Children's home run by North East Autism Society in County Durham

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC416136 1 SC416136

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Registered provider: North East Autism Society

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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 provides care for up to 5 children with learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection, 4 children were living in the home. All children were spoken with during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since 7 October 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 24 September 2025

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. 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: SC416136 2

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Findings from the inspection

This inspection was carried out in response to Ofsted receiving information that suggested potential breaches in regulations.

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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.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have positive relationships with the staff caring for them. They benefit from a consistent and stable staff team that knows them well.

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Findings from the inspection

Children continue to enjoy a range of positive experiences. These include taking part in new activities, such as attending their first music concert, visiting London, horse-grooming therapy, bowling and a well-enjoyed Halloween event.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have developed positive relationships with one another, and these are described as sibling like. They spend time together, both inside and outside the home. One child has made progress in eating at the table with others, and another has made progress in sharing their space.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s health needs are well identified and responded to. This includes access to specialist services and urgent medical treatment. Recent examples include persistent work with professionals to reduce medication for 2 children, resulting in improved sleep and overall presentation.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a clear and sustained improvement in behaviour support, de-escalation and the reduction of restrictive practices. There has been a significant decrease in physical interventions, and children are happy and settled in their home as a result.

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Findings from the inspection

The system for monitoring and reviewing children’s injuries, marks and bruises is well organised. Staff demonstrate curiosity and follow up, which strengthens the protection of children.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s plans are detailed and clearly describe each child’s routine, health and learning needs, with a particular focus on communication and behaviour management. Learning from practice is embedded in these records, demonstrating reflective discussions between managers and staff about what has worked well or less well for individual children.

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Findings from the inspection

The home remains without a registered manager, although efforts to recruit to the post are ongoing. The head of operations continues to provide oversight, supported by an assistant manager. The assistant manager has a good understanding of the children in her care and aspires to become a registered manager. She receives regular supervision from the operations manager, which includes action plans to Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC416136 3 support her development. Clear and purposeful plans are in place.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have made improvements in response to the requirements raised at the full inspection. One requirement could not be reviewed and is therefore restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC416136 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

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a) (5)) 1 June 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC416136 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children that is legible and in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC416136 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North East Autism Society

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 15 Lumley Court, Drum Industrial Estate, Chester- le-Street, County Durham DH2 1AN

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Inspectors

Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector (Lead) Joanne Wallis, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC416136 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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