Children's Home run by Durham County Council in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034686 1 SC034686 Registered provider: Durham County Council

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to 5 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this visit, no children were living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager. An acting manager is overseeing the running of the home and has applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The home closed in November 2023 for refurbishment, and no children have lived there since. In January 2024, Ofsted imposed a three-month condition, meaning the provider must give notice to the regulator of its intention to provide care for a child.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The provider gave Ofsted notice that it is ready to provide care for children. This visit focused on whether the provider continues to meet its statutory requirements to maintain its registration and is ready to accept placements.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The home has undergone a full refurbishment. There is a large kitchen dining room that has enhanced the living environment. The bedrooms are well presented and are ready to comfortably accommodate children. There is plenty of outdoor space for children to enjoy. The home is bright, spacious, warm and inviting, ready to welcome children.

p.1

This monitoring visit

There is a new manager in post. Sufficient staff have been recruited and are ready to welcome children to the home. All staff have completed an induction in preparation. They are completing ongoing training that will continue to develop their knowledge and skills. Safer recruitment practices have been used to employ the new staff. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034686 2 The manager spoke about the process for assessing children’s suitability to live at the home in readiness for the pending referrals. They will work with leaders to support their decision-making. The manager has a specific plan to support children into independence and knows how to manage the process for individual children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034686 3

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/11/2022 Full Good 30/08/2022 Full Inadequate 24/05/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034686 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under The Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034686 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Durham County Council

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fostering & Adoption Team, Spectrum 8, Spectrum Business Park, Seaham SR7 7TT

p.5

Inspector

Gary Smithson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034686 6 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.

p.5

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 . 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.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6