow to mitigate the risks. The thoroughness of this approach enabled the registered manager on one occasion to identify that one placing local authority had not included in their documentation all known risks for one child. The registered manager’s diligence in identifying this shortfall meant that the child was not left vulnerable without the right plan and support in place for them.

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

Court-ordered restrictions are successfully challenged and removed. Staff supported one child to write to the court to share their views on the care and support that they receive.

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

Children feel confident to talk to staff about difficult issues and anything that they are worried about. Staff use effective therapeutic approaches to support children. Staff work well with professionals to ensure a consistent focus on safeguarding. One mental health professional said that one child must have felt ‘utterly safe’ to talk to staff about their trauma and abuse.

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

Staff complete meaningful and purposeful one-to-one sessions with children. Records of conversations with children are written to them using sensitive language. This includes records of negative consequences when they are given. The registered manager maintains excellent management oversight of consequences and rewards to ensure that they are consistent and proportionate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager provides consistent and effective leadership. He sets high standards and is aware of the staff team’s strengths and areas of development. He is influential in changing children’s lives, leading staff to work therapeutically with the children to achieve positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager promotes an excellent culture of learning. He uses effective monitoring systems to review the quality of care provided to the children, as well as innovative resources to support his ambitious vision. He has redesigned his manager’s monthly audit tool for enhanced effectiveness of management oversight. He has also developed a tool for staff to link therapeutic models to their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The scrutiny of the independent visitor is highly valued by the registered manager, who uses this information to contribute to the development of staff’s practice. Staff work Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 5 collaboratively with professionals and, when required, the registered manager challenges them when the responses from other services are not effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager encourages staff to attend house meetings and to actively participate and contribute to ideas for change. Staff review feedback from children’s meetings to ensure that the children’s views influence how staff provide their care. This approach keeps children at the centre of practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from regular practice-related supervision sessions, which are child focused. The registered manager has an ‘open-door’ policy and staff reflect warmly about their commitment and love for the children. This safe space enables staff to reflect on any areas of development. The registered manager sets an agenda and provides a timely review of actions agreed during supervisions. This approach contributes to high-quality care and positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say that they love working in the home and that they value the support and leadership of the registered manager. Staff take pride in their work and understand that consistently using the home’s models of care, such as ‘in search of utopia’, ensures that children’s lives are enriched.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were raised during this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 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: SC418605 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pear Tree Projects Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Peartree House, Bolam, Darlington, County Durham DL2 2UP

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Inspector

Tenji Wesa, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC418605 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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